scenario updated

7+1 R+D CENTERS IN THE AL-EX REGION

1. SCENARIO

In order to describe the project, it is necessary to know that we are dealing with the two biggest regions in the peninsula and they are also worldwide known because of their rich biodiversity and landscapes.

What the project seeks is to foster these qualities that make both regions unique by means of researching them, either for using them in the same field or in order to apply them in other sciences.

In what this project is taking part in this big picture that is the AL-EX project is therefore based on the creation of a R+D centers net-work that would be based in the intersection between high biodiversity points and the old and abandoned railroad tracks. Therefore these centers would have both, a character for the private research as well as a public use and they would help these two regions to develop and take advantage of their resources without getting overcrowded.

1.1 INFLUENCES

This project has two major impact areas. One towards the foreign market to the regions and countries, both scientific and economic, tourism or in the food industry, and another area where it would impact on the others projects to carry out within the region so that they are interconnected.

Looking outside, we have a situation that will promote knowledge of both regions and their products, making it an area of interest in the various fields mentioned above outside the peninsula. So this will increase the demand in the primary and tertiary sectors in the internal and overall picture of the AL-EX project.

This inner impact would refer to an increase in manpower in the regions and mechanisms promoting their development. Therefore we are talking about that although this particular part of the project is based on creating R & D centers, its relationship to the other parts will make that the interconnections between the various projects do not operate in isolated areas, but their actions would im-pact throughout the overall region.

The original idea of this project is not to attract tourism to the AL-EX region, which often would end up in a degeneration of the same, but encourage its development and generate better quality of life.

1.2 RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE SCENARIO AND THE AL-EX REGION

AL-EX REGION: The AL-EX region includes the regions of Extremadura in Spain and Alentejo in Portugal. The differ-ent aspects that these two regions have in common had led us to propose that both of the work together in order to take advantage of their resources.

BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMS: Both regions are well known for having unique and particular species, animals, plants and unique ecosystems. It is also very character-istic the changes in the landscape from the dehesa, to the montado and the different mountains that surround the area.

INFRASTRUCTURE: Both regions are connected by means of roads and railway tracks. Many of the railroad tracks have been abandoned because of the construction of the TGV. So, why do not reuse and rehabilitate this rail-road tracks?

LOCATION: Once I have analyzed the region, the biodi-versity and ecosystems and the network of railroad tracks that crosses both regions I can set the location for the different R+D centers. The different R+D centers would be located in the intersection of the different hotspots of biodiversity and the network of abandoned or in disuse railroad tracks.

1.3 RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE OTHER PROJECTS

As mentioned above, the AL-EX project is an action to perform in Extremadura and Alentejo regions that would be based on a series of “sub-projects” which relationships and interconnections would result in the big picture of the AL-EX.

The relationships that are proposed and that would take place thanks to the research centers are many and varied.

First we find that the program of these centers presents the introduction of a public program which would bring the study of dif-ferent research areas to a variety of audiences outside the fields covered in these centers. Therefore, it will be easier for the public to approach and acquire more knowledge about the area in a fun and educational way that would go beyond the mere tourism knowledge of both regions.

Thanks to the educational character of the center, they would be in some way related to the Open cultural festival, a program that will be also develop in the AL-EX region. These activities of a formative but enjoyable character would be part of the festival and as the use of certain facilities of the centers for the development of activities during the festival.

On the other hand if we look at the location of the centers, given through a layering process, we could highlight the layer of the railroad tracks as another element for relationships.

The centers are located in these interconnections so that they have as easy access as possible to biodiversity hotspots and the ac-cess to the centers and the interconnection between their facilities.

2. LOCATION OF THE PROPOSAL

PLASENCIA

CÁCERES

BADAJOZ MÉRIDA

ZAFRA

VALENCIA DE

ALCÁNTARAMARVAO

REGUENGOS

EVORA

BEJASINES

LISBON

SEVILLA

CÓRDOBA

CÓRDOBACIUDAD REAL

MADRID

SALAMANCA

PORTOLISBON

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INTERSECTION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT LAYERS

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The AL-EX region includes the regions of Extremadura in Spain and Alentejo in Portugal.

The different aspects that these two regions have in common had led us to propose that both of the work toguether in order to take advantage of their resources.

AL-EX REGION

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PLASENCIA

CÁCERES

BADAJOZ MÉRIDA

ZAFRA

VALENCIA DE

ALCÁNTARAMARVAO

REGUENGOS

EVORA

BEJASINES

LISBON

SEVILLA

CÓRDOBA

CÓRDOBACIUDAD REAL

MADRID

SALAMANCA

PORTOLISBON

RAILROAD TRACKS NETWORK

Both regions are connected by means of roads and railway tracks.

