Alicia Perdigones

The present study explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies can be effectively embedded in agroforestry engineering education. It highlights the growing importance of digital competences and AI in agricultural, forestry, and environmental sectors. The paper stresses that curricula must evolve to include tools like GIS, remote sensing, and machine learning, while also addressing faculty training, infrastructure needs, and licensing costs. University–industry collaboration is presented as crucial for aligning academic content with real-world demands. Ethical considerations—such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the role of human oversight—are emphasized, referencing UNESCO's guidelines. In conclusion, the study calls for comprehensive curricular reform, investment in infrastructure and educator training, and ethical safeguards to ensure graduates are well-prepared for a rapidly evolving, AI-driven job market.

The aim of this chapter is to provide university educators with a range of ideas and alternatives for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their teaching to integrate concepts of sustainability, which are currently highly demanded in the professional activity. Artificial intelligence has revolutionized many areas of economic activity, offering new solutions and/or optimizing certain processes. Training students in these tools is essential for successful integration into the labor market in a technologically evolving era. This training must be carried out in coordination with educational policies, and within a teaching program that includes ethical aspects in the handling of these tools. Artificial intelligence can be key to improving sustainability in multiple areas of engineering as shown in various examples and ideas in this work.

The present work analyzes the feasibility of using solar water heating systems (SWHS) to supply the hot water required in the winemaking industries. The hot water demand of the sector was characterized by selecting patterns that encompass the wide range of existing casuistry. After determining the production potential of the SWHS by using an experimental system, 22500 energy simulations were carried out, combining different locations, energy prices, and prices of the necessary investment. The results demonstrate that the seasonality and irregularity of a winery’s demand pattern drastically condition the viability and profitability of SWHS. In wineries with high demand, which are relatively uniform throughout the year, the solar system with optimized design achieves energy consumption reductions between 32% (low radiation) and 52% (high radiation), with payback between 4.3 and 7.2 years. On the other hand, in wineries with highly seasonal consumption, SWHS are not profitable even in very favorable cases.

This study determines the viability and profitability of photovoltaic (PV) mounting structures on industrial roofs. For this purpose, more than 656,000 different cases have been analyzed, combining different consumption patterns, energy prices, locations, inclinations, azimuths, capacity installed, and excess income. The results show that the industry’s consumption pattern is a key factor, leading to significant reductions in the available assembly budget for inclined structures compared to the coplanar option when the pattern is seasonal and/or irregular. The increase in energy prices experienced in the last 2 years represents a substantial change in the viability of the structures. The budget for inclined structures increases by hundreds of euros compared to the coplanar option. Depending on the azimuth and inclination of the roof, the maximum available budget can vary by more than a thousand euros per kWp, being highly profitable in orientations close to the east and west and on roofs partially inclined to the north. Differences between low-irradiation and high-irradiation locations can mean variations in the average budget of more than 1 k€/kWp, especially with high electricity prices.

The role of the agrifood industry is key to mitigating the impact of climate change, as it is one of the industrial sectors with the highest energy consumption. The optimisation of photovoltaic systems in agroindustries faces problems such as the fluctuation of energy prices or the evident seasonal nature of some producers. This paper provides a global view of the profitability and optimal sizing of photovoltaic (PV) systems in the new energy context. For this purpose, almost 4 million cases were analysed, including different consumption patterns, energy prices, etc. Some general conclusions can be drawn from the results. First, the adaptation to the new context requires adjustments in the sizing of PV systems in all industries analysed, which is also associated with changes in the return on investment. Second, seasonality strongly conditions the optimal size of PV installations, the return on the investment and the potential savings. Finally, in the face of future energy price variations, the ratio “Savings/payback” seems to be an appropriate reference for sizing, combining savings and profitability. In addition, they may justify special subsidies to seasonal industries. The conclusions of this paper should be considered to optimise the design of PVs.

