27 research outputs found
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
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