TECNALIA Publications
Welcome to TECNALIA Publications, the Institutional Repository of TECNALIA.
TECNALIA Publications main objective is to collect, preserve and disseminate the intellectual production resulting from the research activity of TECNALIA to generate transferable knowledge and contribute thereby to development and social progress.
Recent Submissions
A Semi-supervised Approach to Multi-label Classification of NOTAMs using BERT
(2025) Rey Orozco, O.; Viso Dominguez, L. M.; Montoya Santamaría, A.; Mocholí Gonzalez, D.; García Cantú-Ros, O.; AI; Smart Transport
Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) are key for the safe operation of commercial and civil aviation flights around the globe, as they provide up-to-date information on any disturbance on aerodromes and in the airspace. In this work, we propose a framework to train bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT) to assign labels to NOTAM messages using a multi-label classification approach where each NOTAM can be assigned multiple labels. To deal with the scarcity of labeled data for this task, we propose a semi-supervised learning framework using the MixMatch algorithm to allow the leveraging of unlabeled NOTAMs, and reduce the need for expert labeled NOTAMs. We demonstrate that the MixMatch algorithm combined with focal loss improves the performance of BERT on the multi-label classification of NOTAMs, with the micro-averaged F1-score improving from 0.93 to 0.96 on a publicly available test dataset.
This Week in The Journal
(2026-05-13) Opsomer, Laurent; Vandergooten, Simon; Thonnard, Jean Louis; Mcintyre, Joseph; Lefèvre, Philippe; Medical Technologies
Integrating Lean Philosophy and Sustainability:
A Systematic Literature Review with a Focus on the Social Dimension
(2026-02) Terradillos, Elena; Matias, João; Navas, Helena V.G.; Costa, Olga
In recent decades, the business paradigm has been transforming into the face of global challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity, consolidating sustainability as a strategic pillar that integrates the economic, environmental, and social dimensions. In parallel, Lean Philosophy, focused on eliminating waste and creating value, has been widely adopted as an effective management model. Despite the potential for its integration, literature reveals significant gaps, especially regarding the social dimension, which is often underexplored compared to the environmental and economic dimensions. To address this gap, this study identifies, analyzes, and synthesizes scientific literature on the integration between Lean and sustainability, with a special focus on the social dimension, using a systematic literature review conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 132 articles published between 2011 and 2024 were analyzed, obtained from the Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases. The results demonstrate a growing convergence between the two concepts, highlighting the centrality of the human factor, namely well-being, safety and health at work, and ethical practices, and identifying challenges and opportunities for future research focused on a more holistic approach to organizational sustainability.
Federated cloud service broker (FCSB):
An advanced cloud service intermediator for public administrations
(2017) Ibarra, Juncal Alonso; Orue-Echevarria, Leire; Escalante, Marisa; Benguria, Gorka; Echevarria, Gorka; DATAC; TECNALIA Research & Innovation; CIBERSEC and DLT
A cloud services brokerage is third-party software that adds value to cloud services on behalf of cloud service consumers. Their goal is to make the services more specific to a company, or to integrate or aggregate services, to enhance their security, or to do anything which adds a significant layer of value (i.e. capabilities) to the original cloud services being offered (Plummer, 2012). There exist several solutions focused on providing service brokerage of Cloud Service Providers (CSP), mainly VM's and virtualized resources, but not of other services offered (e.g. Data Processing as a Service) or SaaS applications which are certified and legally compliant. This paper proposes a solution for a Federated Cloud Service Broker (FCSB) overcoming existing challenges in the public sector such as Governance, Interoperability and portability, SLAs compliance and assessment, Intelligent discovery of cloud services, cross border interoperability and legislation awareness . The analysis of the existing solutions, and the presentation of the approach made in (Alonso, et al., 2016) is complemented with a technical design including the main functionalities and the modules that will implement them.
Increasing workplace independence for people with cognitive disabilities by leveraging distributed cognition among caregivers and clients
(2003) Carmien, Stefan; DePaula, Rogerio; Gorman, Andrew; Kintsch, Anja
In this paper we describe a current group configuration that is used to support people with cognitive disabilities (hereinafter referred to as "clients") in the workplace. A client receiving face-to-face, often one-to-one assistance from a dedicated human job coach is characteristic of this "traditional" model. We compare this traditional model with other group configurations that are used in cooperative and distributed work practices. In so doing, we highlight requirements that are unique to task support for people with cognitive disabilities. A survey of technologies that have been developed to provide clients with greater levels of independence is then presented. These endeavors often attempt to replace human job coaches with computational cognitive aids. We discuss some limitations of such approaches and then present a model and prototype that extends the computational job coach by incorporating human caregivers in a distributed one-to-many support system.
HEAVE COMPENSATION SYSTEMS:
ANALYSIS AND RESULTS OF FIELD TESTING.
(1983) Azpiazu, Wenceslao; Thatcher, M. T.; Schwelm, E. R.
A program to determine the performance of heave compensator systems under actual at-sea working conditions has been undertaken. As a result of this test program, parameters have been determined for heave compensation systems that will allow design of these systems with preestablished performance goals. A description of the methods used to determine the coefficients that control system performance is presented and equations are given to determine system response to the full spectrum of envisioned working conditions.
