Dr Alba Fuertes

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(0) 118 378 4717
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Associate Professor
Office
127Building location
Chancellor's BuildingAreas of interest
Originally trained in construction management and engineering, my research has often focused on improving construction processes for a more sustainable and healthier built environment. I am particularly interested in climate change adaptation in the construction industry. This includes understanding: the level of awareness amongst construction professionals; the ability of businesses to systematically analyse climate change risks and their impact on their processes and operations; and current and future adaptation actions. In addition to mitigation measures, the construction sector must take significant adaptation actions to minimise the effects of climate change, including higher temperatures, extreme weather events, flooding and poorer air quality. To do so, construction organisations will need to systematically identify the short-term and long-term vulnerabilities of their managerial practices and operational processes, and analytically assess climate change related risks (e.g. heat-related H&S risks on workers, supply chain reliability, project delays and profit) and provide actions to address these risks.
I am particularly interested in establishing research collaborations with industry and attracting research funding that can benefit both academia and construction organisations. Specific research areas of interest are:
- Climate change adaptation and resilience
- Effects of weather on construction workers’ H&S and wellbeing
- Effects of weather on construction productivity
- Climate change risk assessment in construction projects
Postgraduate supervision
- Wang, W.: The building stock retrofit challenge: a system thinking approach
- Jones, S.: An investigation of the association between construction, indoor air quality and health
- Akinbami, A.: Effects of daylight on health and productivity of healthcare personnel
- Ulrich de Alencastro, J.P.: Impact of quality management on the thermal performance of social housing in UK
- Dangana, Z.: A decision support framework for selecting innovative sustainable technologies for delivering low carbon retail buildings
Teaching
Convenorship:
- CE2CBT1 - Building Technology (UG Year 2)
- CE3CPE - BEM Project (UG Year 3)
- CE3CPM - Construction Management Project (UG Year 3)
Contributing to:
- CE3CCD - Dissertation Supervision (UG)
- CEM10A - Research Skills (MSc)
- CEM10/18/19B - Dissertation Supervision (MSc)
Research centres and groups
University of Reading Organisation, People and Technology Research Group
University of Reading Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Group
Research projects
- Sustainability Hub: Low Carbon Devon (Co-I). European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), 2019 – 2023
- Energy Game for Awareness of energy efficiency in social housing communities (EnerGAware) (PI at UoP). European Commission Horizon2020, 2015 – 2018.
- Sustainable Energy Management for Underground Stations (SEAM4US) (Co-I). European Commission (FP7), 2011 - 2012
- Embedded Intelligent Controls for buildings with Renewable generation and Storage (ENCOURAGE) (Co-I). European Commission (JTI-CP-ARTEMIS), 2011 - 2012
- Development of an Homogenous Lifecycle Analysis (LCA) model for the evaluation of the energy consumption and emissions of buildings (Co-I). Ministry for Infrastructure and Buildings, Spanish Government, 2007 - 2010
Background
I obtained my MEng in Construction Engineering and MSc in Construction Project Management from the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC, Spain), where I also completed my PhD studies and started my academic career as a Lecturer.
In 2012, I joined the University of Plymouth as an Associate Professor, where I was Programme leader and Built Environment Discipline leader, before progressing to the School of the Built Environment at the University of Reading in 2022.
Academic qualifications
- PhD 2012 (Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain)
- MSc 2007 (Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain, Construction Project Management)
- MEng 2006 (Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain, Industrial Engineering (Construction specialisation))
Professional bodies/affiliations
- Fellow of Higher Education Association (FHEA)
- Member of Scientific Association of Experts in Occupational Health and Safety, Spain.
- Member of Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM)
Websites/blogs
Publications
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Alencastro, J.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , De Wilde, P. (2023) Investigating the influence of quality management on building thermal performance. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management ISSN: 1365-232X | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-11-2021-1061
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Bruce-Konuah, A.
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Jones, R.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2023) A method for estimating scheduled and manual override heating behaviour and settings from measurements in low energy UK homes. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation , 41 (1). pp. 25-44. ISSN: 2398-4708 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-05-2021-0074
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Korsavi, S.
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Jones, R.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2022) Factors influencing the state of blinds and lights in primary schools: behavioural models and opportunities to improve children's visual environment. Journal of Building Engineering , 61 ISSN: 2352-7102 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2022.105303
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Korsavi, S.
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Jones, R.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2022) Operations on windows and external doors in UK primary schools and their effects on indoor environmental quality. Building and Environment , 207 (Part B). ISSN: 0360-1323 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108416
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Korsavi, S.
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Jones, R.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2021) The gap between automated building management system and office occupants' manual window operations: towards personalised algorithms. Automation in Construction , 132 ISSN: 0926-5805 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2021.103960
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Butt, B.
