AAU - Ambiances, Architectures, Urbanités

As urban areas exert profound pressures on the natural environment, driving significant resource consumption and waste production, designers need to rethink the way urban projects are being developed. Therefore, this article advances the operationalization of the Circular Urban Metabolism (CUM) framework by analyzing a design case study: the Promenade Nardal in Paris. While CUM integrates the systemic material flow analysis of Urban Metabolism with the restorative strategies of the Circular Economy, it remains limited in its spatial articulation and applicability at the scale of urban design. Through a mixed-methods approach combining Life Cycle Assessment, spatial analysis, and qualitative inquiry, the article compares two circular design strategies, associated with the reuse of paving stones and the recycling of glass to produce Misapor, with conventional alternatives. Results demonstrate that stone reuse reduced CO2 emissions, energy demand, and water use, while Misapor showed energy and water advantages but slightly higher CO2 emissions due to production and transport. Beyond quantitative metrics, the study reveals the distinct design efforts and institutional frictions induced by circular practices, especially reuse, which requires adaptive aesthetics, labor-intensive design, and negotiation with technical norms. By spatializing material flows and foregrounding design agency, the article refines CUM as a situated and scalable framework, highlighting the need for context-sensitive, materially differentiated strategies in circular urban design.

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This paper presents a thorough analysis of the differences between human and automated harvesting techniques in agriculture, including their categorization, impacts, difficulties, costs, and potential future developments. Manual harvesting, which involves labor-intensive methods, enables meticulous handling and yields top-notch product. However, it is constrained by expensive labor and the availability of workers only during certain seasons. On the other hand, automated harvesting improves efficiency and scalability, decreasing the need for human labor and boosting production. Nevertheless, this endeavor requires a substantial infusion of financial resources and may lead to increased harm to crops and compaction of the soil. The paper analyzes the economic consequences of both approaches, emphasizing the greater initial investment required for mechanical equipment compared to the continuous labor expenses associated with hand harvesting. This study addresses the difficulties of labor shortages, equipment maintenance, and adaptation to various crops and terrains. In the future, the incorporation of cutting-edge technology, like as robots and artificial intelligence (AI), has the potential to tackle these difficulties by providing more effective and sustainable methods for harvesting.

– In a comprehensive examination of solid waste generation within the Biswanath Chariali municipal area, Assam, India our study delves into representative 180 households and 15 hotels, meticulously scrutinizing the intricate dynamics of waste disposal. Over a month, we methodically documented the waste generation patterns, revealing a vivid tapestry of disposal practices and habits. The introduction of colour-coded waste bins, strategically positioned in both households and hotels, has heralded a noticeable shift in waste disposal behaviours. The projected data were calculated from the sampled data for the entire household and hotels present in the municipal area. The data reveals that the total waste from the Biswanath Chariali municipal area is 280.77 mt/month out of which 201.62 mt organic waste, 49.74 mt plastic waste and 33.71 mt other waste (Glass, plastic etc.) Notably, Ward number 6 emerged as a focal point of heightened waste production (52.06 mt of total waste generated/month). Out of 66.12 mt of total hotel waste generated in the municipal area, 51.06 mt is organic waste, 9.44 mt is Plastic waste and 5.63 mt is other waste. A paradigm shift is envisaged through the exploration of technological interventions, encompassing composting, biochar production, and the conversion of organic waste into electricity. A noteworthy revelation underscores that over 70% of the waste predicament can be alleviated by harnessing the potential of organic waste, thereby transforming it into a valuable resource. However, a pivotal aspect to consider lies in the necessity for large-scale receptacles, essential for realizing a visibly cleaner municipal landscape. As we conclude, our contemplation extends towards the implementation of recycling centres and waste-to-energy facilities as transformative solutions for a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing Biswanath Chariali.

A field experiment was conducted at Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam during rabi 2018-19 for assessing the PAR interception and radiation use efficiency in potato variety Kufri Jyoti under different microclimates, which was planted in split plot design with 4 dates of plantings and three mulching treatments with water hyacinth, black polythene and without mulching. The incident, reflected and transmitted PAR were measured periodically over the crop with line quantum sensor and daily incident radiation were calculated from incident PAR and bright sunshine hours. The interception of PAR (iPAR) varied considerably among different treatments, while highest iPAR was recorded under first date of planting and mulching treatment with water hyacinth. The leaf area index (LAI) and biomass production was highest in crop planted in first date planting and grown under water hyacinth mulch. The RUE for tuber yield was highest under water hyacinth (2.35 g MJ-1) followed by black polythene (2.03 g MJ-1) and non-mulched (1.67 g MJ-1) condition, while among planting dates it was highest in case of first date of planting. The LAI, biomass production and yield of potato were found to be significantly correlated with iPAR and RUE. The predictive models were developed by using stepwise regression method to predict tuber yield from iPAR and REU, which have R2 value of 0.96 and 0.99, respectively. 