Many of the railroad tracks have been abandoned because of the construction of the TGV. So, why do not reuse and rehabilitate this railroad tracks?

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HOTSPOTS OF BIODIVERSITY

Both regions are well known for having unique and particular species, animals, plants and unique ecosystems.

It is also very characteristic the changes in the landscape from the dehesa, to the montado and the different mountains that sur-round the area.

PLASENCIA

CÁCERES

BADAJOZ MÉRIDA

ZAFRA

VALENCIA DE

ALCÁNTARAMARVAO

REGUENGOS

EVORA

BEJASINES

LISBON

SEVILLA

CÓRDOBA

CÓRDOBACIUDAD REAL

MADRID

SALAMANCA

PORTOLISBON

0 50 10025

R+D CENTERS NETWORK

Once I have analized the region, the biodiversity and ecosystems and the network of railroad tracks that crosses both regions I can set the location for the different R+D centers.

The different R+D centers would be located in the intersection of the different hotspots of biodiversity and the network of aban-doned or in desuse railroad tracks.

2.1 DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOTSPOT LAYER

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In this section it is proposed a more comprehensive development and analysis of the layer of the biodiversity hotspots.

These areas named as hotspots come from research that the universities of Extremadura and Evora have carried out on the ecosys-tem of Extremadura and Alentejo regions.

The study by these two universities presents a series of documents explaining the features of each biodiversity area accompanied by a series of maps and diagrams that this proposal would be using as a basis for locating the different research centers.

The strategic conservation habitats are found inside the biodiversity hotspots (closed polygons), and are localized and delimited by their CORINE Land Cover land use. The land use map of the AL-EX region shows a spatial distribution and types and quantities which by their heterogeneity constitute an opportunity for biodiversity management – and especially the areas of high species richness.

(Strategic habitats for the biodiversity, UEx and Universidade de Evora)

(Strategic habitats for the biodiversity, UEx and Universidade de Evora)

These strategic conservation habitats are defined by patches of land use, which are thereby identified for their explicit consideration in territorial planning and management.

With their sustainable economic exploitation, maximizing their return for purposes of biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability.

This map incorporates spatial information with objectives whose location and extension have been precisely determined, and whose value in conservation is supported by a quantitative assessment.

The dissemination of this type of products needs to reach the economic sectors whose activity has much to do with biodiversity management and in general with land use planning.

3. THE R+D CENTERS

PLASENCIA

CÁCERES

BADAJOZMÉRIDA

ZAFRA

VALENCIA DE ALCÁNTARA

MARVAO

REGUENGOS

EVORA

BEJASINES

LISBON

SEVILLA

CÓRDOBA

CÓRDOBACIUDAD REAL

MADRID

SALAMANCA

PORTO

LISBON

0 50 10025

VENDAS

SCHOOL OF ORGANIC FARMING

ZOO-THERAPY CENTER

RESEARCH CENTER OF LOCAL PRODUCTS

RESEARCH CENTER FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY: SOLAR ENERGY.


RESEARCH CENTER FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY: HYDRAULIC POWER AND AQUACULTURE.


R+D CENTERS DEFINITION


PLASENCIA

CÁCERES

BADAJOZMÉRIDA

ZAFRA


MARVAO

REGUENGOS

EVORA

BEJASINES

LISBON

SEVILLA

CÓRDOBA

CÓRDOBACIUDAD REAL

MADRID

SALAMANCA

PORTO

LISBON

0 50 10025

VENDAS

SEED BANK

I’ve planned to create this seed bank in which to study the different species that compound the biodiversity in these AL-EX region and keep the seeds of all of them.

What elements make different a seed R+D center from a “normal” R+D center?

In order to preserve the species in these regions there must be some organization in charge of taking care of these species but due to the climate change some spe-cies are disappearing so this seed bank would collect the seeds of this plans and keep them but also there would be laboratories in it that would research about the properties of those species so to apply them in other fields.


PLASENCIA

CÁCERES

BADAJOZMÉRIDA

ZAFRA


MARVAO

REGUENGOS

EVORA

BEJASINES

LISBON

SEVILLA

CÓRDOBA

CÓRDOBACIUDAD REAL

MADRID

SALAMANCA

PORTO

LISBON

0 50 10025

VENDAS

ZOO-THERAPY CENTER

We find two facts when considering the rea-son for the development of these centers:

1-The many benefits that animals pro-vide people with various diseases are well known.

