Innovación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas - IDEAS begins this period in 2024 with Volume 6, Number 1 titled: Engineering: from investigative skills to their application in society. This issue addresses the areas of energy, industrial engineering, data management, and engineering education. In this way, a set of high-level works in the fields of engineering and applied sciences are made available.
This issue starts with a work by Puente et al., presenting from the Technical University of Cotopaxi and the Technical State University of Quevedo, the design of a microgrid for electrical supply and the analysis of economic feasibility. This design is based on photovoltaic solar energy to be applied in an economically disadvantaged urban area in the coastal region of Ecuador.
Umaquinga from the Technical University of the North analyzes various data mining techniques focused on the detection of diseases in different types of crops, prediction of performance and growth, as well as analysis of water and soil. Climatic variables, topographic and edaphological conditions are examined, all based on a review of high-impact literature.
Yépez et al. from the Technical University of the North conducted an analysis of ergonomic risks to which teachers in a public Ecuadorian university are exposed. For this, they worked with a sample of 30 teachers and the Kuorinka Nordic questionnaire. The entire process was carried out in three phases, and the results show that the observed ergonomic risks are between medium and high levels.
Next, Catota et al. show us from the Rumiñahui Higher Technological Institute in collaboration with the San Antonio Higher Technological Institute, the design and implementation of a didactic model of a wind tunnel. This development allows the evaluation of operating parameters and their impact on the performance of a wind turbine. This demonstrates the creation of a useful tool for teaching related subjects.
Finally, Guerrero et al. from the National University of Loja address a fundamental topic: the assessment of investigative skills of first-semester engineering students. This study demonstrates the application of validated tools to assess areas within investigative activity that need to be strengthened in engineering education.