Environmental monitoring systems are composed by sensor networksdeployed in uncertain and harsh conditions, vulnerable to external disturbances,posing challenges to the comprehensive system characterization and modelling.When unexpected sensor measurements are produced, there is a need to detectand identify, in a timely manner, if they stem from a failure behavior or if theyindeed represent some environment-related process. Existing solutions for faultdetection in environmental sensor networks do not portray the required sensitivityfor the differentiation of these processes or they are unable to meet the timeconstraints of the affected cyber-physical systems.We have been developing a framework for dependable detection of failuresin harsh environments monitoring systems, aiming to improve the overall sensordata quality. Herein we present the application of an early framework implementationto an aquatic sensor network dataset, using neural networks to modelsensors

Good performance of non-structural elements can be decisive in saving lives and costs when an earthquake strikes. The European project KnowRISK aims to educate and encourage households to take the necessary precautionary measures to protect people, houses, and contents. Preparedness and prevention act on community resilience. Within the KnowRISK project, the idea of a Practical Guide has been conceived suggesting seismic mitigation solutions for non-structural components to non-experts stakeholders. It is intended to guide people into the first steps of prevention in a straightforward manner, minimizing or avoiding injuries, damage, and long-term financial consequences. The novelty of the Guide belongs to his philosophy: a path through increasing challenges corresponds to a growing level of safety. The idea is that anyone can mitigate seismic risk in its own environment by adopting simple and low cost measures. The Practical Guide may contribute to increase risk awareness. This kind of initiatives if undertaken at larger scales may also enhance social resilience.

Water scarcity and asymmetric space-time distribution is driving many countries to seek nonconventional water sources. Treated wastewater is an emerging alternative water source but, depending on its use(s), it may require an increased level of water treatment. At the same time, the list of emerging contaminants (ECs), including pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs), of great relevance to the environment and to public health continues to grow. Further, many of these contaminants are partly or strongly resistant to conventional treatment in water and wastewater treatment plants (WTPs and WWTPs). Therefore, advanced treatment processes are being developed or optimised for improved PhC control. Amongst them, hybrid processes of adsorption

Water scarcity episodes are being experienced in many parts of the Mediterranean Basin as a result ofchanges in rainfall intensity and duration, causing more intense extreme events, like droughts and riverfloods. Adaptive and innovative water management strategies, such as the storage of reclaimed water orexcess water from different sources in Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) schemes, can greatly increasethe groundwater availability and therefore help addressing water scarcity challenges. Besides, waterquality can be improved during transport of the infiltrated water through the unsaturated and saturatedzone, together with Soil-Aquifer-Treatment (SAT) systems, due to chemical and biological reactions,linking water reclamation, water reuse, and water resources management (González et al., 2015).This paper presents the results of a DEMO scale experiment made in S. Bartolomeu de Messines (SBM)Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), where SAT basin systems were built. The SAT systems aimedto improve the treated effluent water quality prior to its discharge in Ribeiro Meirinho, that laterinfiltrates in an important karstic aquifer along the river influent sections. The water quality enhancementwas obtained using the soil's ability to reduce the concentrations of contaminants, namely pharmaceuticalcompounds and nutrients, through natural processes (e.g. particle retention, adsorption andbiodegradation). Prior to this, soil-column experiments were conducted aiming to reproduce optimalSAT conditions using different soil mixtures as depuration media (Martins, 2016; Martins et al., 2016).The soil physico-chemical conditions were optimized in terms of permeability, organic matter content,and aerobic / anaerobic conditions. The results obtained showed an improvement of water infiltratedthrough SAT, for several pharmaceuticals and nutrients.This research was carried out under MARSOL project (Demonstrating Managed Aquifer Recharge as aSolution to Water Scarcity and Drought), whose main objective was to demonstrate that MAR is a sound,safe and sustainable strategy that can be applied with great confidence and therefore offering a keyapproach for tackling water scarcity in Southern Europe.

