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  • Mobile journalism: Systematic literature review
    Publication . López-García, Xosé; Silva-Rodríguez, Alba; Vizoso-García, Ángel Antonio; Westlund, Oscar; Canavilhas, João
    The era of mobile media has placed communications convergence at a new stage. The importance of studies about mobile communications has been growing increasingly over the last years. This growth is connected to the increase in the access to contents through new devices. The last ten years have seen a process of acceleration in mobile technology innovations. The peak of this new scenario has been the interest of the research community in investigating the relationship between such innovations and the spread of informative contents. This article analyses those studies that address the relation between mobile devices and communication and journalism. The main objective is to clarify the current state of these studies as well as to define their significance within the current convergence scenario. In order to reach such objectives, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted. The authors analysed 199 research articles published between January 2008 and May 2018 in the database Web of Science. The findings suggest that the United States has the largest number of studies in relation to this topic. We can pinpoint the highest increase in scientific production about journalism and mobile communications in 2013. Besides, it exists a dominance of those articles related with actants upon those ones about actors or audiences.
    2019-02Journal article Open access Show more
  • Characterization of the Skid Resistance and Mean Texture Depth in a Permeable Asphalt Pavement
    Publication . Afonso, Márcia Isabel Lopes; Almeida, Marisa S. Dinis; Fael, Cristina Maria Sena
    Road pavements need a deep characterization of the surface layer, with which the vehicles have direct contact and, therefore, must provide security to the users. The use of permeable asphalt pavements (PAP) with porous layers has provide obvious advantages in reducing runoff and the rainwater infiltration into the soil or for storage. However, the study of the interaction between the pavement surface layer and the tire rubber requires additional tests in terms of texture and friction, since they are important parameters for the design, construction, management, maintenance and roads safety. Considering the application of a PAP in a parking lot, the study objective was to characterize in the field the pavement surface in terms of mean texture depth (MTD) and skid resistance (Pendulum test value, PTV). The methods used were the volumetric technique by the patch test and the pendulum test, according to EN 13036-1 and EN 13036-4, respectively. The double layer porous asphalt (DLPA) at the surface is characterized by having a structure with high voids content that led to results of clearly rougher macrotexture and good skid resistance. The normalized limit values were met, however, a very strong correlation between MTD and PTV was not observed. A comparison was also made with porous surfaces of other studies and it was found that porous asphalt has a good behaviour at the start of construction which may tend to improve in the long term. From the study, it is concluded that the PAP presents good performance of the surface layer, providing road safety to users.
    2019-02Conference object Open access Show more
  • Inhaler training and asthma knowledge are associated with a higher proportion of patients with correct inhaler technique in young but not in elderly asthmatic patients
    Publication . Ferreira, Eduardo Freitas; Pascoal, Adriana dos Santos; Silva, Patrícia; Lourenço, Olga; Valente, Maria La Salete; Valente, Maria de Jesus; Loureiro, Marli; Gama, Jorge; Fonseca, Joao A; Taborda Barata, Luis
    Objective: Incorrect inhaler usage is frequent, particularly in elderly asthmatic patients. This study aimed at comparing inhaler technique errors and their determinants, as well inhaler technique self-perception versus real performance, between elderly and non-elderly asthmatics. Methods: Cross-sectional assessment of 92 elderly and 100 non-elderly asthmatics followed at specialty clinics. A standardized questionnaire was applied and inhaler technique demonstration was requested. Errors were assessed using checklists based on manufacturers’ instructions and inhaler technique was graded as correct, acceptable or incorrect. Chi-Square Test and Fischer’s Exact Test were used for comparative analysis of nominal variables. A p value equal to or less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Inhaler technique was correct in a minority of elderly and young patients, without significant differences between study groups. Only 11.1% of the elderly who classified their inhaler as easy and 12.7% who stated their technique was correct had no errors. Previous regular inhaler training was associated with better actual performance in young but not in elderly patients. Conclusion: Our study showed that in spite of regular follow up at specialized outpatient clinics, inhaler devices are associated with a high frequency of errors in elderly and non-elderly asthmatics. In addition, most patients tend to overestimate their technique as correct. Finally, previous, frequent training was associated with a significantly higher percentage of patients showing correct or acceptable technique but only in non-elderly asthmatics, which suggests that elderly asthmatics may need specifically tailored inhaler education programs.