2-Extremadura has a great biodiversity, the only cross-border natural park in Europe, many school farms and breeding farms.

My proposal is based on the study of these resources to apply to the zoo-therapy, wheth-er in the field of riding horses regarding disable people, farm-schools to facilitate the popula-tion get to know the countryside...


PLASENCIA

CÁCERES

BADAJOZMÉRIDA

ZAFRA


MARVAO

REGUENGOS

EVORA

BEJASINES

LISBON

SEVILLA

CÓRDOBA

CÓRDOBACIUDAD REAL

MADRID

SALAMANCA

PORTO

LISBON

0 50 10025

VENDAS



These centers are based on the re-search of local products from both re-gions so that:

1-Profitability would increase with-out compromising the quality of any product.

2-The use and benefits of these products would be investigated in order to find how they can contribute to other sciences.


PLASENCIA

CÁCERES

BADAJOZMÉRIDA

ZAFRA


MARVAO

REGUENGOS

EVORA

BEJASINES

LISBON

SEVILLA

CÓRDOBA

CÓRDOBACIUDAD REAL

MADRID

SALAMANCA

PORTO

LISBON

0 50 10025

VENDAS



Both regions have two of the largest dams in Europe and therefore they are considered one of the largest producers of hydropower in the Peninsula.

In my opinion, a center to take advan-tage of this renewable energy could con-tribute significantly to both economic devel-opment and infrastructure development.

A department in this center in which to study the organisms that inhabit the waters that reach the dams could also be incorpo-rated.


PLASENCIA

CÁCERES

BADAJOZMÉRIDA

ZAFRA


MARVAO

REGUENGOS

EVORA

BEJASINES

LISBON

SEVILLA

CÓRDOBA

CÓRDOBACIUDAD REAL

MADRID

SALAMANCA

PORTO

LISBON

0 50 10025

VENDAS



Organic farming is a system to cultivate an au-tonomous farm based on an optimal use of natu-ral resources, without using synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms, achieving this way to get organic food while preserving fertile the land and respecting the environment. All these would be achieve in a sustainable and balanced way.

Through the study of such crops it could be boost-ed the production of certain types of products in order to increase profits without reaching the over-exploitation of land.

PLASENCIA

CÁCERES

BADAJOZMÉRIDA

ZAFRA


MARVAO

REGUENGOS

EVORA

BEJASINES

LISBON

SEVILLA

CÓRDOBA

CÓRDOBACIUDAD REAL

MADRID

SALAMANCA

PORTO

LISBON

0 50 10025

VENDAS

SEED BANK

I’ve planned to create this seed bank in which to study the different species that compound the biodiversity in these AL-EX region and keep the seeds of all of them.

What elements make different a seed R+D center from a “normal” R+D center?

In order to preserve the species in these regions there must be some organization in charge of taking care of these species but due to the climate change some spe-cies are disappearing so this seed bank would collect the seeds of this plans and keep them but also there would be laboratories in it that would research about the properties of those species so to apply them in other fields.

ZOO-THERAPY CENTER

We find two facts when considering the rea-son for the development of these centers:

1-The many benefits that animals provide people with various diseases are well known. 2-Extremadura has a great biodiversity, the only cross-border natural park in Europe, many school farms and breeding farms.

My proposal is based on the study of these resources to apply to the zoo-therapy, wheth-er in the field of riding horses regarding disable people, farm-schools to facilitate the popula-tion get to know the countryside...




These centers are based on the re-search of local products from both re-gions so that:

1-Profitability would increase without compromising the quality of any prod-uct. 2-The use and benefits of these prod-ucts would be investigated in order to find how they can contribute to other


Both regions have two of the largest dams in Europe and therefore they are considered one of the largest producers of hydropower in the Peninsula.

In my opinion, a center to take advan-tage of this renewable energy could con-tribute significantly to both economic devel-opment and infrastructure development.

A department in this center in which to study the organisms that inhabit the waters that reach the dams could also be incorpo-rated.


Organic farming is a system to cultivate an au-tonomous farm based on an optimal use of natu-ral resources, without using synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms, achieving this way to get organic food while preserving fertile the land and respecting the environment. All these would be achieve in a sustainable and balanced way.

Through the study of such crops it could be boost-ed the production of certain types of products in order to increase profits without reaching the over-exploitation of land.


