Projects

Team member – Ana Cláudia Teodoro, Joana Ribeiro, Lia Duarte, Rita Fonseca

with Morocco and Western Sahara controlling 77% of the reserves. However, P-depletion is not the P-problem but the phosphorus market.

During the high-volatility phosphate rock market prices , two major spikes occurred: in the mid 1970’s and in 2008, where the prices jumped at level 10 times higher before the jump, and came down again but the price’s after the 1975 and 2008 jump–slump held PR prices at a level 3–4 times higher than before the jump.

Team member – Alexandra Guedes

1) To develop a software for easy and fast detection of lithium-host minerals combining drone-borne remote sensing data and field

observations

2) To understand how pegmatitic Li-deposits are formed. This is critical to establish how remote sensing and field observations can be used

to unveil lithium deposits.

Team member – Ana Teodoro, Maria Anjos Ribeiro

Team member – Ana Cláudia Teodoro

MOPREVIS-Modelação e predição de acidentes de viação no distrito de Setúbal

DSAIPA/DS/0090/2018

According to National Road Safety Authority , in Portugal the number of crashes with victims has been increasing since 2011.

Between January and November 2017 there were 2175 accidents (with deaths or serious injuries), resulting in 460 deaths (an

increase of 13% relative to the same period in 2016). The district of Setúbal is one of the districts with the highest number of crash accidents. In that period there were 192 accidents (an increase of 35,2% over 2016) that resulted in 52 deaths (an increase of 57,6% with respect to 2016). There were only more accidents with deaths or serious injuries in the districts of Porto (198) and Lisbon (315). Between January 1 and April 15, 2018, there were 21 deaths in the district of Setúbal (4 more than in the same period of 2017), becoming the district with more deaths.

Big Data Analytics is the process of automatically examini ng large amounts of data to uncover hidden patterns, unknown

correlations, and other information that can help organizations make more informed decisions. Based on the large amount of data available, the overall objective of this project is to identify factors that enhance the accidents in the district of Setúbal and to build predictive algorithms and models that can be used experimentally, in real time, by GNR of Setúbal, in order to take measures to reduce road accidents.

For this project it was formed a  multidisciplinary team that integrates computer engineers, specialists in geographic information systems (GIS) and mathematicians with specialization in probability and statistics, to: i) construct an information system about the accidents occurred in the district of Setúbal, combining several sources of information: digital platform (storage solution, largescale

data processing and management with distributed architecture), data acquisition module (module for extracting information from accident documents with automatic processing techniques of natural language and artificial intelligence and interface module for other systems, namely automatic data acquisition on traffic intensity in adjacent streets and climatic data) and module for information recover; ii) classify sites with high number of accidents (hotspots); iii) identify the determinants factors that potentiate

the occurrence of accidents and their severity; iv) draw the profile of the individuals involved, comparing it by type (collision, trampling or scraping); v) construct predictive models for the number and severity of accidents, as well as for the most likely places for its the occurrence, and also to obtain a model that can predict an accident given a road segment and given a time period.

The task of statistical modeling and data analysis, we will use different models of classical statistics techniques (for instance,

Generalized Linear Mixed Models, Generalized Additive Mixed Models and Generalized Estimation Equations) and Artificial Intelligence and Data Science techniques, with particular emphasis on predictive analysis, pattern recognition (e.g., Support Vector Machine, Neural Networks and Random Forest) in order to consider different types of variables (spatial, temporal, environmental, vehicle related, driver, victims, road environment, among others). The GIS tools play a key role in the characterization of the accident location, in the identification of hotspots and in the ability to perform complex spatial analyzes through physical and interactive products that allow the visualization and analysis of the data collected and the models created.

Therefore, it will be possible that each model work as a tool for assessing the impact of the implementation of specific safety measures, which will allow a qualitative very important increase. The final objective is to build a digital tool to support realtime decision making. Such a tool will be based on the models obtained and will have the ability to readjust its parameters and update the predictions whenever new data are obtained.

The success of this project will certainly have a g reat social and economic impact, and the idea can be replicated to other districts.

 Team members – Pedro Nogueira

MULTI-modal Imaging of FOREnsic SciEnce Evidence – tools for Forensic Science

Some of these activities will be exploration, exploitation and processing technologies, materials science, industrial and monitoring technologies and environmental and energy technologies. These activities will permit not only the generation of strategic projects but the training of scientific-technical professional profiles and the creation of high qualified employment in the participant regions.

Team member – Helena Sant ‘Ovaia, Maria dos Anjos Ribeiro, Iuliu Bobos, Alexandra Guedes, Ana Cláudia Teodoro

unburned semi-coked carbon (CHAR) produced by the coal power plants are landfilled or added to concrete with negative impacts, while CHAR could be used as a SUBSTITUTING MATERIAL of NATURAL GRAPHITE. Therefore, CHARPHITE project aims at: (i) concentrate and purify char from coal ash using classic separation methods and ultrasonication; (ii) producing composite metallic oxides with CHAR, and carry a comprehensive electrochemical characterization of the novel carbon materials to be tested as electrode materials (electrocatalysts) for relevant energy-related reactions; (iii) performing industrial research to use these carbon materials as an additional supply source for the production of graphite electrodes and rods.