    2019-02Journal article Restricted access Show more
  • Modular system design for vegetated surfaces with alkaline activated materials
    Publication . Manso, Maria de Castro Fonseca Morão; Gomes, João Paulo de Castro
    The construction sector and mining and quarrying industries are the largest waste producers in the European Union, accounting for 35% and 28%, respectively, of the total waste produced. Therefore, it is essential to develop innovative constructive solutions based on the reuse of these wastes to create new materials with added value. This work presents the design of a modular system for vegetated surfaces with alkaline activation materials (Geogreen). The modular system stands out in the area of building materials, differentiating itself from other existing green roofs and green walls by its constructive characteristics, incorporation of industrial waste materials and integration of sustainability principles. The results demonstrate that this modular system contributes not only to the aesthetic function of a vegetated surface but also allows improving the thermal and acoustic conditions of the built environment. It contributes to the construction market with a more sustainable solution through the integration of waste materials and energy minimization.
    2019-02Doctoral thesis Open access Show more
  • Bioanalytical tools for unraveling part of the puzzle of the biochemical phenomena in epilepsy: neuromediators and antiepileptic drugs
    Publication . Fonseca, Beatriz Marques da; Alves, Gilberto Lourenço
    The earliest descriptions of epilepsy date back to 3000 years B.C., which was, throughout history, linked to divine factors, and only in the mid-nineteenth century it was widely accepted as a pathology originating in the brain. Thus, summarily, epilepsy is a disease of the brain involving recurrent unprovoked seizures, which arise due to an abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity. Although the scientific knowledge has evolved tremendously over the last decades, particularly in the field of neurosciences, it is believed that we are still far from knowing in detail the neurobiochemical and molecular phenomena intrinsic to the complexity of the processes underlying this disease. In fact, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that lead to the development of epilepsy (epileptogenesis) and those underlying the ictogenesis will be certainly favorable to find novel therapeutic approaches, capable of improving the suppression of seizures, particularly in patients who develop phenotypes of drug-resistant epilepsy, but also capable of modifying, and if possible interrupting, the cascade of molecular, structural and functional pathophysiologic changes that occur in brain during epileptogenesis. Given the scarcity of information on the neurobiological phenomena underlying the pharmacological response, as well as on the biochemical and molecular processes responsible for drug resistance and epileptogenesis, new studies are imperative to contribute to increase knowledge about these topics. The involvement of neuromediators in the initiation and spread of epileptic seizures is an increasingly recognized reality and the quantitative determination of these endogenous substances will be fundamental to improve our knowledge at neurobiochemical level, thus enabling a better understanding of the etiopathogenesis of epilepsy and the mechanisms of action of antiepileptic drugs as well. Therefore, in this context, bioanalysis will play a vital role in supporting and helping to interpret the results obtained from many research studies developed in this field. Consequently, the global aim of this doctoral project was to developed simple and reliable bioanalytical tools for the determination of a series of key neuromediators involved in the neurotransmission and neuronal excitability. In addition, the development of a novel bioanalytical tool to simultaneously quantify important antiepileptic drugs and some widely used chemoconvulsant agents was also considered. Thus, the research work supporting this doctoral thesis began with the development and full validation of an analytical technique of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) for the simultaneous quantification of several catecholamines and related endogenous compounds (i.e., dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, homovanillic acid, levodopa and 3-O-methyldopa) in rat brain tissue. Posteriorly, another methodology using the same analytical system (HPLC-FLD) was also developed for the determination of five neuroactive amino acids (i.e., glutamate, aspartate, taurine, glutamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid) in rat brain tissue; however, in this case, a precolumn derivatization step was required because these amino acids do not have native fluorescence. Moreover, to perform more integrated analyses of the anticonvulsant and convulsant effects in nonclinical studies it will be essential the availability of bioanalytical tools that enable the simultaneous determination of the target antiepileptic drugs and convulsant agents. Therefore, within the scope of this thesis, it was also developed a liquid chromatography method coupled to diode array detection for the simultaneous determination, in plasma and rat brain samples, three established antiepileptics (levetiracetam, zonisamide and lamotrigine) and two important chemoconvulsant agents (pentylenetetrazole and pilocarpine) frequently used to experimentally induce acute seizures and/or chronic epilepsy in whole-animal models. This set of bioanalytical tools may allow the study of neurochemical changes that occur in several brain regions associated with epilepsy and/or epileptic seizures, and thus can help to understand multiple aspects still unclear in the field of neurosciences. Hence, the achievements obtained with the work presented in this doctoral thesis may provide quantitative support for future nonclinical studies aimed at deepening the knowledge about the neurobiochemical mechanisms underlying the epileptogenesis and ictogenesis phenomena, as well as the action of antiepileptic drugs and chemoconvulsant agents. Finally, this work represents a small but useful contribution to unravel part of the puzzle of the complex neurobiochemical mechanisms involved in epilepsy.