Participatory imaging mapping of cultural heritage across internal borders stolac, Bosnia and Herzegovina
(International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 2015) Hadzic, L.; Dzino-Suta, A.; Eppich, R.; Vezic, A.; Martinez, José Luis Izkara; Yen, Y.-N.; Weng, K.-H.; Cheng, H.-M.; Urban Transformation Laboratory
During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995) cultural heritage was explicitly targeted and the state of destruction was extensive to both sacral and secular monuments. Two decades after the end of hostilities the perception of the historic environment is still defined from the angles of national, religious or ethnic belonging. Enabling recognition, reconciliation, tolerance and respect within the community of Stolac, Bosnia & Herzegovina through a better understanding and sharing of cultural heritage was the focus of this project. Stolac is representative of the problems in the region and stands out for its particularly sharp divisions. Until recently there was segregation with local schools and their curriculum was divided with cultural heritage generally not addressed. How can this small community engage with heritage and develop a dialogue that encourages tolerance, respect and as a base for development? How does one understand, then document areas significance to the community? Finally, how can technology assist? The focus of this paper is to relate the experiences and findings of a project that incorporated participatory imaging mapping and the use of technology to bridge between the internal borders of this small community. It will outline a methodology, experiences of the participants and results from their exercises in order to assist other communities facing similar issues.
Development of a new process to recover aluminium from thin complex aluminium scrap to employ for primary aluminium alloys
(2022-03-01) Vicario, I.; Antoñanzas, J.; Yurramendi, L.; Múgica, J. C.; Abuin, A.; Prometal; Waste recovery; TECNALIA Research & Innovation; GS
Current thermal processes for the treatment of metals contaminated with impurities, especially with high contents of organic compounds, present problems in obtaining the metal fraction: the metal fraction oxidises with increasing process temperature and the contact with organic compounds. Often, the quality of aluminium obtained from "dirty" raw materials does not allow using it for applications requiring high metal purity or low metal oxidation (alloying tablets, aluminium shots, ...), or for HPDC structural parts. Some aluminium scrap streams cannot be recovered with existing processes and new developments are needed. A new two-step continuous process has been developed. It consists of a heating process at 300°C in a controlled oxidising atmosphere furnace, followed by a second heating process at 400-550°C in an inert atmosphere, which results in a combined thermo-mechanical action. The obtained clean material can be continuously sintered under pressure, obtaining a product with a density close to 2.7 g/cc. Several "dirty" materials with initial contents up to 15% wt. C and up to 1.5% wt. O have been studied, reaching to final products containing as low as 0.15% wt. C and 0.3% wt. O. An example with a filter dust from shredding of aluminium profiles is described. The final composition of the product obtained after the treatment allows using the recycled aluminium as a high quality secondary raw material for aluminium alloying tablets, aluminium powder and high-performance aluminium casting alloys.
Fasstbridge methodology and strengthening system:
The Jarama Bridge experience
(2018) García-Sánchez, David; Wabeh, Mazen; Fischer, Michael; Chataigner, Sylvain; Sopeña, Luis; Birtel, Veit; Automation of construction processes
Steel bridges present frequent fatigue problems that reduce their load-carrying capacity and residual life. The increase of traffic flows and loads in the last decades has enhanced this problem, especially on ageing structures. This phenomenon is very dangerous because a conventional structural stress analysis might result in misleading conclusions about safety. In Europe, 15% of the 300 000 bridges are made of steel or concrete-steel composite structures, and approximately 68% of them need structural interventions. In the USA, figures are quite similar. Having this in mind, in November 2015, the ERA-NET Plus project FASSTBRIDGE was launched aiming at developing a complete methodology including a calculation method for assessing the remaining life of steel bridge in terms of fatigue, a designing and applying method for the strengthening intervention, and a strengthening system relying on the use of adhesively bonded CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer). The paper presents the FASSTbridge methodology and strengthening system, which have been designed to work with codes based on The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) or the European Union's Eurocode and its implementation in Jarama Bridge (Madrid, Spain).
Definition and assessment of an adhesively bonded composite reinforcement in fatigue for steel structures developped in Fasstbridge project
(2018) Chataigner, S.; Benzarti, K.; Foret, G.; Caron, J. F.; Gemignani, G.; Brugiolo, M.; Birtel, V.; Lehmann, F.; Calderon, I.; Piniero, I.; TECNALIA Research & Innovation; E. and I. Seguras y resilientes
One of the aims of Infravation project called FASSTbridge (Fast and effective Solution for the Strengthening of existing steel bridges) is to develop a specific reinforcement system dedicated to the preventive fatigue reinforcement of steel bridges. The proposed system relies on the use of an adhesively bonded composite plate. The adhesive has been specifically formulated by Collanti Concorde within the project to respect the required fulfillments of the studied application. It is combined with a commercially available composite plate. The communication will first give insight of the required properties of the adhesive, the composite plate, and the overall system for the considered application. Based on these requirements and existing literature and standards on the topic, the chosen experimental plan will be described. It includes investigations on the adhesive before curing, the adhesive after curing, the composite plate, and the whole reinforcing system. Both short term and durability investigations were carried out by the different partners implied within the projects. The obtained results will be presented, and allowed verifying the system properties. The participation of different partners to the experimental campaign also gives insight of the encountered dispersion, and allowed studying different parameters that may affect the capacities. The reinforcement system has been applied on a real bridge in Spain.
