GeoBioTec - GeoBioCiências, GeoTecnologias e GeoEngenharias [UIDB/04035/2025]

Publicações

Assessment of Airport Pavement Condition Index (PCI) Using Machine Learning

Publication . Santos, Bertha; Studart, André; Almeida, Pedro G.

Pavement condition assessment is a fundamental aspect of airport pavement management systems (APMS) for ensuring safe and efficient airport operations. However, conventional methods, which rely on extensive on-site inspections and complex calculations, are often time-consuming and resource-intensive. In response, Industry 4.0 has introduced machine learning (ML) as a powerful tool to streamline these processes. This study explores five ML algorithms (Linear Regression (LR), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and Support Vector Machine (SVM)) for predicting the Pavement Condition Index (PCI). Using basic alphanumeric distress data from three international airports, this study predicts both numerical PCI values (on a 0–100 scale) and categorical PCI values (3 and 7 condition classes). To address data imbalance, random oversampling (SMOTE—Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique) and undersampling (RUS) were used. This study fills a critical knowledge gap by identifying the most effective algorithms for both numerical and categorical PCI determination, with a particular focus on validating class-based predictions using relatively small data samples. The results demonstrate that ML algorithms, particularly Random Forest, are highly effective at predicting both the numerical and the three-class PCI for the original database. However, accurate prediction of the seven-class PCI required the application of oversampling techniques, indicating that a larger, more balanced database is necessary for this detailed classification. Using 10-fold cross-validation, the successful models achieved excellent performance, yielding Kappa statistics between 0.88 and 0.93, an error rate of less than 7.17%, and an area under the ROC curve greater than 0.93. The approach not only significantly reduces the complexity and time required for PCI calculation, but it also makes the technology accessible, enabling resource-limited airports and smaller management entities to adopt advanced pavement management practices.

2025-10-24Artigo de investigação

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GeoBIM for Geothermal Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Smart Cities: A Review

Publication . Pinto, Hugo Alexandre Silva; Gomes, Luís Manuel Ferreira; Pais, Luís Andrade; Nepomuceno, Miguel Costa Santos; Bernardo, Luís; Gonçalves, Vanessa; Morais, Maria Vitoria; Perelló Marchiori, Leonardo

The global drive toward energy transition and carbon neutrality requires integrated and data-driven approaches for managing buildings and smart cities. Existing urban energy assessment frameworks remain fragmented and often lack multiscale interoperability between building-level models and territorial datasets. At the same time, shallow geothermal energy is emerging as an efficient and renewable solution for sustainable heating and cooling. To address these gaps, this study examines the potential of GeoBIM, the integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), as a unified framework for multiscale energy analysis and for supporting shallow geothermal applications. A systematic literature review was conducted based on the PRISMA framework, combining a systematic literature review using the Scopus database with the critical examination of representative case studies. The results show that GeoBIM-based modeling improves data quality, enhances thermal performance assessments, and supports the implementation of shallow geothermal systems, including energy piles and district-scale ground-coupled networks. Reported applications demonstrate energy consumption reductions exceeding 40% in certain urban contexts. Several research gaps and challenges were identified, particularly data interoperability issues, lack of standardization, computational complexity, and the need for specialized training. Overall, the review indicates that GeoBIM offers a promising pathway for optimizing resources, supporting informed decision-making, and advancing resilient and sustainable smart buildings and cities.

2026-03-23Artigo de revisão

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Descrição

O nosso plano (2025-2029) desenvolve abordagem interdisciplinar para uma gestão inovadora e sustentável dos recursos naturais, garantindo o bem-estar social e a proteção ambiental. O nosso principal objetivo é investigação aplicada e fundamental de matérias-primas primárias para a sustentabilidade ambiental e económica. Para tal vamos melhorar os algoritmos de mapeamento geológico para avaliação e mapeamento de graus metálicos em depósitos minerais e resíduos de mineração, para melhorar os minérios e reutilizar resíduos de mineração para novos produtos. [...]

Entidade financiadora

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)

Programa de financiamento

UID 2023/2024

Número da atribuição

UIDB/04035/2025