    2019-02Doctoral thesis Open access Show more
  • A Importância da Formação em Empreendedorismo no Desenvolvimento Regional: O Programa de Empreendedorismo na Região do Sabor
    Publication . Galvão, Anderson Rei; Marques, Carla Susana da Encarnação; Ferreira, João José de Matos
    Vários autores têm vindo apontar o empreendedorismo como impulsionador do emprego e do desenvolvimento económico (e.g., Song & Winkler, 2014; Tödtling & Trippl 2005; Laukkanen, 2000), considerando-o uma componente chave para as economias locais num mercado cada vez mais globalizado (Díaz-García, et al., 2015). Além disso, muitos governos têm vindo a introduzir e a financiar Programas de Educação de Empreendedorismo e Formação (PEEF), como instrumento político para fomentar a inovação, criar novas empresas e melhorar o desenvolvimento económico das regiões (e.g., Gangi, 2017; Gedeon, 2017; Cheung, 2008). Neste sentido, o principal objetivo desta investigação é analisar e perceber de que forma um programas de educação de empreendedorismo e formação influencia o desenvolvimento de uma região. Neste contexto, e de forma mais pormenorizada traçaram-se os seguintes quatro objetivos específicos: i) explorar de que forma a formação ou educação para o empreendedorismo pode ser um facilitador de desenvolvimento regional, e perceber quais as tendências atuais e futuras dentro desta temática; ii) perceber qual o papel dos principais stakeholders no programas de educação de empreendedorismo e formação e qual a perceção que estes têm sobre a influência do programa no desenvolvimento regional; iii) analisar o papel dos PEEF no desenvolvimento de competências empreendedoras e criação de empresas; iv) avaliar o Programa de Empreendedorismo Sabor (PES), de forma a propor novas diretrizes de melhoria. Esta tese de investigação é composta por quatro estudos empíricos, em que o primeiro estudo faz uma revisão sistemática à literatura sobre a educação e formação de empreendedorismo no desenvolvimento regional, tendo como base, publicações da base de dados SCOPUS. O segundo estudo, de método qualitativo, recorre, através de entrevistas, à opinião dos stakeholders que estiveram envolvidos no PES. O terceiro estudo de caracter quantitativo, recorre aos questionários para analisar o papel do programa de empreendedorismo no desenvolvimento de competências empreendedoras e criação de empresas. Por último, o quarto estudo, recorre a métodos mistos (qualitativo e quantitativo) para avaliar a evolução do PES e para propor novas diretrizes de melhoria. Os resultados mostraram que o PES influência de forma positiva o desenvolvimento da região, quer seja através das competências empreendedoras dos seus participantes, como através da criação de empresas, emprego, serviços especializados, inovação, entre outros. No entanto para que o PES seja mais eficiente e eficaz é necessário criar-se um ecossistema empreendedor, através da participação dos atores locais (stakeholders), e de políticas especificas às necessidades dos empreendedores e da região. Os resultados permitiram também chegar a uma proposta de possível melhoria de programas de educação de empreendedorismo e formação que poderá ser implementado em outras regiões ou países. Esta tese de investigação pretende assim contribuir para um maior conhecimento empírico de como os programas de educação e formação para o empreendedorismo podem influenciar o desenvolvimento regional. Além disso, pretende-se propor uma metodologia de programa que poderá ser implementado em outras regiões. Por fim, são ainda apresentadas implicações teorias e práticas salientando-se o que precisa de ser ainda feito ao nível dos programas de educação de empreendedorismo e formação.
    2019-02Doctoral thesis Open access Show more
  • Produção Transmídia e Interfaces Jornalísticas em Dispositivos Móveis: Estudo de Caso da Série The New Arrivals, do The Guardian
    Publication . Canavilhas, João; Dall'Agnese, Carolina Teixeira Weber; Barichello, Eugenia Mariano da Rocha Barichello
    No ecossistema midiático atual, a comunicação móvel assume papel de destaque (Scolari, 2016). A exemplo de anos anteriores, dados do mais recente Reuters Digital Media Report apontam o crescimento do uso de smartphones no consumo de notícias em todos os mercados estudados [...]