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Jones, R.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2021) Opportunities and barriers to business engagement in the UK domestic retrofit sector: an industry perspective. Building Services Engineering Research and Technology , 42 (3). pp. 293-305. ISSN: 1477-0849 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0143624420975640
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Korsavi, S.
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Jones, R.
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Bilverstone, P.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2021) A longitudinal assessment of the energy and carbon performance of a Passivhaus university building in the UK. Journal of Building Engineering , 44 ISSN: 23527102 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103353
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Hafner, R.
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Pahl, S.
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Jones, R.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2020) Energy use in social housing residents in the UK and recommendations for developing energy behaviour change interventions. Journal of Cleaner Production , 251 ISSN: 0959-6526 ISBN: 9596526 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119643
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Casals, M.
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Gangolells, M.
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Macarulla, M.
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Forcada, N.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Hafner, R. , Jones, R. (2020) Assessing the effectiveness of gamification in reducing domestic energy consumption: lessons learned from the EnerGAware project. Energy and Buildings , 210 ISSN: 0378-7788 ISBN: 3787788 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.109753
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Hafner, R.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Pahl, S. , Jones, R. , Boomsma, C. , Gangolells, M. , Casals, M. (2020) Results and insight gained from applying the EnergyCat energy-saving serious game in UK social housing. International Journal of Serious Games , 7 (2). pp. 27-48. ISSN: 2384-8766 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.17083/ijsg.v7i2.333
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Bruce-Konuah, A.
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Jones, R.
ORCID: 0000-0002-2716-9872 , Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , de Wilde, P. (2019) Central heating settings and heating energy demand in low energy social housing in the United Kingdom. Energy Procedia , 158 pp. 3658-3663. ISSN: 1876-6102 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2019.01.895
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Bruce-Konuah, A.
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Jones, R.
ORCID: 0000-0002-2716-9872 , Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , de Wilde, P. (2019) Central heating settings in low energy social housing in the United Kingdom. Energy Procedia , 158 pp. 3399-3404. ISSN: 1876-6102 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2019.01.941
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Alencastro, J.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Fox, A. , De Wilde, P. (2019) The impact of defects on energy performance of buildings: quality management in social housing developments. Energy Procedia , 158 pp. 4357-4362. ISSN: 1876-6102 ISBN: 18766102 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2019.01.784
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Bruce-Konuah, A.
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Jones, R.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2019) Physical environmental and contextual drivers of occupants’ manual space heating override behaviour in UK residential buildings. Energy and Buildings , 183 pp. 129-138. ISSN: 0378-7788 ISBN: 3787788 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.10.043
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Boomsma, C.
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Jones, R.
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Pahl, S.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2019) Do psychological factors relate to energy saving behaviours in inefficient and damp homes? A study among English social housing residents. Energy Research and Social Science , 47 pp. 146-155. ISSN: 2214-6296 ISBN: 22146296 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.09.007
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Bruce-Konuah, A.
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Jones, R.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Messi, L. , Giretti, A. (2018) The role of thermostatic radiator valves for the control of space heating in UK social-rented households. Energy and Buildings , 173 pp. 206-220. ISSN: 0378-7788 ISBN: 3787788 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.05.023
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Alencastro, J.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , de Wilde, P. (2018) The relationship between quality defects and the thermal performance of buildings. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews , 81 (1). pp. 883-894. ISSN: 1364-0321 ISBN: 18790690 13640321 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.08.029
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Boomsma, C.
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Hafner, R.
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Pahl, S.
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Jones, R.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2018) Should we play games where energy is concerned? Perceptions of serious gaming as a technology to motivate energy behaviour change among social housing residents. Sustainability , 10 (6). ISSN: 2071-1050 ISBN: 20711050 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su10061729
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Giretti, A.
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Vaccarini, M.
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Casals, M.
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Macarulla, M.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Jones, R. (2018) Reduced-order modeling for energy performance contracting. Energy and Buildings , 167 pp. 216-230. ISSN: 0378-7788 ISBN: 3787788 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.02.049
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Jones, R.
ORCID: 0000-0002-2716-9872 , Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Goodhew, S. , de Wilde, P. (2017) The actual performance of aspiring low energy social houses in the United Kingdom. Energy Procedia , 105 pp. 2181-2186. ISSN: 1876-6102 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.615
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Boomsma, C.
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Pahl, S.