Les pourparlers des directrices et directeurs de thse en contexte Cifre Les Cahiers de la recherche architecturale urbaine et paysagre , Matriaux de la recherche 1 Un partenariat de long terme Catherine Maumi : Mon exprience des Cifre est assez spcifique dans le sens o c'est un partenariat qui dure depuis plus de 12 ans avec le mme CAUE ; je vais y inscrire ma quatrime doctorante. C'est un partenariat prcieux et de confiance. Ce CAUE cherche des comptences en histoire de l'architecture, le financement de thses qui permettent de faire de la recherche fondamentale, je continue l'accompagner mme depuis l'Ensa la Villette. On classe souvent les Cifre en R & D. Je suis seule dire non ; pour moi, avec une Cifre, il s'agit vraiment de recherche fondamentale. En Haute-Savoie, le directeur actuel du CAUE mne une politique de valorisation du patrimoine construit, avec tout un travail de labellisation du XX e sicle. Pour lui, la recherche produite au sein du CAUE par le doctorant en poste enrichit leur rflexion. Ils attendent donc vraiment quelqu'un qui, par son travail de recherche, permette toute l'quipe d'acqurir des comptences nouvelles, un savoir nouveau sur un patrimoine donn. Quand il est en Cifre, outre le travail de thse, on demande au doctorant de concevoir scientifiquement une exposition sur son corpus. Cette exposition itinrante sera de la valorisation grand public. Par ailleurs, il y a un travail de publication, un ouvrage dans une collection intitule Portrait . Il s'agit de portraits d'architectes (Henry Jacques Le Mme, Jacques Labro). Pour le dernier, ma doctorante travaille sur Jean-Louis Chanac et Pascal Hasermann. Un autre va paratre sur Paul-Jacques Grillo. Je considre que c'est une situation absolument privilgie pour les doctorants. En effet, au sein de la structure, ils font partie du ple valorisation et communication et leur rle est vraiment d'apporter de la connaissance. Toute la culture du CAUE est construite autour de cela ; ils font de la valorisation dans les coles, dans les lyces : ils construisent un programme de valorisation. L'exposition sert cela, car le doctorant fait visiter l'exposition. Il prpare un petit journal de l'exposition pour les enfants ; il fait un travail de mdiation. Quand le doctorant a fini sa Cifre, il a donc dj une exposition et une publication dans son CV. Le problme est qu'il n'a pas soutenu sa thse dans les trois ans car le temps de la rdaction arrive aprs cela ! La premire thse finance par le CAUE portait sur l'architecte Maurice Novarina. La deuxime thse, que j'ai dirige, portait sur Henry Jacques Le Mme. Disons que le support tait le fonds d'archives Henry Jacques Le Mme vers aux archives de Savoie. La doctorante a ensuite problmatis et travaill sur la typologie du chalet du skieur Megve. C'est le directeur du CAUE qui apporte un sujet. Le sujet de la thse que je vais inscrire prochainement porte sur Maurice Braillard, architecte genevois. Tout le fonds est la fondation Braillard avec laquelle un accord est dj en place. Nous construisons ensuite un projet de thse en accord avec le directeur du CAUE. Il s'agit alors de trouver le doctorant ou la doctorante. Ce n'est pas le plus simple, car il faut quelqu'un de fiable. Je tiens ce partenaire et je ne veux donc pas n'importe quel doctorant : il faut quelqu'un de solide que l'on peut tester. J'inscris rarement au hasard.

The study was conducted in Saurashtra region of Gujarat State. A multistage, purposive and random sampling technique was used for the study. Out of eleven district of Saurashtra region, total five districts were selected purposively where cluster frontline demonstration on groundnut crop under National Mission on Oilseed and Oil palm (NMOOP) was conducted by KVKs during last two years. Five districts of Saurashtra region were selected for the study. Two talukas from each selected districts were selected purposively where cluster frontline demonstrations are conducted by the KVKs during last two years. Thus, total 10 talukas were selected for the study. Villages from each taluka were selected purposively where maximum cluster frontline demonstrations are conducted by KVKs. Thus, total 16 villages were selected purposively. The random sampling technique was used for the selection of the respondents. 80 demonstrator and 80 non-demonstrator farmers were selected randomly from selected village for comparative study. Thus total 160 respondents were selected for this study. The data were classified, tabulated and analyzed with the help of frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation and Z value. The analysis indicated that the independent sample ‘Z’ test showed that there was significant difference in the mean values of demonstrator and non-demonstrator groundnut growers in case of adoption of recommended groundnut production technology.

En Ukraine, en Syrie et ailleurs dans le monde, des zones sont en proie à des conflits, à des violences et à la guerre. Des territoires ont été détruits et d’autres sont menacés de l’être. La guerre est certes le lot de l’homme, mais elle est aussi une réalité empirique complexe, multiple, fluctuante et qui semble avoir disparu des horizons d’attente de nos sociétés occidentales. Les voies d’analyse sont variées : la guerre est un thème classique des disciplines telles que les sciences polit...

India is called as spice wealthy nation as its total production of spices is around 101.25 lakh tonnes from an area of about 43 lakh hectares. This study was entirely based on secondary data. During the year 2020-21, India exported 15.65 lakh tonnes of spices worth of Rs.27143.2 crores. Chilli alone accounts for 38.43 per cent in volume and 31 per cent in value to total export of spices. Exports of chilli grew from 37191 tonnes worth Rs.12246 lakh in the year 2000-01 to 601500 tonnes worth Rs.842975 lakh in the year 2020-21 with an increasing growth rate of 14.47% and 24.48 per cent respectively. China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, UAE and Bangladesh are the major buyers for Indian chillies. Destination wise export of chilli showed that China was the most loyal importer of Indian chilli with retention of 95.09 per cent while Sri Lanka showed zero retention in importing Indian chillies. India had enjoyed a comparative advantage in chilli and NPC for chilli are less than one which clearly indicated that Indian chillies are competitive in the international market. The rigorous quality measures implemented by the Spices Board and the lower output by other competing countries like China and Pakistan had also helped India to achieve record performance.