    2019-02Book part Open access Show more
  • Construction of an immunosensor for human cytomegalovirus infection diagnosis
    Publication . Pires, Filipa Andreia Velez; Cabral, Ana Cristina Mendes Dias; Martínez, María Julia Arcos
    Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a herpes virus that establish a lifelong latent infection of the host, so once a person is infected, the virus persists in a state of cellular latency. Following primary infection, HCMV is excreted in body fluids and its transmission occurs through mucous contact and exposure to urine, blood transfusion and organ or bone marrow transplant procedures, being extremely difficult to identify the transmission route. HCMV infection induces no overt disease in healthy carriers, owing to effective immune control, but this infection can be severe or even fatal in immunosuppressed individuals, fetuses and newborns. Furthermore, HCMV is also relatively common among women in reproductive age, with seroprevalence ranging from 45 to 100%. The diagnosis of HCMV disease remains controversial because of the difficulty of separating patients who are asymptomatic but shedding HCMV in body fluids, from patients who have the symptomatic disease. Nowadays the most common methods for diagnosis of HCMV infection are: - serological tests based on IgM and IgG detection; - direct free HCMV detection by viral isolation and viral antigens detection in tissue, urine or saliva samples; and - PCR, which is based on amplification of selected segments of the HCMV genome and its hybridization. However, these methods are disadvantageous to be routinely used in clinical diagnosis as point of care because they require a long time to perform or are costly. Thus, there is a need to develop a method which is fast, effective and inexpensive for this virus diagnosis. As an alternative, the use of capture antibodies against the envelope glycoproteins of HCMV open the possibility of faster immunochemical methods. Glycoprotein B of HCMV (gB) is the dominant antigen in the envelope of HCMV, being possible its determination in body fluids like urine and saliva, where viral loads are higher. In consequence, the development of new methods based on the accurate detection of gB in body fluids, is of great interest. In recent years, electrochemical biosensors were widely used to determine various substances with different properties and for continuous monitoring of biological processes. Bioanalytical assays such as immunoassays (IAs), are also very important in many fields. IAs are based on antibodies ability to form complexes with the corresponding antigen, making them highly specific and selective. Thus, electrochemical immunoassays offer enhanced sensitivities and reduced instrumentation costs compared to their counterparts using other transducing elements. Also, screen-printed electrodes (SPE) contribute to develop miniaturized, easy to handle and reliable IAs devices. In addition, SPEs allow for a high-volume production of electrode systems with uniform size and geometry, ensuring measurement reproducibility at low cost. They are also very versatile, since a wide range of designs and materials can be applied in their construction. The present work describes the development of an alternative method for HCMV gB detection and quantification. It is intended the development of an immunosensor to quantify the presence of gB in urine samples. For the construction of this device we made use of a sandwich type immunoassay, wherein HCMV gB is sandwiched between a primary antibody, previously immobilized on a solid surface, and a labelled secondary antibody. Sandwich immunoassays are currently the most commonly and successfully used, mainly due to their high sensitivity and minimized background signal. Moreover, they can be performed on any kind of sensing surface, being the main criterion for these assays the availability of two antibodies with different binding sites on the target antigens. Three different immunoassays were developed. The first one was an electrochemical immunoassay, gB detection was carried out over electrochemical stripping analysis of silver nanoparticles quantitatively deposited on the immunosensor through catalysis by nanogold labels. Capture anti-gB antibodies were absorbed on screen-printed carbon electrodes, and a secondary anti-gB antibody labelled with gold nanoparticles. Nevertheless, the reproducibility of the method (RSDs ≈ 12%) was not very good owing to the random immobilization of the primary antibody on the working electrode, which resulted in small efficiency of antigen detection. Contributing to the low observed RSD was also the nonspecific deposition of silver on the sensor surface. For these reasons, it was decided the development of another approach to overcome the observed limitations. A spectrophotometric magnetic particle-based enzyme immunoassays (mpEIA) was constructed. The use of magnetic beads (MBs) functionalized with protein G (MBs-prG) as solid surface for primary antibody (mAb1) immobilization allows its oriented attachment, resulting in a more effective recognition of gB. Additionally, they improve the affinity interaction thanks to a faster assay kinetics of the dispersed beads in urine samples. The results obtained with this spectrophotometric mpEIA compared favorably to those obtained in other reports of gB detection in terms of analytical performance. Despite the advantages, ELISA readers cannot be applied as portable devices to make in situ measurements. It was then proposed an adaptation to electrochemical transduction on screen-printed electrodes. This variation aimed the achievement of a simple, sensitive, disposable and portable device. It was maintained the immunoassay scheme based on the analyte protein gB sandwiched between the primary monoclonal antibody and the secondary anti-gB-HCMV HRP labelled antibody. Similarly, magnetic particles functionalized with protein G (MBs-prG), were used. The developed immunosensor was shown to be a portable, fast, accurate, rigorous, low cost and an effective method of detecting gB in human urine samples for the valuable diagnosis/screening of HCMV infections.
