Health problems and respiratory diseases are associated with poor indoor air ventilation. We investigated the air quality inside a classroom-laboratory where no ventilation is provided. The case of study, consisting of an internal enclosure, is located at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Edificación (ETSEM) of Madrid (Spain). The high height favours air stratification which is analysed in terms of temperature and CO₂ spatial distribution. Temperature, air humidity, atmospheric pressure and CO₂ concentration measurements were taken in time at three different height locations. A CFD numerical model was established to analyse air quality. Flow circulation is derived by solving full 3D Navier - Stokes governing equations, coupled with the thermal problem. The diffusion problem of the CO₂ produced by the inner occupants is then derived from the kinematics solution. Three scenarios were taken into account: occupants seated (1), standing (2), half seated, half standing (3). Results clearly show the air stratification as a result of density gradient, which is in turn determined by temperature difference between the occupants and the surrounding air. Temperature prediction maximum relative error is contained to 3.5 %. As expected, CO₂ concentration increases over time, reaching maximum values depending on the configuration considered and height location.

In today’s competitive construction industry, companies are under increasing pressure to enhance efficiency and productivity. This research examines how digitalization can address issues such as market instability, low productivity, lack of investment in innovation, workforce issues, and management deficiencies. It explores the potential of technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Lean Construction (LC) to improve project management. The “House of COANFI” framework, integrating Lean principles with strategy, process, projects, and people, is proposed as a solution for enhancing project management, promoting organizational coherence, continuous improvement, and technological adoption. The methodology includes a literature survey, stakeholder workshops, developing an information system, and validation through case studies. Key findings highlight the benefits of COANFI implementation, including better data management, improved productivity, collaborative integration, and organizational learning. However, challenges such as resistance to change, data quality issues, and integration complexity must be addressed. The study concludes that digitalization, supported by frameworks like COANFI, can significantly enhance efficiency and competitiveness. Future research should validate these methodologies in real-world applications, explore strategies for managing organizational change, and investigate the impact of digital technologies on sustainability, helping the construction sector achieve long-term growth and sustainability.

This research develops and applies a tool that allows the breakdown of time objectives to the same level of detail traditionally applied to cost, while also providing a favorable production scheme to ensure the project quality. This tool introduces an innovative approach to planning and execution monitoring through cascading dashboards, representing production packages and activities across designated project zones. This approach reinterprets the Last Planner System for jobs on-site in conjunction with the Location-Based Management System. The primary dashboard facilitates the management of complex work structures—typically involving hundreds of rows in Gantt chart representations or numerous lines in Line of Balance diagrams—while enabling the easy identification of activity cycles and gaps between activities in each zone. The tool offers a four-dimensional planning visualization—what, where, when, and who—enhancing the understanding of activity sequences and workflows across project zones, while also contributing to product quality improvement. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated through its application that the tool provides reliable, real-time information that supports decision-making, optimizes resource allocation, and improves overall project competitiveness.

Reducing energy expenditure in the construction sector requires the implementation of passive strategies in buildings. In Spain, consumption is centered on air conditioning systems associated with the demand for the building’s thermal envelope. A critical point of the enclosures is represented by glazed holes where much of the energy that is consumed is lost; however, homes increasingly tend to have large window openings due to the comfort and visual well-being they provide to users. In this study, we focus on an extreme case, analyzing a fully glazed house in its four orientations. It is necessary to evaluate the most energy efficient passive strategy for this type of construction. The results are based on the temperature analysis obtained during the monitoring of two scale models of a glass house. The results indicate that solar control foil glasses perform better in warmer weather stations. Regarding the cantilever installation, it influences the interior temperature and the central hours of the day, mitigating the increase in temperature as well as slowing the nighttime cooling.