Team member – Alexandra Guedes, Joana Ribeiro, Ana Cláudia Santos, Deolinda Flores

Team member – Alexandra Guedes, Joana Ribeiro, Deolinda Flores

Team member – Helena Sant ‘Ovaia, Maria dos Anjos Ribeiro, Iuliu Bobos, Alexandre Lima, Helena Brites, Alexandra Guedes

Team member –Maria dos Anjos Ribeiro, Iuliu Bobos, Alexandre Lima, Alexandra Guedes

Geology sourcing of dolmen slabs in Central-South Portugal

3971/2012 

Three regional case-studies will be analyzed. These cases are from diverse geological backgrounds, and include: 1) Monforte and 2) Redondo, both in Alto Alentejo (Hercynian Massif), and 3) the Lower Estremadura – region of Lisbon (Meso-Cenozoic basin. Thus, besides macroscopic description of the megaliths at the tombs, petrography will be conducted by conventional polarized microscopy (transmitted and reflected light) but also recurring to SEM-EDS and RAMAN for semi-quantitate analysis of mineral phases. Elemental whole rock geochemical (IC P-MS) and isotope (TIMS) compositions from megaliths and outcrops are invaluable and supplemental data to guarantee the accuracy of rock differentiation and classification.

The model is based on a set of classic geological maps and in the form of 3D digital cartography and should include lithostratigraphic, mineralogical, geochemical, geophysical and structural information that will allows to the identification of the most favourable target resources and their locations.

Team members – Jorge Pedro

Mafic and ultramafic rocks are enriched in Ca2+, Mg2+ and Fe2+ cations, the reaction of which with CO2 precipitates carbonate minerals, permanently fixing CO2 in mineral form, in a process designated as Mineral Carbonation.

InCarbon focus on in situ mineral carbonation where CO2 is injected underground, at hundreds to thousands metres depth, mafic rock types that occur in Alentejo, namely gabbros, peridotites, pyroxenites, and others.

The research strategy relies on three pillars: i) geologic and geophysical field work; ii) laboratory experiments and iii) numerical modeling.

Team member – Alexandra Guedes

The Inovstone 4.0 project aims the development of techniques and technologies to reorient the operations model in the Sector of Ornamental Stones (RO) for Industry 4.0. This is the answer to the new procurement digital model (IFC objects libraries) in the context of BIM (Building Information Model) to the AEC (Arquitecture, Engineering and Construction) sector.

The project is based on the dynamic capability of the Industry has already shown and it needs to strength to be competitive in a new context of Industry 4.0, BIM and lean practices (leanstone). The four main principles in this project are: (1) convergence with global enforcement objectives of BIM in the AEC. (2) Stone valorization in the context of BIM digital procurement (turning stone in smart product); (3) convergence of the production operation for Industry and finally 4.0; (4) convergence with the global initiative “green building”.

The strategy is to respond to these challenges by the development of a Cyber Physical System (Cockpit Stone BIM 4.0) to network the production systems (interconnect the production of offline and online application technologies, samples and laboratory of Stone). The procurement model of building materials was changed to BIM context and all information must be networked to ensure the planning (ERP) required to the needs of consumers.

The color is one of the most important elements in the selection of a stone in any architectural intervention. SOLANCIS exports the vast majority of its production namely stone products ready to apply. The variety Blue Extremadura has been especially appreciated by the customers. However, this product has presented two major weaknesses:

• The blue color occurs with the color cream, in the context of the quarry without understanding what are the parameters that condition each color;
• After application, there are variations in shades of blue, creating patterns quite unaesthetic and forcing the company to replace several stone pieces.

These aspects have created difficulties to SOLANCIS; in the highly competitive context of supply of these products.

This project aims to contribute to:

• create predictability models of color in context of the quarry;
• characterize the set of Massive Blue Stone in the massif, especially the blue Extremadura;
• create predictability of changes after implementation of blue Extremadura and discover mitigating measures of these phenomena.

For the execution of the project the team is led by SOLANCIS, includes the Portuguese Technological Centre exclusively dedicated to the research and support of the natural stone industry (CEVALOR) and two centers classified by FCT with excellent (Hercules Lab, University of Évora and ICT – Earth Sciences Institute, Universities of Évora, Porto and Minho). The multidisciplinary of the team and the different views ensure that objectives will be met.

Joaquim Luís Lopes

ColourStone – Cor de mármores e calcários comerciais: causas e alterações é um projeto criado e desenvolvido no âmbito da Rede Regional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Alentejo (RRCTA).  O projeto “ ColourStone – Cor de mármores e calcários comerciais: causas e alterações” pretende explicar, através de métodos geoquímicos, mineralógicos e bioquímicos, a cor e a descoloração das principais rochas carbonatadas comercialmente importantes em Portugal. Os processos cromáticos em calcários e mármores deverá ser totalmente compreendido.

É expectável que os resultados do projeto influenciem futuras aplicações tecnológicas tornando possível a certificação e garantia da cor das pedras comercializadas. Este projeto permitirá criar conhecimento científico essencial no apoio a novos projetos industriais e tecnológicas (i.e. Portugal2020 e Alentejo2020). Estes irão contribuir para aumentar a competitividade do setor de rochas ornamentais e criação de ferramentas de certificação que, deste modo, irão gerar um valor acrescentado para a Pedra Natural Portuguesa e Europeia, nos mercados internacionais.

The process of overlapping those three technologies will allow the development of a probabilistic model (Decision Support System) which, in parallel with a computational simulation module, will allow to demonstrate, using a three dimensional plant, the acquired knowledge. In order to maximize this, the project will involve the development of complex algorithms which will allow calculating the exact position of the blades and the resulting cuts, with respect to the users’ requirements, therefore maximizing the usage of raw material.

The project BRO-CQ was born as a result of the promoter’s requirements and their clients’ requirements, and, by using their conjoined experience, know-how, and interest in RTD activities, will result in a distinctive product, able to solve one of the main problems of this industry, and will present itself as a major advance in comparison to the state of the art.

Team member – Bento Caldeira