An overlaid Wimax cellular structure is proposed for emergency and safety services, with micro-cells covering urban hotspots over a macro-cellular structure. In the region of Beira Interior the process of cellular planning has to account for carrier-to-noise-interference ratio. Sectorisation is used in order to reduce reuse patterns and increase system capacity, while cell overlay is proposed to overcome coverage problems in large towns and cities. Geographic Information Systems tools are considered for Line-of-Sight discovery, and ~75% of LoS coverage is guaranteed in the city of Covilhã. The point-to-point component is also being incorporated in the planning tool. By comparing the 3.5GHz and the 5.8GHz bands one concludes that it is possible to use lower values of the antenna gains in the first case.

The definition of the Catchment Area of an airport is very broad and current literature suggests doing it in combination with certain pre-defined criteria: the assessment of the impact or effectiveness of a certain airport, or from the perspective of competition between airports. This paper aims to assess the validity of the hinterland defined by the Portuguese airport manager, ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal. A case study was developed involving the three main national airports: Lisbon (LIS), Oporto (OPO) and Faro (FAO). ANA defined the hinterland of each airport. Thus, a survey was developed to the companies located within the hinterland of every airport aiming to understand the existence of any relationship between them and the closest airport. We followed a stratified sample method to determine the size of the survey. We only considered import and export companies with the highest business volumes. Data analysis was performed using GIS (Geographic Information System), that is a software, spatial data and computational procedures system that enables and facilitates the analysis, management and representation of space and phenomena that occur in it. We collected a total of 243 surveys. The main conclusion of the study was that the calculation of an airport’s hinterland based exclusively on the travel time or distance is, potentially, misleading. It is proposed the use of other factors. The validity of such a method and practice raises some doubts. The actual distribution of economic activities and population is ignored as well as the mutual influence of several airports. Further research is now needed to calculate airports actual influence.

Traffic loads, along with the environment, damage pavement over time. The degradation of pavement quality is reflected in the development of a diversity of pavement distresses, such as cracking, deformation or deterioration. These distresses may occur on the surface and/or in the pavement structure, having a determinant role in pavement’s quality. Aiming to increase the degree of reliability of the pavement distress data and reduce pavement observation time and visual inspection operations cost, this work presents the main steps proposed for a methodology to observe, record and evaluate flexible road pavement distresses to assess the quality of road pavements. This methodology is based on an in-vehicle inspection using GNSS and video image capture devices and in the use of Geographic Information System (GIS). Validation of the proposed methodology was made through a case study by comparing the results obtained on the in-vehicle inspection to those from a traditional visual inspection performed on foot. The similarity of results obtained by the two approaches allowed to conclude about the feasibility of the proposed methodology. Among the main advantages of the proposed methodology a highlight is on the possibility to identify, quantify and locate the most severe pavement distresses through the use of spatial tools available on GIS, producing information maps and reports that can be used in the decision-making process about road pavements rehabilitation and conservation.

Low pH soils with insufficient organic matter can benefit from the application of reclaimed water (RW) and biosolids. The presence of nutrients also aids plant growth. This paper presents the results of two integrated research studies, both carried out in the Beira Interior Region (Covilhã, Portugal); one used RW for irrigation, the other applied paper mill sludge to agricultural land. In both cases, multiple criteria based on GIS tools were used for site selection. In the first study, the characteristics of RW analyzed over 2 years were found suitable for crop irrigation. The RW had moderate organic content, low electrical conductivity (CE), high nutrient content (N, P), and low concentrations of nitrate, metals and phytotoxic elements (Al, B, Cl and Na). The multi-criteria analysis was carried out taking into account environmental, technical and economic criteria and a suitable area of 30.5 ha was found for RW irrigation. In the second work, the paper mill sludge was considered suitable for application to agricultural land. Its concentrations of N, P and heavy metals did not a present risk for soil contamination and were suitable for soil improvement and crop production. A multi-criteria analysis based on similar criteria was conducted and a suitable area of 253 ha was found for sludge application.

Reclaimed water from small wastewater treatment facilities in the rural areas of the Beira Interior region (Portugal) may constitute an alternative water source for aquifer recharge. A 21-month monitoring period in a constructed wetland treatment system has shown that 21,500 m3 year−1 of treated wastewater (reclaimed water) could be used for aquifer recharge. A GIS-based multi-criteria analysis was performed, combining ten thematic maps and economic, environmental and technical criteria, in order to produce a suitability map for the location of sites for reclaimed water infiltration. The areas chosen for aquifer recharge with infiltration basins are mainly composed of anthrosol with more than 1 m deep and fine sand texture, which allows an average infiltration velocity of up to 1 m d−1. These characteristics will provide a final polishing treatment of the reclaimed water after infiltration (soil aquifer treatment (SAT)), suitable for the removal of the residual load (trace organics, nutrients, heavy metals and pathogens). The risk of groundwater contamination is low since the water table in the anthrosol areas ranges from 10 m to 50 m. On the other hand, these depths allow a guaranteed unsaturated area suitable for SAT. An area of 13,944 ha was selected for study, but only 1607 ha are suitable for reclaimed water infiltration. Approximately 1280 m2 were considered enough to set up 4 infiltration basins to work in flooding and drying cycles.

