Comunicações

Na sequência da deteção, por técnicos do Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade (ISQ), de fendas junto às aberturas existentes nas extremidades das chapas de ligação dos dois perfis

The adequate emergency and risk management of flood and erosion in coastalareas requires a combination of comprehensive monitoring networks, accurateprediction tools and information platforms that can convey data andpredictions in a timely and user-friendly way. Herein, we present a novelweb GIS platform for coastal flood and erosion management targeted at areassubject to the combined action of waves, surges and tides. Information foreach coastal region is organized through a coastal observatory concept, andthe information is tailored to the specific characteristics of eachobservatory. Many data types were implemented, including historical andreal-time sensor data and processed remote sensing information obtainedfrom local cameras or satellites. Predictions are based on a chain ofhigh-resolution models that operate from the ocean to the coast, simulatingwave and current hydrodynamics and their interactions, as well asmorphodynamics, based on models FES2014, WW3, SCHISM and XBEACH. The WebGISplatform provides both spatial and temporal information aiming atcharacterizing hazard, vulnerability and risk. The platform is demonstratedthrough the application to a complex observatory in the central WestPortuguese coast, Cova Gala, to address both flooding and erosion concerns.

An implementation to instantiate a dependable data quality-orientedmethodology in the Vinhas Creek monitoring network is presented herein.Redundancy was taken as a core aspect of network reliability. In thisinstantiation, we implement several machine learning mechanisms to processmeasurements from the multiple sensors while correlating them according totheir geographical position, monitoring timing and the relevant physicalprocesses involved. As an output, we are able to predict the sensormeasurements and compare them with the actual sensing value obtained in themonitoring network station. Moreover, in case of any sensor failure, one ormore replacement values can be issued. These are important for the correctsimulation of the hydrologic and hydraulic processes of the dendriticwatershed systems and to predict the inundation characteristics such aslevels and flow velocities.

Flood forecasting in small watersheds is a complex problem, given the stringent time scales to convey accurate alerts in due time and small spatial scales for both atmospheric and water basin domain prediction. The traditional forecast approach, based on a chain of numerical models for meteorological, hydrological and hydraulic processes is not sufficient, requiring the integration with tailored, real-time data to produce accurate inundation maps and provide timely warnings. Herein, we present a new methodology for flash flood forecasting, based on a two-step procedure and on the use of WIFF, a generic forecast framework applied successfully in estuarine and coastal flood forecasting. In this methodology, WIFF executes two procedures in parallel. First, a large-scale approach, based on conventional numerical models, running continuously every day, to detect significant rain events. If a predicted rain event crosses a warning threshold, a second approach is triggered, involving a small-scale data-based model to predict flooding for the following hours, based on real time monitoring networks data and on the use of high performance computing for machine learning-based simulations. For the first step, we are updating the WIFF framework to integrate both hydrological and hydraulic models of the HEC model family (Brunner, 2021). This methodology is being validated in the Ribeira das Vinhas basin, an area prone to torrential floods that inundate the urban area of the city of Cascais, located at the Tagus estuary mouth.

The study of the evacuation of buildings in emergency fire situations has deserved the attention of researchers for decades, particularly regarding the real-time guiding of occupants in their way to exit the building. However, finding solutions to guide the occupants evacuating a building requires a thorough knowledge of that domain. Using ontological models to model the knowledge of a domain allows the understanding of that domain to be shared. This paper presents an ontological model that pretends to reinforce and deepen knowledge of the domain under study and help develop solutions and systems capable of guiding the occupants during a building evacuation. The ontology was developed following the METHONTOLOGY methodology, and for implementation, the Protégé tool was used. The ontological model was successfully submitted to a thorough evaluation process and is publicly available on the Web.

O artigo considera um caso de estudo intencionalmente simples

Um aproveitamento hidroelétrico consiste num sistema constituído pela estrutura resistente, as estruturas hidráulicas, o maciço de fundação e a albufeira. Este tipo de empreendimento envolve desafios hidrológicos, estruturais e geotécnicos, apoiados por ensaios de prospeção e de caracterização dos materiais e planos de observação e instrumentação. As barragens de betão são estruturas que apresentam um elevado risco potencial e um elevado custo operacional, associado à perda de funcionalidade, no caso de rotura. O controlo de segurança estrutural visa reduzir esse risco e divide-se, em geral, em três atividades: i) monitorização, i.e., na exploração do sistema de observação e na realização de inspeções visuais regulares e de ensaios de caracterização; ii) análise e interpretação dos resultados da observação através de modelos estatísticos e modelação numérica, iii) avaliação da segurança e tomada de decisão. A metodologia Building Information Modelling (BIM) permite definir uma abordagem sistemática para o desenvolvimento das atividades de controlo de segurança de barragens, desde a fase de projeto, construção, exploração e abandono e demolição. Este trabalho descreve as várias vertentes do controlo de segurança estrutural de barragens de betão, com particular foco na fase de exploração. Discutem-se as principais potencialidades e desafios da implementação BIM adaptada estas atividades, em particular a aplicação de um sistema de classificação, a definição de regras de modelação de objetos específicos e definição de parâmetros, a interligação entre o modelo, os sistemas de gestão de informação existentes e os resultados das inspeções visuais, o apoio à análise estrutural e à tomada de decisão.

A presente comunicação refere-se à avaliação das condições de exploração da Ponte de São Gonçalo em Amarante. O estudo efetuado incluiu diversas fases, tendo-se iniciado pela inspeção visual da ponte e o seu ensaio dinâmico de vibração ambiente. Seguiu-se a definição de um modelo numérico calibrado com base nos resultados obtidos, que foi utilizado para avaliação das condições de exploração da Ponte de São Gonçalo, considerando os cenários de carregamento considerados pertinentes.

The Mirante da Quinta da Azeda, in Setúbal (Portugal), is a peculiar observation towerbuilt in the early 20th century, and one of the first examples in which reinforced concrete was appliedin Portugal. It has an unusual architectural configuration, displaying elements of great slenderness. Inthe scope of the CemRestore research project - Mortars for the conservation of early 20th centurybuildings: compatibility and sustainability, several mortar and concrete samples were collected fromthis structure and were characterized using a combination of mineralogical, microstructural, physical,and mechanical techniques, including XRD, petrography, SEM-EDS, open porosity, capillaritycoefficient, compressive strength, and ultrasonic pulse testing. In this paper, the main characterizationresults are presented and discussed. The results show that all structural and decorative samples aremade with Portland cement, while one rendering mortar is lime-based. The sand is mostly siliceouswhereas pebbles and crushed limestone can be found as coarse aggregates in concrete samples. Thischaracterisation allows broadening the scientific knowledge about the materials of that period used inPortugal, also enabling the establishment of the requirements to be met by mortars and concrete tobe used in the repair of this distinct structure.