Contributions

Main contributions

Its work has been driven by the theoretical and methodological sources developed in the United States in the early eighties, related to urban valuation systems and processes, especially in the mass valuation of Real Estate. The connection with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (Cambridge, Boston Massachusetts) fostered exchanges of relevant experiences in the management of the territory and the implication of real estate values. This knowledge has opened new perspectives in the field of property valuation in Spain. The development of research projects (CIRIT 1982), with the organization of international conferences and seminars, try to bring scientific rigor to the study of Real Estate, by incorporating new technologies and computer systems.

The systematized study of databases (models of main components) of the urban environment: characteristics of the real estate park (cadastre), socio-professional level (standard). The first results of this task constitute the City of Barcelona Prize for Research-1985.

Between its main challenges are:

• Provide new bases for study in the Assessment manual (1986). The study and debate on urban planning regulations, management tools, and valuation systems, offering a wide range of studies and regulatory proposals.
• Promote the training of expert specialists in Spain in the field of urban planning administration and urban valuation (1988).
• Carry out new theoretical and technical studies in their field: real estate databases (1990-1999), Distribution models of economic activity in BCN, the AMB, and others (1991-1999).
• Propose new techniques for analysis and evaluation of the territorial and urban reality on GIS platforms (1993). Incorporation of urban features into econometric models.

In 1997 it promoted the Consolidated Research Group on Urban Quality of Life and Sustainability, recognized by the Research Commissioner of the Government of Catalonia (1997 SGR 02000), since its first call and all subsequent calls. It is currently the Consolidated Research Group on Quality of Urban Life: Sustainability, Rehabilitation, and Innovation, IQURB (2017 SGR 01534).

Since 1998, it coordinates a Thematic Network on Ecology and City. The spatial analysis of the territory, from an environmental, energy, and economic perspective of the territory.

As another CPSV initiative in 2001, the Virtual City Modeling Laboratory (LMVC) was created, based at ETSAB. Also promoted by the departments of Architectural Constructions I (CAI) and Architectural Graphic Expression I (EGAI). It incorporates a work platform for the application of new technologies in the architectural modeling of the city in 3D and in virtual maps, through the use of Geographic Information Systems.

In 2004, it promoted and organized the 1st International Conference Virtual Cities and Territories (CTV), Barcelona-2004, as a meeting place to present developments in virtual models and tools for representing the built environment. This has continued, alternately, between Europe and Latin America, organized by the CPSV of the UPC, with the support of the International Network of Architecture, City and Environment (also an initiative of the CPSV) and local organizing committees. Maintaining its initial spirit, various social and environmental issues have been incorporated, always with an impact on the territorial and urban areas. Its proceedings are published in the Open Access Journal, free access, and consultation.

In 2006 it created the ACE: Architecture, City and Environment Journal, dedicated to the study of human habitat, from its broadest perspectives, both macro and micro, and in its technological and social meanings. It is published quarterly in the Open Access Journal, with free access and consultation. Its existence and continuity is due to the work of the Center for Land Policy and Valuations (CPSV) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and all the people who collaborate in it. It is co-published by the University of Guadalajara through its Doctorate in City, Territory, and Sustainability, its master's degree in Processes and Graphic Expression in Urban Architectural Design and the Center for Research on the Environment and Territorial Planning.