    2019-02Doctoral thesis Open access Show more
  • Gamificação no Ensino da Gestão
    Publication . Silva, Rui Jorge Rodrigues da; Rodrigues, Ricardo José de Ascensão Gouveia; Leal, Carmem Teresa Pereira
    O conceito de Gamificação geralmente mais encontrado e aceite na literatura apresenta-se como o uso de elementos de design de jogo em contextos não jogo, direcionados a um público alvo cuja utilização tem como objetivo a aprendizagem de uma determinada temática de conhecimento (Deterding, Dixon, Khaled, & Nacke, 2011). Nesse sentido, a Gamificação é um fenómeno composto por diversas aplicações em diferentes áreas onde se inclui a área do ensino, podendo ser utilizada como uma ferramenta que permita potenciar a Motivação (MOT), Fluxo (FLU), Atitude (ATI) e Aprendizagem Percebida (AP) dos alunos, permitindo desse modo diferentes e importantes melhorias no processo de ensino-aprendizagem. A Gamificação já foi utilizada em diversas áreas do conhecimento como o marketing, medicina, desporto, engenharia, matemática, informática, história, línguas, física, química, biologia, entre muitas outras áreas do saber. Nesse sentido, a pertinência deste estudo deve-se à lacuna de estudos empíricos que analisem a aplicação, viabilidade e eficácia de recursos gamificados no ensino das áreas de conhecimento da Contabilidade e do Marketing. O objetivo geral desta Tese é analisar os impactos da aplicação dos recursos gamificados criados, ao nível da MOT, FLU, ATI e AP dos alunos do Ensino Superior Público Português, pertencentes à área de conhecimento da Gestão, que no Ano Letivo 2017/1018 estudaram pela primeira vez as Unidades Curriculares (UC) de Contabilidade nas Licenciaturas em Economia e Gestão e de Marketing na Licenciatura em Marketing. Para alcançarmos este objetivo geral, foram traçados os seguintes objetivos específicos:(1) Realizar uma revisão da literatura e propor um modelo conceptual de investigação;(2) Fazer um mapeamento dos estudos de investigação que abordam a aplicação da gamificação ao processo de ensino-aprendizagem em geral e do ensino da gestão em particular;(3) Adaptar, aplicar e validar a Accounting and Marketing Academic Motivation Scale (AMAMS);(4) Analisar e comparar a evolução do estado da motivação dos alunos que frequentaram estas duas UC; (5) Perceber se os recursos gamificados criados, denominados Accountingame e Marketingame, são possuidores de determinadas caraterísticas, que sob a forma de jogos educativos poderão incrementar o FLU dos alunos na aprendizagem;(6) Investigar se os factores sociais são preditores da ATI para a utilização dos recursos gamificados criados;(7) Perceber de que forma os construtos MOT, FLU, ATI obtidas com a utilização de recursos gamificados aplicados ao ensino da gestão, tem influência sobre a AP. Os resultados da revisão e mapeamento da literatura revelaram que existe diversa literatura sobre a aplicação da gamificação em geral e ao processo de ensino em particular, no entanto há uma grande escassez de estudos que comprovem a sua real eficácia no processo de ensino-aprendizagem de áreas específicas como a Contabilidade e o Marketing. Para medir a motivação dos alunos antes e após conhecerem os recursos gamificados criámos a AMAMS que após ter sido testada demonstrou ser um instrumento eficaz na medição da motivação sentida pelos alunos antes (M1) e após (M2) a utilização dos recursos criados, verificando-se que ambos os grupos apresentavam índices positivos de motivação extrínseca e intrínseca em relação ao estudo destas UC, no entanto os alunos que viriam a pertencer ao Grupo Gamificado (GG) apresentavam-se, no M1, menos motivados do que o Grupo Controlo (GC) para estudar as UC em causa. Após a aplicação dos recursos verificaram-se diferenças de motivação para aprender entre alunos do GG em comparação com alunos do GC, verificando-se assim a importância de aplicação deste tipo de tecnologia em contexto de sala de aula. Concluímos ainda que as dimensões Concentração (CON), Clareza (CLA), Feedback (FEED), Desafio (DES), Autonomia (AUT), Interação (INT) e Aprendizagem Percebida (AP) tiveram influência sobre o FLU de aprendizagem dos alunos e que os factores sociais como a Influência Social (ISO), Reconhecimento (REC) e Benefícios Recíprocos (BRE) são preditores da ATI para a utilização dos recursos gamificados concebidos para o efeito. Finalmente verificámos a influência