Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

The main objective of this work is to zonify the landslide risk for the canton of Riobamba, using multivariate statistical procedures and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a methodological alternative that allows authorities and governmental entities in charge of Cantonal Risk Management to make decisions optimal for the benefit of citizens who live in the most risky areas as well as the environment in general. Likewise, a methodology developed by the scientific team of Spatial Data Infrastructure in Europe (INSPIRE, 2012) is presented, which relates key variables for the analysis of information among them: Vulnerability, Exposure and Risk; for the Riobamba canton, 13% of its surface has a high risk of occurrence of mass removal phenomena.

The phosphates present in the Presa Multipropósito Chone have caused eutrophication problems in the Rio Grande basin, causing social, environmental and economic impacts for the area. One solution is the use of technosols, which are soil added with foreign elements to improve their ability to remove a specific contaminant. However, this study was based on the modification of the Chone soil and thus simulated a technosol able of removing phosphates in aqueous solutions through its calcination, process that causes a change in the physical and chemical properties at the time of volatilizing the organic compounds present. For this, a solution with concentration of 1.25 mg/L of potassium phosphate monobasic was done, similar to the concentration present in the river. The concentrations of the adsorbate contained in the water already filtered through the modified soil were measured with a spectrophotometer in 4 continuous sessions at intervals of 2 hours, the maximum adsorption was 92% after 7 hours of filtering; the kinetics of the adsorption was given by a first-order reaction, in addition, a better fit was obtained with the Langmuir isotherm, which represented an adsorption in monolayer of phosphates. The behaviour of the adsorption of phosphate was modelled using free software, which was estimated an adsorbent saturation time of 14 hours. As conclusions of the work, phosphate adsorption values are higher with modified soil (92%) than with natural soil (40.05%); the calcination of the soil provided a reactivity of the ferric compounds present in the adsorbent with an increase in its surface area, cation exchange and therefore a greater adsorption of the contaminant.

The calculation of the combined uncertainty of luminous flux tests carried out in an integrating sphere is a very important value for the accreditation of INER’s Lighting Laboratory under the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. The values ​​of the measurement devices used within the test should be registered manually by the operator, for which an automatic data acquisition system was implemented by integrating the devices into an application developed in LabVIEW that includes a real-time analysis of the luminous flux stabilization of the lamp and the calculation of the uncertainty based on the model developed by INER’s Lighting Laboratory. The present work analyzes the influence of the automation of the process of acquisition, analysis and use of the data for the calculation of the uncertainty, comparing a designated test of a high discharge lamp using the manual system and the automated system for the calculation of the combined uncertainty of the luminous flux test within an integrating sphere.

The present investigation used a completely randomized experimental design (DCA), with 3 treatments (T1, T2 and T3) and a target (TB) as reference, each with 3 repetitions, with a total of 12 compost piles, located in the parish of Amaguaña. Each pile contained 132 kg of manure and rumen content from the Aldaz family slaughterhouse; 30 g of urea, 4 L of molasses and 4 Kg of sawdust; were inoculated for T1 treatment with 30 x 109 CFU of Proteus mirabilis, T2 with 30 x 109 CFU of Citrobacter freundii, T3 with 356 x 103 cells Penicillium spp. and TB without addition of microorganisms. Measurements of temperature, pH and humidity were taken 3 days after the creation of the batteries (time of adaptation of microorganisms to their new habitat). The analysis of variance (ANOVA), determined that there were no statistically significant differences between treatments, so to select the best treatment quantitative and qualitative indicators were used. As a result, T2 was the best treatment with a reduction in the amount of organic waste of 80,97%; a Tmax of 46 °C, organic matter of 80,02%, producing a highly saline dark brown organic substrate with pH 9.04, total nitrogen (4%), total phosphorus (0,02%), potassium (0,73%) and free of fecal pathogens.

The structural and stratigraphic configuration of the pre-Aptian sequence in the Oriente Basin, is derived from the development of two overlapping tectonic events. The first belongs to the apperarance of an extensional regime during the Middle Jurassic-Valanginian, represented by half-graben and graben depressions that constitute the three tectonic domains of the basin. At the Sacha-Shushufindi graben the sedimentary filling are continental volcaniclastic sediments of the Chapiza Formation, partially contemporaneous whit the activity of the Jurassic Misahuallí volcanic arc (Tschopp), that is developed in the western margin of the basin. Probably the extension is linked to salb roll-back periods by the development of a subduction zone and an extensional control in the back-arc region. The second episode represents the inversion of normal to inverse faults produced from a compressive tectonics, which results in mega positive structures (Sacha and Shushufindi An ticlines). The age of the inversion could be related to the Hauterivian volcanic of the Upper Chapiza Formation or Yaupi Member, which are developed in onlap against the Sacha inverted structure.

