Coordinator

New applications for composites of polyurethane and recycled rubber

Rubber from end-of-life tires is being used to develop composite foams with interesting properties for some applications. After grinding, the rubber obtained from the tires can be incorporated in the polyurethane foams. This project is funded by Valorpneu.

The objectives of the project are:
*    Development of foam formulations with recycled rubber.
 *   Testing and characterization of the composite foams
  *  Development of applications with composite foams

Nanoporous materials as multiple therapeutic agents

Although nitric oxide (NO) is very toxic in low concentrations it plays a key role in the regulation of several biological systems of the human body. Solid carriers have potential biomedical interest in the delivery of exogenous NO for anti-bacterial, anti-thrombic and wound healing applications. In this research line, we prepare and modify nanoporous materials with the main goal of studying its potential in the field of storage and release of nitric oxide for therapeutic applications.

POLYCER

Project POLYCER:  Exopolysaccharide application on industrial ceramic powders used in unidirectional dry pressing process for performance optimization

HISURF- Very high resolution imaging for detailed surface mapping in ice-free areas of Maritime Antarctica

This project aimed at the elaboration of high resolution mapping of ice-free surfaces in Antartica (namely in King George Island). The level of detail of this cartography is fundamental to better evaluate the evolution of the landscape in one of the regions of the Earth where the climate changes are evolving faster, using remotely sensed imagery of very high resolution with own platforms and sensors in order to overcome the frequent atmospheric drawbacks and permit its swift acquisition in the narrow windows of opportunity. 

CIRCLAR - Mapping and monitoring sorted stone circle fields with ultra-high resolution imagery in Maritime Antarctica

The main objective of this project is the mapping and monitoring of areas densely occupied by sorted stone circles in Maritime Antarctica using ultra-high resolution images captured by UAVs. The higher detail and larger extension of the areas covered contribute to a much better geomorphic description of this type of patterned ground and to a better understanding of the associated dynamic processes related to past climates.

AULIS - Automated landslides inventory based on very high spatial resolution images

The main objective of this research project is to give a major contribution to the inventory of landslides with a degree of completeness never achieved before. This objective was accomplished through the development of an automated methodology that uses a combination of remotely sensed and elevation data of very high resolution. The testing and validation of the methodology was mainly performed on Funchal and Ribeira Brava basins in Madeira Island using multitemporal satellite and aerial imagery together with elevation and field data.

ORVITER

Continental active serpentinization of ultramafic rocks is today recognized as a key process triggering a sequence of phenomena involving the passage from inorganic, to organic and metabolic reactions. These may have a role in the origin of life, and may explain the occurrence of abiotic hydrocarbons on Earth and other planets. Production of hyperalkaline waters and abiotic methane (CH4) are two critical steps in this sequence. They were described independently by specific hydrogeological and geochemical models.

FINDER

Project FINDER aims to identify and characterize the active trace of the Lower Tagus Valley (LTV) fault zone using a revolutionary and relatively new technique: airborne LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging). In the first phase of this project, high-resolution LiDAR data will be used to determine the extent, geometry, and segmentation behavior of the LTV fault zone.