This paper presents a detailed method to develop cost-optimal studies for the energy renovation of residential buildings. A realistic characterization of the building has been introduced, using measurement and survey data. The method allows improving the interaction between the occupancy and the building, and the characterization of the real state of the construction. In addition, the building simulation includes vernacular strategies of the Mediterranean regions, as for example the natural ventilation and the use of solar protection.The method presented takes part of an innovative approach: two-step optimization considering thermal comfort, energy and economic criteria. The passive optimization, the first part, is the focus of the paper and evaluates the passive measures from an economic and thermal comfort point of view. This method prioritizes the passive measures rather than the active ones, guaranteeing the thermal comfort of the users in all cases.The paper shows the results of a multi-family building built in the years 1990-2007 and located in two climates C2 and B3 (Barcelona and Tarragona). The method provides technical and economic information about a set of passive energy efficiency measures, with the objective to help to make decisions to the experts, politicians and users.

This paper proposes a new hybrid algorithm for solving the Arc Routing Problem with Stochastic Demands (ARPSD). Our approach combines Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) with the RandSHARP algorithm, which is designed for solving the Capacitated Arc Routing Problem (CARP) with deterministic demands. The RandSHARP algorithm makes use of a CARP-adapted version of the Clarke and Wright Savings heuristic, which was originally designed for the Vehicle Routing Problem. The RandSHARP algorithm also integrates a biased-randomized process, which allows it to obtain competitive results for the CARP in low computational times. The RandSHARP algorithm is then combined with MCS to solve the ARPSD. Some numerical experiments contribute to illustrate the potential benefits of our approach.

Abstract. The airline industry is constantly subject to the search of new methods in order to increase efficiency, profitability, and customer satisfaction. Since airlines only generate revenue when their airplanes are on the air, the time they spend at the airports should be the shortest possible. Hence, the airplane turnaround time becomes a process which airlines pay special attention on. The boarding process has a very important role, since it is one of the significant elements of the turnaround time, and a slow boarding process might lead to many kinds of problems to the airline, from financial issues to customer complaints. This paper analyzes the major interferences among the passengers that cause delays in boarding times, and after comparing the different aircraft boarding strategies, it proposes the most efficient strategy.

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This article proposes a methodology to assess building behaviour, whilst taking its life cycle into account. Understanding of the system can be obtained by combining well-known energy consumption calculation engines (TRNSYS) with co-simulation processes defined using Specification and Description Language (SDL). In this instance, to find the best comfort, energy and cost scenarios for energy rehabilitation, Co-simulation is conducted in two phases: the best scenes of passive systems are found, those presented as a priority; and, the active systems are made with ‘brute force analysis’. The article provides the results for a case study: a single-family home built between 1991 and 2007 and located in Mediterranean climate zone. The methodology provides a set of passive energy efficiency measures, to improve until two scales in the building energy labelling system. Using the methodology and the proposed model has enabled us to dramatically reduce the run time until 75% and therefore.Postprint (published version