Environmental management and mudit training at the New University of Lisbon by University-Industry co-operation

Environmental Training in Engineering Education (ENTREE 2001) - integrated green policies: progress for progress, p. 329-339 (Florence, 14-17 November 2001; proceedings published as book)This paper describes the experience of a joint university-industry effort, under the course "Project on Environmental Management and Auditing", in the Environmental Engineering program at the New University of Lisbon. In this course, students are divided in audit teams and perform environmental audits in operating companies or institutions. The course has shown remarkable success, in all respects. The total number of case studies so far is 50. They have covered many fields of activity, including among others: chemicals, cement, electricity, gas, metalwork, pulp and paper, auto components and assembly, construction works, waste treatment, shopping centres, fuel and chemical storage, public and cargo transportation, an airport, military bases, insurance business, tourism, a natural preserve, zoos and aquariums, and the UNL Campus itself at Caparica. Relations with the audited companies or institutions have been quite positive, by means of carefully drafted protocols that ensure a mutually acceptable methodology and scope of the audit, along with undisclosure clauses. We have found this a very positive experience for all concerned: the students, the companies or institutions and the University

Public works policy in Portugal: a case study in unsustainability

International Journal of Engineering and Industrial Management, nº 1, p. 195-208Portugal has had a strong public works policy for centuries. In recent years, the largest environmental conflicts were focused precisely on public works. Two case studies are hereby examined. The third crossing of the Tagus at Lisbon should support the high-speed rail link between Lisbon and Madrid, plus suburban and heavy cargo trains; recently, the Government decided to add a road. But Lisbonalready suffers from too much traffic and air pollution; and the cost is too high,because project-finance is not viable; instead, more and better public transportationis needed. A policy for large dams aims to create 12 new dams, supposedly to reduce GHG emissions and improve the balance of the electric network; unfortunately, those dams will hinder regional development in poor regions, destroy the last major wild rivers in Portugal and a number of social infrastructures; they would generate 2 TWh/year of electricity, about 1% of energy demand in Portugal, at a cost of 3 000 M€; in contrast, the same investment in energy-efficiency projects would save at least 8 TWh/year. In both cases, the decision process was aprioristic and disregarding of public opinion. In short, public works in Portugal remain as unsustainable as ever, environmentally, socially and economically

The Vasco da Gama Bridge on the Tagus Estuary: A paradigm of bad decision making, but good post-evaluation

World Transport Policy & Practice, Vol.6, nº2, (2000)The Vasco da Gama bridge over the Tagus Estuary was one of the most polemic projects ever built in Portugal and indeed in the European Union. Benefiting from significant funding from the Cohesion Fund, the project failed to uphold its main declared objectives (decongesting the old bridge and providing a northsouth link around Lisbon), and its location was the worst of three alternatives regarding land management, nature conservation, transportation system and cost. It was nevertheless forwarded by the will of the very powerful Portuguese Ministry of Public Works (against opinions of almost everybody else), aided by the unwillingness of the European Commission to withdraw financing. However, the public outrage raised around the project both in Portugal and in Europe, not only for the sloppy decision but also for illegal impacts during construction, led to several stringent control and compensatory measures, unprecedented in Portugal and rare in Europe

A new model for EEZ surveillance and management in Portugal

Management Information Systems 2000, p. 103-111Portugal has an EEZ of 1.6 million square kilometres. The importance of the EEZ is primarily related to economic activities such as fisheries and tourism, and eventually offshore mining; but also to broader issues such as environment, internal security and geo-strategy. Maritime surveillance is a keystone for the control of the EEZ. The authors discuss strengths and flaws of the Portuguese maritime surveillance scheme, plus opportunities for better management of the EEZ. Maritime surveillance has not been a priority in Portugal, hence available means are insufficient; the responsibilities of a maritime authority are distributed among several institutions, relatively low on State hierarchy and with inadequate co-ordination. Although the essential functions of a maritime authority are performed, efficiency is poor and existing means are not used to full capacity. EEZ management exists only as desegregated policies. The authors adopt the twin concepts of the integrated management for the EEZ; and the Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (C3I) for the maritime surveillance. A model is proposed to integrate such concepts into the new VTMIS (Vessel Traffic Management Information Services) about to be implemented in Portugal. This should improve the VTMIS and the efficiency of other means of maritime surveillance and management. The new system should have a strong geographical information component and the capability to integrate on-line information from many sources (such as land-based radar, port information, satellite imagery, military and police routine surveillance, international databases and mathematical modelling, among others). Such information would then be used for a number of tasks, including environmental protection and natural resources management in the EEZ. The paper discusses the desirable specifications for such a system and its link with existing and future institutional arrangements in Portugal

Os anos 90 em Portugal: a mudança de paradigma

60 Anos pela Natureza em Portugal, 100-10

Educação, Ambiente e Desportos de Natureza – Uma simbiose possível

O Desporto para além do Óbvio, p. 11-2

EcoTerra Model - application of environmental fiscal reform in local government financing in Portugal

Critical Issues in Environmental Taxation: International and Comparative Perspectives: Volume VI, 699-715Land use management is one of the least studied, more diffi cult, but possibly one of the most important fi elds for the application of economic instruments in environmental policy. Present biodiversity loss is a consequence of the decisions of many individual users of environmental products and service fl ows. This is a result of the ‘unpriced scarcity’ and ‘lack of property rights’ nature of the environment. The social value of various biodiversity goods and service fl ows is not or is insuffi - ciently refl ected in market prices. As a result, an undesirable level of provision of these goods and services will result in their destruction or degradatio

Alqueva: alegrias e frustrações da mais emblemática obra pública portuguesa do séc. XX

In: ARHT (Ed), Os Planos de Ordenamento da Orla Costeira: Balanço e Reflexões, 89-93Alqueva é um dos maiores empreendimentos já realizados em Portugal. É certamente o mais polémico, o mais emblemático deste estilo de desenvolvimento, o causador de maiores impactes ambientais e de mais medidas para a sua mitigação, num século XX recheado de obras públicas mais ou menos problemáticas. Alqueva tem sido defendido apaixonadamente por uns como um empreendimento estratégico e estruturante para o desenvolvimento do Alentejo, e atacado com igual paixão por outros como um elefante branco com impactes inaceitáveis. Alqueva foi também um dos casos que mereceu maior atenção e envolvimento por parte do movimento ambientalista português. Quase sete anos depois da inauguração da barragem de Alqueva, vale a pena fazer um balanço dos resultados

Invited review: Models for the optimization of regional wastewater treatment systems

European Journal of Operational Research, nº 73 (1994)The problem of the optimization of regional wastewater systems may be generally formulated as follows: to define the transport and treatment system, in a region or water basin, which assure compliance with given pollution control criteria, with minimum cost. In addition, one may try to satisfy other objectives, such as minimum environmental impact, better effluent reuse or adequate phasing. From the optimization point of view, the two main problems that render the solution difficult are the dimensionality and the concavity of cost functions. The matter has been dealt with by many authors, who have produced varied techniques to try to solve this problem. This paper begins with a brief review of the work of those authors who have produced models specifically designed to study the problem. Then, solution strategies are discussed concerning three major items: definition of the objective function and constraints, optimization method and practical aplicability of the models. The paper concludes with the discussion of topics for future research

Estratégia para os POOC: o caso da Costa da Caparica

In: ARHT (Ed),Os Planos de Ordenamento da Orla Costeira: Balanço e Reflexões, 89-93. Colecção "Tágides"Resumo da intervenção na Sessão Debate sobre os POO