Movements in Faro airport have been on a constant rise even exceeding the airport capacity. Faro city has grown in the same proportion. Both occurred in a pattern that can be applied to compare with the development of an Aerotropolis. At least three steps must be taken to develop an effective Aerotropolis plan. First, the catchment area is determined based on the existing transportation network and 60-minute travel time from the airport. Second, several socioeconomic indicators within the catchment area are evaluated through different periods using GIS software. Third, catchment area and socioeconomic indicators for the Faro region are compared with layouts obtained from several examples of Aerotropolises in Europe. The Aerotropolis model created by John Kasarda has been used in several regions across Europe. One key aspect of this model is determining whether the region evolved along with the airport throughout the years. Faro, its airport and surrounding areas, are not an exception. Thus, it is possible to identify Faro development patterns of growth useful for several stakeholders: administrative authorities, airport authorities, and territory planners. Faro airport movements have been on a constant rise. Faro city has grown, probably, in the same proportion. Both growths can be compared with an Aerotropolis development. Identifying development patterns of growth will be useful for: those responsible for the distribution of services in the territory; those who oversee the airport operation and expansion; those who are responsible for combining the interests of all for the regional development.

This work addresses cellular planning aspects for a WiMax (worldwide interoperability for microwave access) point-to-multipoint wireless network to be developed in the region of Beira Interior. It is concentrated in more detail in the district of Covilha, and, particularly, in the urban area of the city, in order to guarantee communications from the Health Science Faculty of University of Beira Interior (HSF/UBI)/ Hospital Pero da Covilha to all central urban area of the city. By having aspects related with the carrier-to-noise and carrier-to-interference ratios into account, one concluded that it is necessary to consider a cellular structure with sectorisation, and cell coverage distances around 3 km. Because this zone is very hilly, the optimization of the choice of the location for base stations is essential; the potentialities of the GIS (geographic information systems) tools were explored to optimise the existence of line of sight coverage in coverage. Future research directions regarding architectures for interoperability and mobile IP, security, and the impact of multimedia applications are also addressed.

Pulp mill sludge produced in the Cova da Beira region (Portugal) contains organic matter (11-47%), nitrogen (38-2560 mg N/kg) and phosphorus (167-370 mg P/kg), which may be valuable for increasing soil productivity. The levels of heavy metals are below the limits recommended by legislation and the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous to be introduced in soils does not present a risk for nutrient leaching. After identifying the environmental and technical restrictions on its application, an area of 1650 ha was identified where the sludge can be applied in forage crops, fruit trees, olive groves and vineyards. A suitable area was also found for a biosolids storage centre. The use of GIS allowed to define a sludge application index and to produce land-use suitability maps, which can be useful for sludge management.

This article aims to present some of the teaching methodologies applied in the Integrated Master degree in Architecture at the University of Beira Interior, Covilhã (Portugal). The discussion focuses on the collaborative and interdisciplinary approach adopted for the teaching/learning process, particularly the courses of History of Portuguese Architecture, Project III and Geographical Information Systems (GIS), all belonging to the 3rd year. The aim of this approach is to encourage project-based learning through the use of spatial tools and new technologies to analyse and manage architectural spatially referenced data. As students present a heterogeneous level of general History knowledge and of History of Portuguese Architecture in particular, it was necessary to introduce the acquisition of knowledge to achieve the required competence on scientific work, research, adequate scientific terminology and architectural dating to finally achieve the expected results. Interdisciplinary state of the art and knowledge gathering performed by the students concerned Architecture, GIS, Civil Engineering, Heritage, and History. Consequently, an interdisciplinary connection was achieved during student research of religious Portuguese heritage in Covilhã by implementing a GIS based inventory and analysis. Concerning the curricular unit of Project III, design studies aiming to evaluate the potentialities of a site are developed based on requests from external institutions. These requests are incorporated in the course program on an annual basis, adapted accordingly to the defined skills to be achieved. For students this is an important experience as they must respond to a real design problem. The conjugation with the GIS curriculum complements all the necessary study for a better understanding of the site and its surroundings, thus developing a useful spatial database for future reference. This collaboration with the GIS curricular unit began in 2016/2017 with Project III and evolved in 2017/2018 to History of Portuguese Architecture through practical works gathering knowledge from multiple subjects. Regarding the experience of teachers and students, the use of GIS in Architecture has proven to be a success, given students’ skills on the use of new technologies. This also allows them to contact with other scientific, technical and technological realities, preparing students for a demanding international work context.

This work intends to develop a WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) point-to-multipoint wireless network that includes all the district of Covilhã, and particularly the urban area of the city in detail, with the objective to guarantee a point-to-multipoint connection from the Health Science Faculty of the University of Beira Interior (HSF/UBI) / Hospital Pêro da Covilhã to all urban area of the centre of the city. The cellular planning of this WiMax mobile network was done having in account aspects related with the carrier-to-noise ratio and carrier-to-interference ratio, concluding that is necessary to consider a cellular structure with coverage distances of 3 km and sectorisation is needed to create a high capacity wireless network in the urban area of Covilhã. Because this zone is very hilly, the choice of the location for base stations is essential; one used the potentialities of the GIS (Geographic Information Systems) tools to optimize the line of sight coverage and, simultaneously, reduce the propagation exponent. A new mobile IP architecture for Wi-Fi/WiMax interoperability is being conceived, developed and implemented based in Media Independent Handover.