This paper presents an overview of research carried out to assess the bonding suitability of Portuguese timbers.Most work developed in the last decades has focused Maritime pine timber, due to its traditional use in building construction, good mechanical properties and availability. Untreated, as well as preservative treated Maritime pine have been studied, as its impregnability allows deep treatment suitable for applications in Use Classes 3 and 4.Recent results on bonding preservative treated Maritime pine wood are discussed.Preliminary results regarding other species that are becoming available in the Portuguese market are also presented, as an attempt to reduce pressure on Maritime pine timber as well as to seek more valuable alternatives for their traditional uses.

The importance of sustainable urban mobility plans is widely recognized by local and regional authorities across Europe. Technological innovation opportunities such as those offered by current and future ICT can contribute for cities to advance towards sustainable mobility and accessibility for inclusive public spaces.This article is built on an innovative living lab experience of the Intermunicipal Community of the Algarve (AMAL), the regional transport authority, scientifically supported by the LNEC, in Portugal, that comprised the development of the designated

This chapter discusses the act of walking as a method of capturing the socio-spatial needs of users in a contemporary urban space. Walking as method is considered a way to assimilate a socio-spatial proximity experience, and to (re)invent the response to urban space needs in a fast-changing city. This reflection discusses the purposes of urban planning, provides a framework, which goes from socio-spatial urban needs to (possible) responses, and discusses the complexity of evaluating the information gathered. It highlights the role of walking in planning, but also the relationship between plan and walk, discussing some of the key aspects to bear in mind when taking the act of walking as a way to learn how to plan. From the sensitive act of walking to the rational processes of collecting information, e.g., techniques for basic information collection for urban planning, this chapter also presents the role that ICT can play as an instrument of socio-spatial design in capturing relevant information for urban planning professionals.

Advances in measurement and automation technologies enabled the deployment of monitoring systems with data acquisition at high frequency in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP). The aim of this work is the design of soft sensors to predict hard-to-measure quality variables of wastewater required for mechanistic modeling of the biological treatment system in a real municipal WWTP. The input data collected in the WWTP using a flowmeter and spectro-photometric and electrochemical online probes, sampling campaigns and on-line analysis, was used for the development of soft sensors by multivariate analysis, like Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression. Exploratory data analysis was performed in order to detect outliers, patterns and correlations. PLS models for soft sensors were developed using leave-one-out cross validation and the predictive capacity of independent data was evaluated by root mean square error (RMSE). The normalized RMSE obtained for organic nitrogen prediction were 19.5% and 18.1%, using sensors with analytical and spectral data, respectively. The possibility of using spectro-photometric probes providing measurements of a single wavelength was evaluated in order to reduce the online monitoring investment costs.

The chapter discusses how ICT can be used to enhance the understanding of the relationship between space, users and social practices. As an example of possible use of ICT for capturing and better understanding user’s needs, the new digital tool WAY Cyberparks is presented and discussed. A “cyberpark” is defined as a new type of urban landscape where nature and ICTs blend together to generate hybrid experiences and enhance quality of life. The WAY Cyberparks digital tool consists of a smart phone application, server/cloud and web services. Through the experiences from testing it in selected urban open spaces in Barcelona, Lisbon and Ljubljana opportunities are presented and lessons are drawn about relevant aspects of the ICT towards building a more participatory and collaborative process in planning of public spaces. A relevant aspect of the ICT lays in their ability to enhance communication with (potential) users, transforming the production of public open spaces into an interactive process, and enabling creative community participation and empowerment. Furthermore, some challenges of the increasing penetration of digital technologies devices (smart phones, smart watches, tablets, etc.) within the broader context of their use in public urban open spaces such as parks, gardens, squares, plazas are discussed, together with the consequences of this interweaving, which is growing at a rapid pace, unfolds research needs in the future.

Coimbra apresenta um elevado valor arquitetónico demonstrado pelos 36 imóveis, conjuntos ou sítios (22 monumentos nacionais e 14 imóveis de interesse público) actualmente classificados (DGPC, 2015) sendo a maioria deles localizados no Centro Histórico de Coimbra (CHC) e zona alta da cidade.No âmbito do projecto POCI/HEC/60371/2004