3.1 RELATIONSHIP WITHIN THE NETWORK

R+D CENTERS NETWORK

PLASENCIA

CÁCERES

BADAJOZMÉRIDA

ZAFRA


MARVAO

REGUENGOS

EVORA

BEJASINES

LISBON

SEVILLA

CÓRDOBA

CÓRDOBACIUDAD REAL

MADRID

SALAMANCA

PORTO

LISBON

0 50 10025

VENDAS


ZOO-THERAPY CENTER







3.2 SCHOOL OF ORGANIC FARMING

The school of ecologic agriculture is a center in which a group of experts and scientist dedicate their time to study and research about the different products that grow in those lands in which their owners practice the ecologic agriculture.

In this centers all those products are kept, cleaned and prepare for the different test in the labs and also there are prepare for profes-sionals to taste them before selling them. The different people working in this center also investigate about the new ways of producing these ecologic products in order to either improve the method or to implement it in other crops.

http://www.agriecol.org/proyectosInvestigacion

http://www.caemplasencia.es.tl/Noticias.htm#

3.2.1 INFLUENCES

PLASENCIA

CÁCERES

BADAJOZMÉRIDA

ZAFRA


MARVAO

REGUENGOS

EVORA

BEJASINES

LISBON

SEVILLA

CÓRDOBA

CÓRDOBACIUDAD REAL

MADRID

SALAMANCA

PORTO

LISBON

0 50 10025

VENDAS


ZOO-THERAPY CENTER






As it can be seen in the diagram, the school of organic farming is the center with the most of the relationship with the other center within the network. This is the reason that leads the proposal to focus and analyze this center more carefully.

The organic farming school will maintain closed relationships with the centers that research about renewable energies so to apply them in the OFS; with the centers that are in charge of researching about the local products; with the zoo therapy center, in order to provide organic feed for the animals…

3.2.2 LOCATION

The organic farming school is located in the “Valle del Jerte”. As the TLO, the location of the center is given by the area between three points: Plasencia, the hermitage of La Virgen del Puerto and the Plasencia’s dam. The rea-sons that led to the choice of this area for the location of the school are:

1-Plasencia: the school and headquarter of organic farming in Spain is in this city and there exist a project for its expansion for the coming years.

2-Plasencia’s dam: easy access roads to all vehicles (lorries and cars)

3-La Virgen del Puerto church: the highest point of the area which would show the rela-tionship between the center and the area of research (also because of the routes, easy ac-cess for pilgrims, which surround and connect it with the city and the dam)

The specific location is given by the area’s proximity to a number of abandoned railroad tracks that connect the city with the neighbor-ing town of Hervás and they are within 5 km of the place chosen for the center, as well as the intersection of certain points of pilgrims’ paths (Ruta de la Plata) and transhumance routes (original “via pecuaria de la Mesta) linking the region of Extremadura and Castilla y León.

School of ecologic farming

ERMITA DE LA VIRGEN DEL PUERTOPLASENCIA’S DAM

PLASENCIA

3.2.3 PROGRAM

The school will attract a varied number of people that would be interested in the practices carried out by this center. It can be dif-ferentiated between the people that is going to work in here and the people who is going to visit the center for varied reasons:

a-Workers: 1-Scientist 2-Administrative staff 3-Receptionist and secretary 4-Vets 5-Engineers

b-Visitors: 1-Farmers 2-Press 3-Tourists 4-Students 5-Phds 6-Researcher from other centers

Therefore, regarding the people who are going to use the facilities of the building, this has to have:

1-Agreements with ranchers and farmers.

2-Labs of physic-chemical and microbiological analysis.

3-Technical service area: electric workshop, engineer workshop, sewage for the gray water, compressor room, meeting room, screening room.

4-General service area: refrigerating and freezing areas, experimental kitchen, “panel de cata” (for 8/9) people that cannot see each other)

5-Reception area and preparation area for the different products ( one for vegetables and another one for meet)

6-Area for the agricultural machinery

7-Common areas: lobby, reception

The proposal develops from an area that divides (the exact amount of sqm needed to host all the installations that the center needs) in three cubic geometries that have vertical and horizontal relationships between them.

Therefore, the project develops in two directions: vertical and horizontal.

Each geometry has different dimensions that adjust to the uses and needs that develop in its inside. At the same time, each of them has a different orientation depending on the amount of light needed for the activities developed in their inside.

TOTAL SRF NEEDED

DIVISION OF THE SRF

LAB. FACILITIES

WAREHOUSE

INSTALLATIONS

ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES

scenario updated

Documents

alex project

regions unique

regions of extremadura

biggest regions

alex regionalex region

alex region1

influencesthis project

overall region