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Activity Funded

Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability

Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Engenharia Civil para a Sustentabilidade

Reference
UIDB/04625/2020
Project Start Date
2020-01-01
Project End Date
2024-12-31
Principal Investigator
Funding Program
Concurso de avaliação no âmbito do Programa Plurianual de Financiamento de Unidades de I&D (2017/2018) - Financiamento Base

Abstract

10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes CERIS - Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability - is a research unit hosted by the Dept. of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Georresources (DECivil) of Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), ULisboa, has 83 PhD integrated researchers, 80 PhD collaborators and 156 PhD students. CERIS is supported by 8 laboratories and comprises 6 research groups: Hydraulics; Environment and Water Resources; Systems and Management; Transport Systems; Construction; Structures and Geotechnics. Our research activities are transversally integrated through 4 thematic strands: Product Development in Civil Engineering Industries; Risk and Safety in Built and Natural Environments; Rehabilitation of Built and Natural Environments; Response to Natural and Societal Changes. Given its interdisciplinary profile within the field of the built and natural environment, CERIS activities in 2018-22 will address issues centred on societal challenges related to civil engineering, e.g. safety and security, heritage rehabilitation, eco-efficient materials, novel solutions and technologies, environment and pollution control, hydraulic infrastructure and water resources and services, urban and regional systems, mobility of people and freight. Moreover, CERIS will embrace interdisciplinary dimensions, e.g. strategic environmental assessment, systems modelling and optimization, decision processes, relevant public policies and governance issues. The main scientific goal of CERIS for 2018-22 is to strengthen its global impact in areas where international leadership has been attained or is achievable. This will require focusing human and financial resources on those areas, renewing/upgrading equipment and infrastructure, greater participation in H2020 (and similar) calls, implementation of an institutional policy of sabbatical leaves abroad, and various efforts to promote CERIS image. CERIS will continue to lead advanced education in its fields, through 6 FCT-funded doctoral programs (4 led by CERIS), as well as 6 MSc and 8 PhD IST-DECivil degrees. New Erasmus Mundus programs will be designed, supported by existing networks, targeting students from specific geographical areas (e.g. Latin America, Africa). Through FUNDEC (DECivil knowledge transfer interface), CERIS will continue supporting the construction industry, through advanced consultancy and training (e.g. in Brazil, Maghreb), both expected to grow in 2018-22 (in line with the economic recovery of the sector). CERIS will further encourage its members to lead/participate in regulatory bodies, fostering the incorporation of research results in standardization. CERIS scientific outputs (e.g. 1239 ISI/Scopus papers in 2013-17, 72% in Q1/Q2 journals) are one of its strongest features, clearly demonstrating the quality and quantity of its contributions (Civil Engineering, ULisboa: 7th/8th in Europe, 2017 Shanghai/Taiwan rankings). CERIS intends to increase its scientific outputs per integrated member by 15% by 2022. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation Mission CERIS - Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability - is a research unit of Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon (ULisboa), hosted by the Dept. of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Georresources (DECivil). CERIS promotes inter-territorial development by integrating PhD researchers affiliated to several institutions. Formally created in 2015, CERIS resulted from the merge of three 40+ years old DECivil units. Their integration enhances a comprehensive thematic coverage, in depth and scope, and promotes synergies in the inherently multidisciplinary Civil Engineering sector. The mission of CERIS is to create and disseminate scientific knowledge and to promote innovation in the Built and Natural Environment sector through the active involvement in fundamental and applied research and to enhance higher education and research training. Organization The organic structure of CERIS consists of the President, Executive Board, Scientific Council, Coordinating Committee, External Advisory Committee (duties set in section 11.2) and 6 Research Groups: Hydraulics; Environment and Water Resources; Systems and Management; Transportation Systems; Studies on Construction; Structures and Geotechnics. Transversely, CERIS is organized in 4 Thematic Strands: Product Development in Civil Engineering Industries; Risk and Safety in Built and Natural Environments; Rehabilitation of Built and Natural Environments; Response to