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Jones, R.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2017) “Damp in bathroom. damp in back room. it's very depressing!” exploring the relationship between perceived housing problems, energy affordability concerns, and health and well-being in UK social housing. Energy Policy , 106 pp. 382-393. ISSN: 0301-4215 ISBN: 3014215 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2017.04.011
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Jones, R.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Gregori, E. , Giretti, A. (2017) Stochastic behavioural models of occupants' main bedroom window operation for UK residential buildings. Building and Environment , 118 pp. 144-158. ISSN: 0360-1323 ISBN: 3601323 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.03.033
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Alencastro, J.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , De Wilde, P. (2017) Delivering energy-efficient social housing: implications of the procurement process. Procedia Engineering , 182 pp. 10-17. ISSN: 1877-7058 ISBN: 18777058 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.03.103
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Jones, R.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Boomsma, C. , Pahl, S. (2016) Space heating preferences in UK social housing: a socio-technical household survey combined with building audits. Energy and Buildings , 127 pp. 382-398. ISSN: 0378-7788 ISBN: 3787788 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.06.006
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Jones, R.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Lomas, K. (2015) The socio-economic, dwelling and appliance related factors affecting electricity consumption in domestic buildings. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews , 43 pp. 901-917. ISSN: 1364-0321 ISBN: 13640321 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.11.084
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Macarulla, M.
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Forcada, N.
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Casals, M.
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Gangolells, M.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Roca, X. (2013) Standardizing housing defects: classification, validation, and benefits. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management , 139 (8). pp. 968-976. ISSN: 1943-7862 ISBN: 7339364 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000669
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Forcada, N.
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Macarulla, M.
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Gangolells, M.
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Casals, M.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Roca, X. (2013) Posthandover housing defects: sources and origins. Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities , 27 (6). pp. 756-762. ISSN: 1943-5509 ISBN: 8873828 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000368
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Gangolells, M.
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Casals, M.
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Forcada, N.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Roca, X. (2013) Model for enhancing integrated identification, assessment, and operational control of on-site environmental impacts and health and safety risks in construction firms. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management , 139 (2). pp. 138-147. ISSN: 1943-7862 ISBN: 7339364 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000579
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Forcada, N.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Gangolells, M. , Casals, M. , Macarulla, M. (2013) Knowledge management perceptions in construction and design companies. Automation in Construction , 29 pp. 83-91. ISSN: 0926-5805 ISBN: 9265805 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2012.09.001
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Casals, M. , Gangolells, M. , Forcada, N. , Macarulla, M. , Roca, X. (2013) An Environmental Impact Causal Model for improving the environmental performance of construction processes. Journal of Cleaner Production , 52 pp. 425-437. ISSN: 0959-6526 ISBN: 9596526 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.02.005
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Morillas, R.
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Rubio-Romero, J.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2013) A comparative analysis of occupational health and safety risk prevention practices in Sweden and Spain. Journal of Safety Research , 47 pp. 57-65. ISSN: 0022-4375 ISBN: 224375 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2013.08.005
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Forcada, N.
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Macarulla, M.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Casals, M. , Gangolells, M. , Roca, X. (2012) Influence of building type on post-handover defects in housing. Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities , 26 (4). pp. 433-440. ISSN: 0887-3828 ISBN: 8873828 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000225
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Forcada, N.
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Casals, M.
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Roca, X.
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Gangolells, M.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2011) Improving design competences: experiences in group-based learning based on icts in a blended learning environment. International Journal of Engineering Education , 27 (2). pp. 292-302. ISBN: 0949149X
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Gangolells, M.
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Casals, M.
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Gassó, S.
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Forcada, N.
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Roca, X.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2011) Assessing concerns of interested parties when predicting the significance of environmental impacts related to the construction process of residential buildings. Building and Environment , 46 (5). pp. 1023-1037. ISSN: 0360-1323 ISBN: 3601323 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2010.11.004
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Gangolells, M.
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Casals, M.
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Forcada, N.
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Roca, X.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2010) Mitigating construction safety risks using prevention through design. Journal of Safety Research , 41 (2). pp. 107-122. ISSN: 0022-4375 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2009.10.007
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Forcada, N.
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Casals, M.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 , Gangolells, M. , Roca, X. (2010) A web-based system for sharing and disseminating research results: the underground construction case study. Automation in Construction , 19 (4). pp. 458-474. ISSN: 0926-5805 ISBN: 9265805 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2009.12.018
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Gangolells, M.
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Casals, M.
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Gassó, S.
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Forcada, N.
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Roca, X.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2009) A methodology for predicting the severity of environmental impacts related to the construction process of residential buildings. Building and Environment , 44 (3). pp. 558-571. ISSN: 0360-1323 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2008.05.001
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Forcada, N.
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Casals, M.
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Gangolells, M.
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Roca, X.
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Fuertes, A.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6224-1489 (2008) Experiences of success in industrial plants projects. Revista Ingenieria de Construccion , 23 (2). pp. 82-93. ISSN: 0718-5073 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-50732008000200003