2019 Call for Flagship Projects

Abstract: In earth systems, oceans represent an important element of equalization and normal functioning. Nowadays oceans are believed to represent perhaps the most important contribution to the current balance between all earth elements for a healthy and sustainable earth global system. However, oceans remain as the most remote and unexplored frontier among all earth elements. Ocean-atmospheric interactions are nowadays believed to be at the heart of all earth vital signs and climatic behaviors, and therefore are essential to an accurate monitoring and understanding of earth systems, their changes and the results of human impacts. As the continuous acceleration of human systems complexity is expected, novel and disruptive ways to tackle this major challenge are urgent. 

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K2D addresses this challenge by proposing the development of a synergistic set of components, including electronic components and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, that permit the cost-effective gathering of extensive and complete data from the oceans, including physical, chemical, biological and environmental variables. For that purpose acoustic information and environmental DNA will be combined, as well as advanced Geoinformatics modeling hybridized with Artificial Intelligence tools to enrich geospatial and temporal information models to describe and anticipate oceans health patterns and human activities, mostly the ones more prone to hazards and extreme events. To close the loop, the same Geostatistics models can be used to create a continuum from deep-see to near space, by integrating remote sensing and satellite information describing earth global systems in a holistic manner. 

Leading Institution

Participating Institutions

University of Minho ; INESC TEC; AIR CENTRE ; Alcatel Submarine Networks; Cintal ; Azores University ; MIT ;

PT Research Team

From DSTelecom :
Sérgio Fernandes;
João Bento
Bruno Correia
João Carvalho
Carlos Caldas

From UMINHo-IB-S :
Filipe Costa;
Cláudia Pascoal
Eduardo Borges Pereira
Tiago da Silva Miranda
L.M Gonçalves
Graça Minas
Marcos Martins
Sérgio Fernandes

From Azores University :
José Azevedo

From INESC TEC :
Nuno Cruz
Bruno Ferreira
Aníbal Matos
Andy Pinto
Nuno Abreu

From AIR Centre :
Jose Luiz Moutinho
Frank Newman
Tânia Chen

From Cintal :
Sérgio M. Jesus
António Silva

MIT PIs

Prof. Douglas Hart
MIT Mechanical Engineering

Prof. Dava Newman
MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Harvard- MIT Health, Sciences and Technology

Prof. John Leonard
MIT Mechanical Engineering

Prof. Pierre Lermusiaux
MIT Mechanical Engineering

Duration: 3 years

Abstract: C-Tech aims at researching, developing and pilot-scale a digital smart city platform for urban modelling and planning which, based on a three-dimensional representation of the city and its combination with multiple data from different data sources (from domains such as weather, energy and water consumption, mobility and, most of all, user’s behavior as determined by their mobile phone use), will allow to simulate scenarios regarding energy-efficiency of buildings, green structures, creation and urban mobility, empowering local authorities to identify and tackle specific environmental issues, overcome the global challenge of decreasing urban carbon footprint and fostering the transition to a net-zero ecosystem.

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The project arises from the previous research work co-developed between IST, MIT and the city of Lisbon, from which the technological framework for the city representation has resulted, aiming at enriching and expanding it in order to deliver to the market a set of reliable simulators which will empower local authorities in the definition of new policies and measures to tackle climate change and foster environmental sustainability.

The pursuit of these objectives involves the execution of an action plan, structured in 9 complementary activities, covering all stages of the product development cycle. The adopted research methodology combines industrial research with experimental development, ensuring continuous validation and feedback integration.

In compliance with its complexity and disruption, the project will be executed by a consortium composed by 5 complementary partners which ensure the representation of both business and scientific systems and cover all the critical phases of the value chain. MIT will directly cooperate in the project’s execution, providing the consortium with the knowledge and expertise of two Principal Researchers from 2 research centers (MIT SDL and MIT TL).

Leading Institution

Marco Granja
Senior Manager, NOS

Participating Institutions

IST; CEiiA; UNL-IMS; LISBOA E-NOVA

PT Research Team

From IST:
Prof. Paulo Ferrão
Prof. Carlos Silva

From UNL-IMS:
Miguel de Castro Neto
Pedro Cabral
Flávio L. Pinheiro
Pedro Sarmento
Manuel Dias

From CEiiA:
Sandra Melo;
Frederico Custódio
Catarina Selada
Gonçalo Salazar
Rui Peixe

From Lisboa E-Nova :
Maria Rodrigues
Sara Freitas

MIT PIs

Prof. Christoph Reinhart
MIT Department of Architecture
Director, Building Technology Program

Prof. Jessika Trancik
Institute for Data, Systems and Society

Duration: 3 years
Begin date: 01, April 2020

Abstract: One of the most valuable resources we have to protect are the world’s Oceans. They have a prominent role in the Earth ecosystem, as they cover most of the Earth’s surface, contain millions of plants and animals, influence global weather, and produce about 70 percent of the oxygen we breathe. Oceans are thus essential for technological, scientific, economic and social development, having enabled exploration and commerce for hundreds of years. As Portugal starts to assume a stronger position as a robust space-faring nation, the Consortium looks for the scientific and economic synergies from New Space technologies and opportunities that could be leveraged to prospect, monitor and value the Oceans in a sustainable manner, aligned with both the “Atlantic Interactions” research agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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The Consortium shall develop Portuguese technologies and competences to monitor and value the ocean, by combining national and international knowhow to build the AEROS nanosatellite constellation Managed from Portugal. AEROS is an integrated system of assets and capabilities including different existing, improved, and new platforms operating in the Ocean and Space, equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and technologies, all connected through a communication network linked to a data gathering, processing and dissemination system. 

To promote the national scientific and entrepreneurial ecosystems, and boost the links and connections between both, AEROS combines private companies like Edisoft, SpinWorks and DST, universities, as UMinho, FCUP, UAlgarve, IST and IMAR, as well as research and interface institutions including CEiiA and +Atlantic. To fast track innovation and industrial development and the internationalization that AEROS can achieve, the national entities have partnered with researchers from different fields within MIT. 

AEROS will develop and launch into orbit a new nanosatellite platform as a precursor to a future constellation that can leverage the great potential of the study of the Earth, its oceans and atmosphere in liaison with advanced communications technologies to deliver tangible scientific and economic value to society.

Leading Institution

Hélder Silva
Head of Space Software and Embedded Systems

Manuel Coutinho
Embedded Systems Technical Manager

Teresa Cardoso
Defense Security & Space Director

José Freitas
Space Systems – Sales & Business Development

Participating Institutions

IMAR; CEiiA; AIR CENTRE  ; SPINWORKS ; DSTELECOM ; +ATLANTIC  ; University of Minho ; FCUP University of Porto  ; University of Algarve ; Técnico, University of Lisbon ; MIT ;

PT Research Team

From DSTelecom:
Sérgio Fernandes
Catarina Araújo
Nuno Morgado

From AIRCentre:
Pedro Freire Silva
Tânia Chen

From University of Minho:
Eduardo Pereira

From University of Algarve:
Flávio Martins
João Janeiro

From University of Porto :
Frederico Francisco
Orfeu Bertolami

From CEiiA:
André João
Inês Brandão
Liliana Baptista

From Spinworks :
Tiago Hormigo

From Técnico Lisboa :
Joana Mendonça
Rodrigo Lapa

MIT PIs

Prof. Kerri Cahoy
MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Prof. Richard Linares
MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Prof. Dava Newman
MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Harvard-MIT Health, Sciences and Technology

Duration: 3 years
Begin Date: 19, Nov 2020