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Publications

Publications by Vasco Amorim

2017

Assessment of Microsoft Kinect in the Monitoring and Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients

Authors
Abreu, J; Rebelo, S; Paredes, H; Barroso, J; Martins, P; Reis, A; Amorim, EV; Filipe, V;

Publication
RECENT ADVANCES IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES, VOL 2

Abstract
Telerehabilitation is an alternative way for physical therapy of stroke patients. The monitoring and correction of exercises can be done through the analysis of body movements recorded by an optical motion capture system. This paper presents a first study to assess the use of Microsoft Kinect in the monitoring and rehabilitation of patients who have suffered a stroke. A comparative study was carried out to assess the accuracy of joint angle measurement with the Microsoft Kinect (for Windows and for Xbox One) and Optitrack (TM). The results obtained in the first experiment showed a good agreement in the measurements between the three systems, in almost all movements. These results suggest that Microsoft Kinect, a low cost and markerless motion capture system, can be considered as an alternative to complex and high cost motion capture devices for the monitoring and rehabilitation of stroke patients.

2014

Wastewater and greywater reuse on irrigation in centralized and decentralized systems - An integrated approach on water quality, energy consumption and CO2 emissions

Authors
Matos, C; Pereira, S; Amorim, EV; Bentes, I; Briga Sa, A;

Publication
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract
Wastewater and greywater have different scales of end-uses in irrigation in Portugal. Wastewater is treated in a central wastewater treatment plant and reused in public/private large areas of irrigation, like agriculture, public gardens and golf courses. On the contrary, greywater reuse is generally applied in in situ small scales, treated and used in the same place, generally in the production site. The main aim of this paper is to compare the two types of systems: a wastewater centralized reuse system (WWCRS) and a greywater decentralized reuse system (GWDRS) in terms of water quality, energy consumption and CO2 emissions. In this paper, the main characteristics of both streams are presented and the degree of treatment required in each stream is analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of its reuse in different scales, in terms of water quality, energy consumption and CO2 emissions are discussed. A methodology to calculate the energy consumptions and CO2 emissions related to wastewater treatment that may be applied in different cases is presented. A hypothetical example of the two systems: one referring to a WWCRS and the other to a GWDRS is presented. The energy consumption and the CO2 emissions are analyzed and compared. The WWCRS needs a higher degree of treatment and so it spends more energy and leads to more CO2 emissions to the environment than the GWDRS that consumed between 11.8 and 37.5% of the energy consumed in the WWCRS considering the same number of inhabitants served.

2017

PROPULSION SYSTEMS MODELLING FOR MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLES - FORKLIFTS

Authors
Moura, C; Amorim, EV;

Publication
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 3RD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT (ICEE 2017)

Abstract
In the material handling industry, productivity is a vital driver of profitability. Efficient operation of a forklift fleet is a significant factor in determining overall warehouse productivity. Traditionally, lead-acid batteries have been the best choice for forklifts operated indoors where emissions are restricted for health and safety reasons. More recently the application of fuel cells in this type of activity has emerged, also guaranteeing operational and environmental benefits (Elgowainy et al., 2009), and it is also shown as a possible solution to increase the productivity of a warehouse (Ballard, 2013). Withing the material handling industry the increased productivity comes through range extension enabling operation of the forklift with quick refuelling, without the need for battery recharging, as well as the existence of a constant power throughout the whole work cycle (Ballard, 2013). The performance of a forklift truck powered by PEM fuel cell or a lead acid battery is modelled and investigated by conducting a parametric study (Hosseinzadeh et al., 2013). In this study as a function of the number of daily trips of a forklift is characterised its energy expenditure, with the purpose of dimensioning, in an intelligent way opt for the most efficient propulsion system. Note that the two systems currently have a very different development stage, because the use of batteries is a technology implemented much more than the fuel cells. Our objective is, according to the workload that the company demands its forklifts to adapt the propulsion system that allows obtaining a greater productivity. In this model is studied several kinds of forklifts of Class I, II and III of the 1000 to 9000 kg in a wide range of loads.

2014

Sustainable energy action plans: project management mtercomparison

Authors
Amorim, EV;

Publication
CENTERIS 2014 - CONFERENCE ON ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SYSTEMS / PROJMAN 2014 - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PROJECT MANAGEMENT / HCIST 2014 - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract
This paper explores the content of various Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs) necessary to the Covenant of Mayors. This study has the aim of providing an overview of existing methodologies for the development and implementation of SEAPs by municipalities. As the number and complexity of issues related with energy are very broad, it is very important to know and identify good practices and guidelines to increasing participant municipalities. Based on the methodologies collected in several studies, it is possible to identify key aspects and issues municipalities might consider for the development of their own plan. The SEAP can't be only a collection of measures; it must have a coherent strategy with the European and National policies. This study also shows that a good coordinator with project management skills is necessary to overcome obstacles due to the lack of communication or collaboration among the different municipality's departments. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).

2017

ZERO EMISSIONS' VEHICLES IN THE EUROPEAN MARKET

Authors
Menezes, C; Amorim, EV; Liberato, MLR;

Publication
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 3RD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT (ICEE 2017)

Abstract
The increasing urban development is being accompanied by increased mobility in transport and by the increasing of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The European Union (EU) projects that, in the next forty years, transport activity will increase around 57% (2010-2050) and it will be the largest source of CO2 (Margaritis et al., 2016). To reduce these prospects, the EU has been looking for a more sustainable and decarbonised transport system (European Commission, 2011). The entry of electric vehicles (EVs) into the European markets is seen as an important aspect for low-carbon mobility (Morton et al., 2016). However, EVs have characteristics that condition their entry into the markets, such as their high cost, the limited network of charging infrastructures, their maximum reach, the lack of information dissemination (Labeye et al., 2016), and also the risk of the investment (McDowall, 2014). Global governments have been using a wide variety of incentives to facilitate the entry of EVs, including subsidies and public investments in loading stations (ICCT, 2016). The primary objective of this article is to evaluate the expansion of EVs in Europe, including the assessment of drivers' benefits. Additionally, this study allows interpreting the effect of policies implemented by the European Union and chosen individual members. For this theoretical assessment, the policies of incentives to the EVs of each country are comprehensively analysed. This study shows that, in a global incentive scenario, electric battery vehicles (BEVs) can be cheaper than other car technologies (Hagman, Ritzen, Stier, & Susilo, 2016) and that they are clearly the best choice for a low emission transport system. It is also concluded that there are still many targets to be achieved until internal combustion vehicles (ICEs) are no longer the primary choice of drivers and we may reach optimal GHG values in transportation.

2014

Energy related information systems and user expectations

Authors
Amorim, EV;

Publication
CENTERIS 2014 - CONFERENCE ON ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SYSTEMS / PROJMAN 2014 - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PROJECT MANAGEMENT / HCIST 2014 - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract
This paper explores the content of various web based information systems which presents knowledge about energy technology, energy research, energy projects best practice, energy related statistics and energy patents. As the number and complexity of issues related with energy are very broad, it is essential the use of information systems. Evaluating sources of information is an important step in any research activity. This study also shows that system design depends must more from the original objective of websites creation and target groups of users. A positive finding from user expectations is information free access and in some cases only requiring free registration. This paper discusses a new approach must be studied to diminish content dispersion and significant differences between European energy related sites. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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