dos principais construtos da gamificação na AP, concluindo-se que a ATI foi o construto com maior impacto, seguindo-se a MOT. O FLU apesar de ter efeito positivo sobre a AP não obteve significância estatística que permitisse validar a relação causa efeito proposta. As principais contribuições inerentes à realização deste estudo foram: (1) Sistematizar e mapear a literatura relacionada com a aplicação da gamificação ao processo de ensino-aprendizagem em geral e da gestão em particular; (2) Propor um modelo conceptual de investigação; (3) Adaptar, aplicar e validar a AMAMS em alunos das áreas da Gestão: Contabilidade e Marketing; (4) Analisar a motivação dos alunos que frequentaram pela primeira vez estas áreas da Gestão no ensino superior; (5) Enunciar quais as características de recursos gamificados que contribuem para o fluxo de aprendizagem em alunos da área da Gestão;(6) Demonstrar a forma como os factores sociais interferem na atitude para utilização da gamificação na gestão; (7) Testar a relação entre os diversos construtos resultante do modelo conceptual de investigação proposto; (8) Analisar a influência de cada construto da gamificação na aprendizagem percebida; (9) Colmatar um gap na literatura inerente ao teste das relações entre os diversos construtos da gamificação de recursos aplicados no processo de ensinoaprendizagem da Contabilidade e do Marketing. Relativamente a futuras linhas de investigação seria interessante replicar este estudo em IES de ensino privado portuguesas por forma a se poder comparar os resultados obtidos em ambos os sistemas de ensino. Por outro lado, a possibilidade de diferenciar os GG e GC em relação ao género, idade e background escolar seria relevante, pela possibilidade que daria de avaliar a forma como as diferenças sociodemográficas podem influenciar a motivação para aprender através da utilização da gamificação. Também a realização de estudos de natureza qualitativa poderá contribuir para o desenvolvimento da literatura essencialmente se for direcionada aos alunos e aos professores na tentativa de perceber se a aplicação destes recursos de ensino-aprendizagem influencia o desenvolvimento de novas competências e se interfere positivamente na qualidade pedagógica percebida pelos docentes.
    2019-02Doctoral thesis Open access Show more
  • GIS-Based Transport Accessibility Analysis to Community Facilities in Mid-Sized Cities
    Publication . Tomé, André Filipe Saraiva Coelho; Santos, Bertha; Carvalheira, Carmen
    Transport accessibility is an important issue for the sustainable development of cities. This work presents a GIS-based accessibility analysis approach that can be applied to assess accessibility to community facilities in medium-sized cities using publicly available data. For that purpose, a case study was developed using the road network and public transport data from Covilhã municipality, in Portugal. Data collected on websites were treated and organized to build the network dataset and perform network analyses with the aid of the ArcGis® Network Analyst extension (creation of service areas and Origin-Destiny (OD) cost matrices). Four accessibility evaluation analyses were performed for two transport modes: accessibility to the municipality main community facilities by private and urban public transport (isochronous and OD matrices), by inter-urban public transport (time); and accessibility by private transport between civil parishes (isochronous and OD matrices). The population and the territory covered by different travel times were also determined. The case study results showed that the accessibility in Covilhã is quite reasonable, either using private transport inside the municipality (maximum 30 minutes for covering nearly 95% of the resident population and 83% of the territory), or urban public transport inside the urban perimeter (maximum 50 minutes). However, the periphery civil parishes of the municipality have lower levels of accessibility for inter-urban public transport (reaching 115 minutes). The utility of the approach was validated through the results obtained in the case study, where it was possible to observe patterns of accessibility across the municipality for the considered modes, making it possible to improve the overall accessibility through the identification of priority areas of intervention.
    2019-02Journal article Open access Show more