The open dump in the city of Portoviejo is in the technical closure stage and there are domestic and industrial waste. These wastes can generate contamination by the various toxic chemical elements they contain. The objective of this work was to characterize soils through physical and chemical parameters such as pH, humidity, electrical conductivity, Dry Evaporated Residue (RSE), Calcined Dry Residue (RSC), real and apparent density and measure Cr (VI), Ni, Br and Fe for proposing a zoning of possible spread of contaminants, in relation to leaching curves. We proceeded to analyse several sampling techniques, in terms of feasibility and applicability to the study area, so was used methodology proposed by the Ecuadorian Environmental Technical Standard, the Secretariat of the Environment of Mexico and the proposal based on the publication of Research of the Soil Pollution of the Basque Government of Spain, it was decided to use the last one, which resulted in a total of 20 samples in the study area. The physical-chemical characterization of the soil allowed to obtain information about its properties, which served as input for the elaboration of spatial distribution maps, with the purpose of applying algebra of maps, depending on the variation of these properties, for the determination of two zones, where, greater and less vulnerability of pollution was identified in terms of the mobility of these elements. The values ​​shown by the pH and electrical conductivity, determined that they are soils that behave neutrally and slightly alkaline, and significantly saline soils. The percentage of moisture obtained in each of the extracts determined sandy loam soils. As a result, the highest concentration of the measured elements was oriented to the southwest of the dump, and after analysing the relationship between zoning and leaching, it was possible to determine how the mobility of these elements is, where special attention should be paid to the vulnerable zone that presents increasing leaching curves.

One of the main problems that contribute to diminish the life quality of Ecuador populations is the inadequate management of the waste, either due to the lack of equipment or programs that contribute to the integral management of waste, this is the case of the current population of INTAG area in Cotacachi canton. Which does not have a sanitary landfill for the final disposal nor management of the solid waste generated. Currently this waste is taken to the Cotacachi´s city landfill, which is in process of definitive closure. This study propose an optimum location of the new sanitary landfill for the INTAG area, the methodology used was maps algebra and spatial modeling through geographic information tools obtaining six location alternatives that were evaluated on field. Then the best option was selected and approved by the Environmental Department of the Municipal GAD of Cotacachi, complying with the specifications of the Environment Ministry of Ecuador. Through the implementation of this study, not only will one of the objectives of the Development Plan of the canton be fulfilled, but also the quality of life of the communities will be substantially improved, reducing the negative environmental impacts that the current conditions generate.

The investigation consists of analyzing the influence of the modular panels M2 on the resistant earthquake behavior of buildings. In a 1st case: the M2 panel was considered as confined masonry and in a 2nd case: as floor systems (slabs). For this purpose, 5 different architectural projects located in Quito were used. Once the proposed systems have reached the earthquake resistant parameters established in the regulations, in a 1st case, the M2 modular panels are incorporated as confined masonry in buildings of 3, 6 and 9 floors. While, in a 2nd case, it was arranged that the modular panel M2 be considered as a floor system (slabs). Of these two groups of buildings with different layout of the panels, new values ​​of structural responses are determined, with whose data we proceed to compare with the results obtained with the contributed system. For the placement of the modular panels as masonry within the proposed structural systems, the equivalent strut method was used, where the walls work only axially under compression and do not absorb shear. While, for floor systems, the floor system with stell deck was used as a base model and another with the implementation of modular M2 panels. For this, two buildings of medium height (6 floors) and high height (16 floors) were available. From the structural analysis, for both cases: the systems contributed with modular M2 panels used both as confined masonry and floor systems (slabs), generated structural responses as periods and floor drifts lower than the system only contributed, because the modular panel M2 provides lateral stiffness and decreases the weight of the buildings, demonstrating that: structural vulnerability can be reduced and the structural behavior of.

This study deals with the application of the FORTRAN 77 language, for the digitalization of graphical type correlations to functions and with it, to develop the calculation of the immediate variables that allow defining the supply curve (IPR) of biphasic fluids in horizontal wells according to empirical correlations. When applying the Joshi correlation, there is a hydraulic drive production mechanism and an ellipse drainage area, while for the correlations of Cheng, Bendakhlia & Aziz, Economides & Retnanto a rectangular reservoir with permeability values is assumed in the x, y, z directions. The equation presented by Helmy & Wattenbarger determines the productivity index for horizontal wells that produce at constant pressure. The application of the FORTRAN 77 language will generate a flat file with the information of the productivity index, maximum flow rate, flowing bottom pressures and their respective flow rates in order to graph and determine the inflow behavior of the reservoir according to the parameters of each correlation.

Marion Plateau is a Miocene cool-subtropical carbonate platform located in offshore northeastern Australia. It has two separate platforms that present different carbonate biotas and were developed at independent growth stages. At that time there was an icehouse affecting the glacioeustatic sea levels, and wave base currents impacted carbonate growth rates and platform geometries. However, the relation between the process involved in the deposition and later stages of the carbonates are not well understood. This project objectives are build vertical stacking of sedimentary facies, correlate the middle Miocene sequence stratigraphic framework and obtain carbonate geometries and stacking patterns based on the existing constraints The methodology followed in this project involves sequence stratigraphic correlation of five sequence boundaries that denote low stands, transgressive and high stands system tracts within a mega sequence using core data, seismic sections, electrical logs and dolomitization changes. Forward modelling is produced by the relation of eustasy levels, subsidence rate, carbonate production, water depth, and wave action. Models replicate sedimentation rates, facies distribution and carbonate geometries in line with the existent data of the location. As in all modelling processes, limitations and assumptions affect the expected results, which in this study is the ability of reproduce the stratigraphic thickness records. This study successfully shows that forward modelling provides an alternative to representing the interaction between carbonate processes and the carbonate strata geometries that can be obtained. Modelling the key properties offers the opportunity to identify factors behind carbonate variations in the subsurface. This could improve carbonate reservoirs characterization and predictions, and subsequently the potential improvement of hydrocarbon production strategies.