The new energy context since 2021 has led to dramatic increases in the energy bills of agribusinesses, affecting the price of foodstuffs. A considerable part of energy consumption is due to the heating of water at high temperatures. The present study analyzed the feasibility of using a Solar Water Heating System (SWHS) with an evacuated tube collector. In particular, the required sizing changes, potential savings and cost-effectiveness were analyzed. The results show that the new energy context makes the SWHS investment highly attractive: a payback of less than 4 years in most of the scenarios analyzed; energy savings of more than 60% in the scenarios with higher irradiation; a reduction in total energy expenditure of more than 50% in the favorable scenarios close to the current reality. The new context especially favors cold and temperate climates, with very sharp drops in payback compared to the previous situation. To achieve these values, it is necessary to design an optimized sizing of the SWHS, reducing the risk of future variations in the price of energy. The results of the study should serve as a reference for decision making in the agroindustrial sector to reduce the energy bill and strategic dependence on fossil fuels from third countries.

Green areas are emerging as a vehicle for change towards more sustainable cities. Green areas include, among other facilities, parks, gardens, and urban gardens. These facilities should be designed in an inclusive and integrating way, allowing their use by anyone. Their incorporation into urban policies has many advantages: a more naturalized landscape, improving the microclimate of urban neighborhoods, biodiversity, and the health, both physical and mental, of users and neighbors. They can also serve as an instrument for the education of citizens in environmental topics, healthy eating, and ethical and social awareness, from a very early age to the elderly.

Integración de la discapacidad en asignaturas relacionadas con la agricultura urbana a través de un proyecto Aprendizaje-Servicio: “Colabora A LA PAR”

The Spanish agri-food industries face a new energy context radically different from the one existing less than a year ago. A comparable situation is occurring in other European countries. The great variability and different seasonality of the agro-industries condition the adaptation measures to be implemented. This article quantifies the impact of the new energy context on real industries with quite different consumption patterns. More than 1000 scenarios have been analysed to determine the effectiveness of adaptation measures. The study results demonstrate the critical situation to which the sector is subjected. The new tariff system affects the agri-food sector in an unequal way, benefiting industries with marked seasonality. In just one year, the electricity bill has increased between 62% and 151%. The savings generated by implementing measures such as optimising contracted power to a new hourly discrimination system (up to 6%) or shifting consumption to lower-cost periods (up to 21%) do not seem sufficient. If prices do not fall drastically, immediate installation of generation systems, such as photovoltaic panels, appears essential to maintain the viability and competitiveness of the sector.

Los dispositivos electrónicos suponen una oportunidad para el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje en las aulas. El uso de apps (applications) o lo que es lo mismo, aplicaciones para dispositivos móviles tales como tablets o teléfonos móviles, es cada vez mayor en el ámbito privado, existiendo aplicaciones tan diversas como para el cálculo de distancias y velocidades recorridas, seguimiento de dietas nutricionales o contaje de la puntuación en numerosos deportes. Existen así mismo aplicaciones interesantes para poder ser usadas en la Universidad a través de las prácticas de las asignaturas orientadas hacia la ingeniería y en el entorno profesional. Algunos ejemplos podrían ser aplicaciones que permiten hacer trabajar a los dispositivos como si fueran acelerómetros, calculadores de superficies, o apps que permiten detectar enfermedades en plantas o necesidades de riego. Determinar el soporte electrónico más utilizado por los estudiantes en el aula permitirá conocer las posibilidades de incorporar estas aplicaciones en el ámbito universitario. Por otro lado, las redes sociales permiten generar un entorno para la difusión de conocimientos y debates interesantes en la Universidad. Sin embargo, no todas tienen las mismas posibilidades ni todas favorecen el entorno colaborativo que se busca en la docencia.Durante el curso 2018-2019 se está llevando a cabo un estudio, financiado por la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Redes sociales y uso de TICs como vehículo de aprendizaje en áreas verdes y naturación urbana) para conocer los dispositivos electrónicos de los que disponen los alumnos en el aula, así como las redes sociales más habituales entre ellos. Este estudio es continuación de otro realizado hace cinco años, con lo que es posible conocer la evolución que se ha producido en las aulas del área agroforestal y poder adaptar la docencia a la evolución tecnológica y social del momento. Perdigones, Alicia; Ruiz-Mazarrón, Fernando; Cañas, Ignacio; García, José Luis