Natural and Societal Changes. The activities of CERIS are supported by 8 DECivil laboratories: Architecture; Structures and Strength of Materials; Environment; Hydraulics; Geotechnics; Construction; Transport Infrastructures; Computational Mechanics. Objectives and strategy CERIS overall objectives are to: (i) promote trend-setting and leading research based on PhD programmes and research projects; (ii) transfer its expertise through specialized training, services and consulting; (iii) ensure a wide dissemination of its results. CERIS has had remarkable success in its most relevant activities, including scientific outputs, advanced training and international impact. Thus, the objectives and strategy for 2018-22 do not represent a significant shift from the preceding course but evidence more ambitious goals. One of the greatest strengths of CERIS is its broad scope, depth and synergy within Civil Engineering. This inclusive culture will still be encouraged, through self-funded transversal projects integrating different Research Groups though the Thematic Strands, providing comprehensive responses to complex societal problems. The strategy to strengthen the global impact of CERIS research is to focus human, infrastructure and financial resources on break-through fundamental and applied research and innovation in areas where international leadership has been attained (see section 9.3.2) or is achievable, rather than dispersing efforts on initiatives without critical mass. A strong investment will be made to upgrade/renew test facilities and equipment to raise the level of the experiments performed in the labs. Internationalization The promotion of internationalization will be done at 2 levels: individual members and institutional. In line with IST strategy, sabbatical leaves in top foreign institutions will be encouraged to extend the culture of day-to-day collaboration to all members. Collectively, the strategy is to focus on Horizon 2020, supporting research and innovation projects and staff training. Dedicated resources will be allocated, including monitoring of opportunities/calls, proposals reviewing and administrative support. CERIS also aims at strengthening the long-lasting and fruitful collaborations with leading institutions. Roadshow activities, initiated in 2017 (Latin America), will be pursued (e.g. Africa and Asia). Advanced training CERIS participates in 6 (leads 4) doctoral programmes (with allocated FCT-funding until 2021), in collaboration with various national and international (e.g. MIT and EPFL) institutions (19 new PhD students/year in CERIS). The international reputation of IST-ULisboa will continue to attract high-potential foreign candidates to these programmes and ISTs institutional PhD degrees. Applications to Erasmus Mundus programmes will be made with DECivil, targeting high-level students from specific geographical areas (e.g. Latin-America, Africa) and focusing on specific CERIS competences most needed in those areas. Knowledge and technology transfer This already strong point of CERIS will be pursued through: (i) industry-related H2020 and P2020 proposals; (ii) advanced consultancy and (iii) professional training (FUNDEC); (iv) participation in regulatory, policy-making and governance activities. CERIS will remain institutionally engaged in the Portuguese Technological Platform for Construction, Portuguese Water Partnership and Sustainable Habitat Cluster. Research dissemination CERIS scientific outputs (e.g. 1239 ISI/Scopus papers in 2013-17) demonstrate the quality and quantity of its contributions (Civil Eng., ULisboa: 7th/8th in Europe, 2017 Shanghai/Taiwan rankings). CERIS intends to increase its outputs per integrated member by 15% by 2022. CERIS also intends to increase its already high ratio of Q1/Q2 papers (72%) through its internal evaluation policy. Co-authorships with foreign institutions will be encouraged, as well as the participation in editorial boards of reputed journals. At an institutional level, CERIS activities will be promoted in its official website (www.ceris.pt), newsletter and social media, highlighting the main features, achievements and competences of the unit. CERIS will also continue promoting a scientific and technological culture for a broader audience, highlighting the contribution of civil engineering research and practice to day-to-day life and the solution of societal challenges, through CERIS public seminars, the yearly Open Day and regular presence in social media.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Engenharia Civil para a Sustentabilidade (CERIS/IST-ID)
  • Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento (IST-ID)

Other Institutions

  • Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL)
  • Instituto de Investigação e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico para a Construção Energia Ambiente e Sustentabilidade (ITeCons)
  • Universidade Nova de Lisboa Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT (NOVA.ID.FCT)

Funding 1.672.125,00 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

1.672.125,00 €