Papers

Stakeholder engagement is key for societal impact od EU-Funded inter and trans-disciplinary research projects

During the last decades, there has been a significant evolution of rail transport. The need to standardize technical and economic information is emphasized to guarantee the optimization of construction and operation activities, as well as the challenge of developing databases with robust and reliable information that can be transferred and used throughout the whole life cycle of constructed assets. ProNIC (Portuguese abbreviation for Protocol for the Standardization of Construction Technical Information) isa research project that developed a methodology (into a computer tool) to standardize information for the lifecycle of constructed assets, while enabling the benchmarking of similar types of construction projects. This methodology has already been implemented in the building subsector. The present paper shows the results of the implementation of ProNIC methodology in railway infrastructures. Based on the analysis of different real projects, a normalized work breakdown structure (WBS) for railway works is developed, leading to the updating of the characterization of railway infrastructures in ProNIC. All documentation produced is implemented in ProNIC. To validate this method, a case study (section of a ballast railway with 29 km) is used to conceptualize the WBS proposed and the created technical contents and specifications. These developments, provided the conception of standard elements capable of being adapted to any case of railway works, based on the Portuguese and European legal standards and frameworks. A national referential, to be used in all types of public railway infrastructure projects, is defined.

The introduction of stored product insect pests to new areas is facilitated by food trade among countries, and effective detection and monitoring programs are crucial for food security. The khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts is one of the most destructive insect species. In Portugal, T. granarium has been detected in 1988. However, no new data has been added to this information since that date. Floor traps with pheromones specific to T. granarium were used and placed inside ports, mills, and storage facilities, including warehouses and silos, between June and September in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2022.Previous results from other sampling programs conducted between 2002 and 2008 are also referred here to add more evidence for the presence or absence of T. granarium in Portugal. Here, various types of traps, including some generalists and others with pheromones (such as T. granarium), were used. The collected insects were identified to species, or genus.Surveys conducted identified approximately 40 insect species that are associated with stored products, in a total of 23.725 insects, and among them, the weevils belonging to the genus Sitophilus C.J.Schoenherr have been recognized as the main pests that affects stored cereals. Regarding the surveys made between 2017 and 2022 and previous surveys done in Portugal (between 2002 and 2008; n = 26.719 insects identified), no T. granarium individuals were detected in any of the entomological samples, and only a few Dermestidae specimens were found across all surveys, one of them belonging to the same genus, identified as Trogoderma inclusum LeConte. With the predicted changes in climate, there is a risk of introducing T. granarium and other destructive insect pests that could displace itophilus weevils as the key stored products pest in Portugal. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor and implement measures to prevent the spread of invasive pests for effective pest management and food security purposes, using proper trapping methods and accurate and rapid identification tools.

This paper presents an experimental study about the synergistic effects between different exposure environments, likely to be found in civil engineering applications, and sustained flexural loading on the durability of pultruded glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) profiles. Two off-theshelf GFRP profiles, comprising E-glass fibres and vinyl ester or unsaturated polyester resins, were subjected to sustained bending at service load levels corresponding to 10% and 20% of their flexural capacity; simultaneously, the profiles were exposed to the following three ageing environments, for periods of up to two years: (i) outdoor environmental exposure in a mild Mediterranean climate; (ii) hygrothermal exposure by continuous condensation at 20 (±2)

n this work, the factors that influence indoor radon (Rn) level and most usual methods to prevent or mitigate Rn are presented and discussed, according to their way of action. The findings show that it is possible to select the most appropriate and effective solutions for each situation, even in cases where there is a high risk of Rn concentration, by combining these methods to increase overall efficiency. Finally, most relevant strategic recommendations are presented to guarantee the success of Rn protection measures, to reduce problems associated with Rn.

In this work, the factors that influence indoor radon (Rn) level and most usual methods to prevent or mitigate Rn are presented and discussed, according to their way of action. The findings show that it is possible to select the most appropriate and effective solutions for each situation, even in cases where there is a high risk of Rn concentration, by combining these methods to increase overall efficiency. Finally, most relevant strategic recommendations are presented to guarantee the success of Rn protection measures, to reduce problems associated with Rn.

The proper assessment of soil thermal properties, such as thermal conductivity, assumes a particular relevance for the design of Ground Source Heat Pump systems, as it determines the heat transfer and the energy efficiency design. Multiple methods can be used for thermal conductivity estimation, however significant scatters in measurements are often reported when using different (or even the same) methods. This work presents a detailed study of the thermal conductivity and the thermal contact conductance of a reference sand tested in transient conditions, analyzing the effect of several factors, such as the heating time, degree of saturation, soil density, temperature and heat flux intensity, on thermal conductivity measurements for dry state or fully saturated conditions. To avoid measurement errors and heterogeneity effects, only three samples were prepared with different compaction ratios, and systematically tested in dry and fully saturated conditions, under different control variables (temperature, testing time, and injected heat flux). Two analytical methods based on the line source solution were used to estimate soil thermal conductivity and to assess the probe-to-soil thermal contact conductance. Significant relationships were obtained between thermal conductivity and soil state conditions and testing variables, highlighting that a heating time longer than the one usually recommended in the standards is clearly needed. Finally, this study uses measured temperature values to determine the probe-to-soil thermal contact conductance, indicating its relevance in soil thermal conductivity estimation.

Plasters can be finished with paint systems that can affect their moisture storage and transport properties. To confirm that, eight traditional and modern plastering mortars and pastes

Introduction: This study investigates the mitigating effect of passive safe poles on the severity of run-off-road crashes in Belgium. Method: Run-off-road (ROR) crash data were collected from 2015 to 2020 on sections of roads in Flanders, and multinomial and mixed logit models were estimated using the driver injury and the most severely injured occupant as outcome variables. Results: Our results align with previous findings reported in the literature on ROR crash severity in several distinct settings. Most importantly, findings from this study provide evidence that High Energy absorbing passive safe poles (CEN 12767 HE compliant) contribute towards minor injuries in ROR crashes. The study also indicates the importance of protecting errant vehicles from traditional poles, which are linked to severe injuries. Conclusions: Our findings offer relevant insights for road safety agencies to enhance roadside design policies and implement forgiving roadsides. Practical Applications: Our results support the current Flemish policy concerning the installation of lighting columns and the

This study introduces the Risk-Informed Asset-Centric (RIACT) process, a novel approach aimed at enhancing the safety and resilience of urban infrastructures against natural and man-made disasters. The RIACT method stands out for its comprehensive analysis of potential disruptions to urban areas, encompassing their susceptibility to disasters, vulnerability factors, and recovery capabilities. This study