a b s t r a c tTo promote the utilization of ground-source heat pumps, a new methodology to calculate the lowtemperature geothermal potential (LTGP) of a region is presented. The methodology is applicable worldwide, and it considers both closed-and open-loop systems. This new approximation for closedloops calculates the admissible heat flux exchange with the ground according to an analytical solution of the heat transport equation in porous media. Open-loop systems are calculated as a function of a sustainable removable water flux and the temperature difference between groundwater and a referenced external body. The automated calculation in the setting of a GIS platform has allowed the performance of multilayered 3D mapping of the low-temperature geothermal potential for both types of exploitations considering all of the available information. An example of the application of the methodology in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (Spain) is also presented. Finally, a finite element analysis has been performed to quantify the accuracy of the method and the influence of heat advection processes in the LTGP.
Despite covering only 2.7% of the world's total surface area, the world's cities are responsible for 75% of the world's energy consumption and 80% of greenhouse-gas emissions. For this reason, the redesign of cities is essential in the transition towards sustainability. However, planning and designing sustainable neighbourhoods is not a simple task, given that there is no agreement on what the sustainable settlement should be, nor on how this should be achieved. Furthermore, planners have to strive to achieve a balance between Financial, environmental, and social goals, and must deal with multiple actors and stakeholders and with site-specific characteristics. The aim of this work is to describe the key determining factors-both opportunities and constraints-found in the process of designing and planning a neighbourhood, based on a case study in the city of Barcelona. In this practical experiment, led by the authors, the ecodesign methodology was applied on an urban scale in the neighbourhood of Vallbona, Barcelona, which occupies an area of 32.6 ha and will host 2120 dwellings. From this neighbourhood ecodesign exercise, it was found that territorial (urban form, urban fabrics, and density; availability of local resources), financial, legal, and political (local government's wishes and leadership) determinants are the most important. It is concluded that there is no single path to achieve urban sustainability, since the design of neighbourhoods in different locations will lead to différent results.
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