Monica Menendez: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2016 |
Name | Dr. Monica Menendez |
Department | Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering |
Relationship | Lecturer |
Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
051-0821-16L | Summer School: Learning from Havana | 4 credits | 4G | H. Klumpner, A. Brillembourg, M. Menendez, C. Schmid | |
Abstract | The course will function as an inter-disciplinary think-tank exploring the requisites for sustainable urban development of the Old Havana Port (UNESCO World Heritage site) through the lens of architecture, engineering, and social sciences. The challenge is to work in an intensive cross-cultural setting and develop solutions in a complex, real-life context with local practitioners and stakeholders. | ||||
Learning objective | You will receive full support on-site from the Polytechnic University José Antonio Echeverría, La Habana (PUJAE) and ETH tutors from your discipline. In developing the scenarios you will work side by side with young professionals with a grounded knowledge of the field, and be joined by a wide variety of local stakeholders. The program will combine site visits, expert lectures and workshops to allow you to develop the following skills: The capacity to work to address urban challenges in an inter-disciplinary team; Conduct your own research within a limited time frame and through quantitative and qualitative analysis; Apply Scenario Analysis technique to structure and integrate knowledge from various fields; Cross cultural understanding and skills in an international collaboration; Mechanisms to collaborate and communicate with practitioners and stakeholders; Developing integrated and sustainable urban development strategies. | ||||
Content | Cities on the border or an outpost of Western European influence, struggling between globalization, modernization and local traditions, are characterized by great social and spatial disparity. Havana is a characteristic case of such a city, which is currently undergoing rapid urbanization and experiences a critical moment of transition. At this very moment, the political and economical situation is changing rapidly, with a contradictory process of economic and social opening that becomes now more and more visible in the streets of Havana, with new businesses, restaurants and street activities, announcing further changes in everyday life. How can such fragmented conditions within cities be tackled by integrated and inclusive solutions, rather than fragmented interventions that exclude the challenged local communities? Moreover, the lack of resources in cities of the Global South often prevents the gathering of modern, digitalized data, while the unstable political structures prevent the implementation of durable planning strategies. These cities need a rapid assessment procedure, in order to identify relevant priorities and potentials. How can we create a comprehensive understanding of the system and propose appropriate solutions, while using quantitative and qualitative data? The summer school will build on the current "Atlas Urbano de La Havana - Urban Atlas of Havana" and on the project SeDUT (Seminario Internacional de Desarrollo Urbano y Transporte), a three-year Swiss-Cuban cooperative research project on the urban development of Havana and its mobility potentials. The SeDUT project involved many academic, governmental and private stakeholders, such as the Polytechnic University José Antonio Echeverría, the Centro de Estudios Urbanos de La Habana, the Instituto de Planificación Física, the Dirección Provincial de Planificación Física de la Ciudad de La Habana and the design office of Metron AG. Together they represent an important expertise and a high degree of accumulated knowledge. In a team, you will produce alternative urban scenarios for the planned redevelopment of the Old Port of Havana. You will contribute your expertise and unpack the realities of sustainable development in a tropical climate. How can knowledge from the ETH be combined with Cuban research and translated to a Caribbean context? Through debate, controversy and collaboration it is expected you produce scenarios that integrate your different disciplines and question the preconceptions of sustainable urban development. This immersive summer school will be structured in three interlocking modules: In the first module you will investigate the Old Port and gain a strong understanding of the social, environmental and built context in Havana. You will employ analytical mapping to integrate and synthesize different disciplinary knowledge, ranging from quantitative data to subjective observation. In the second module, you will develop a series of scenarios for the Old Port, proposing alternatives for its sustainable future. You will build on the research from the first module, and explore the potential of your ideas with local stakeholders and professionals from your field. You will document these scenarios using creative and varied representational methods. In the final module you will pitch your scenarios to decision makers. During this event you will measure their preferences, debate the associated trade-offs, and provide a series of orientations for those planning the future of Havana. | ||||
Literature | More information on: http://u-tt.com/teaching/havana-summer-school/ | ||||
Prerequisites / Notice | Who should apply? Enthusiastic students currently enrolled in a masters program in ETH Zurich and PUJAE Havana. A balanced group of 15 ETH master students from the D-ARCH, D-BAUG, D-GESS and D-USYS departments will be selected. They will be joined by 15 Cuban students from our partner university. Applicants should have a strong interest in sustainable urban development and transdisciplinary collaborative research. They should be able to demonstrate their academic strength, motivation, interest and expertise. Knowledge of Spanish is welcome but not obligatory. Dates in Cuba: 21 August to 1st of September. Contact: Marie Grob at grob@arch.ethz.ch, enrollment procedure on our webpage. | ||||
101-0437-00L | Traffic Engineering | 6 credits | 4G | M. Menendez | |
Abstract | Fundamentals of traffic flow theory and operations. | ||||
Learning objective | The objective of this course is to fully understand the fundamentals of traffic flow theory in order to effectively manage traffic operations. By the end of this course students should be able to apply basic techniques to model different aspects of urban and inter-urban traffic performance, including congestion. | ||||
Content | Introduction to fundamentals of traffic flow theory and operations. Includes understanding of traffic data collection and processing techniques, as well as data analysis, and traffic modeling. | ||||
Lecture notes | The lecture notes and additional handouts will be provided during the lectures. | ||||
Literature | Additional literature recommendations will be provided during the lectures. | ||||
Prerequisites / Notice | Verkehr III - Road Transport Systems 6th Sem. BSc (101-0415-00L) Special permission from the instructor can be requested if the student has not taken Verkehr III | ||||
101-0467-01L | Transport Systems Only for master students, otherwise a special permisson by the lecturers is required. | 6 credits | 4G | U. A. Weidmann, K. W. Axhausen, M. Menendez, M. Sinner | |
Abstract | History, impact and principles of the design and operation of transport systems | ||||
Learning objective | Introduction of the basic principles of the design and operation of transport systems (road, rail, air) and of the essential pathways of their impacts (investment, generalised costs, accessibilities, external effects) | ||||
Content | Transport systems and land use; network design; fundamental model of mobility behaviour; costs and benefits of mobility; transport history Classification of public transport systems; Characteristics of rail systems, bus systems, cable cars and funiculars, unconventional systems; introduction to logistics; fundamentals of rail freight transports; freight transport systems; intermodal transportation Network layout and its impact on road traffic. Traffic control systems for urban and inter-urban areas. Fundamentals of road safety and infrastructure maintenance. | ||||
Lecture notes | Lecturer notes and slides as well as hints to further literature will be given during the course. | ||||
Prerequisites / Notice | Obligatory lecture for students of the first semester of MSc Spatial development and Infrastructure Systems. Remark: parts of the lecture will be given in German. | ||||
101-0489-02L | Interdisciplinary Project | 12 credits | 24A | B. T. Adey, M. Menendez | |
Abstract | Working on a concrete interdisciplinary task on spatial development and infrastructure systems | ||||
Learning objective | Promote independent, structured and scientific work; learn to apply engineering methods; deepen the knowledge in the field of the treated task. | ||||
Content | The project work is supervised by a professor. Students can choose from different subjects and tasks. |