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Publications

Publications by CRAS

2022

Foldable Disaster Shelter - An EPS@ISEP 2020 Project

Authors
Popescu, DA; Pereira, E; Givanovitch, G; Bakker, J; Pauwels, L; Dukoski, V; Malheiro, B; Ribeiro, C; Justo, J; Silva, MF; Ferreira, P; Guedes, P;

Publication
MOBILITY FOR SMART CITIES AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT - CHALLENGES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, VOL 1

Abstract
This paper reports the research and design of a foldable disaster shelter for people left homeless due to natural disasters, by a multinational team composed of six students, from six different countries. The team was enrolled in the European Project Semester (EPS), a project-based capstone programme offered by Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP), to students who have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies. The main objective of the project was to design, simulate and test an ethics and sustainability driven foldable shelter. This goal was pursued by conducting a series of studies to derive the solution requirements, involving a survey on shelter concepts and solutions, a review on worldwide natural disasters, as well as an analysis of the shelter market. The latter led to the definition of a business plan, a marketing strategy, a logo and a brand name. The solution comes with a Web application to help rescue organisations to follow the scheduled maintenance plan and keep track of the deployed units.

2022

Smart Pedestrian Crossing - An EPS@ISEP 2020 Project

Authors
Caruso, BC; Stenstkie, C; van Duivenboden, D; Starosta, J; Hoernschemeyer, J; Peytard, S; Malheiro, B; Ribeiro, C; Justo, J; Silva, MF; Ferreira, P; Guedes, P;

Publication
MOBILITY FOR SMART CITIES AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT - CHALLENGES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, VOL 1

Abstract
This paper reports the development of WalkSafe, a Smart Pedestrian Crossing solution, by a multinational and multidisciplinary team of students during the spring semester of 2020. The team was enrolled in the European Project Semester (EPS), a project-based capstone programme offered by Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP). Motivated by the idea to reduce the number of pedestrians hit by cars at road crossings, and associated injuries and deaths, the team surveyed pedestrian behaviour to conclude that people often ignore pedestrian crossings. Thus, this project intended to motivate people to use pedestrian crossings, increasing the safety of both pedestrians and drivers. The proposed solution can be implemented on any pedestrian crossing and involves up to three components: (i) a box to be fixed on each side of pedestrian crossings with a radio-frequency identification reader as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi interfaces; (ii) a smartphone mobile app; and (iii) a personal bracelet for children and elderly, with a passive radio-frequency identification tag.

2022

Active Learning Strategies for Sustainable Engineering

Authors
Duarte, AJ; Malheiro, B; Silva, MF; Ferreira, PD; Guedes, PB;

Publication
Handbook of Research on Improving Engineering Education with the European Project Semester - Advances in Higher Education and Professional Development

Abstract
Engineering aims to improve the quality of daily life on a planet with limited resources. This chapter describes how the European Project Semester offered by the School of Engineering of the Porto Polytechnic contributes to make engineering undergraduates conscious of their environmental and societal impact. The program is a project-based active learning framework where problem-solving is supported by intercultural communication and creativity, ethical and sustainable reasoning, and global contextual analysis. This analysis shows that it fosters scientific, technical, and interpersonal competencies, emphasizing ethical and sustainable design as recommended by several reference institutions through the testimonials left on the project reports and the evolution perceived by the participants during the semester. These findings are supported by a sample of 45 projects conducted by 228 students from 23 countries and 65 degrees. All projects aimed to have a lasting impact on the future engineering practice of participants and, somehow, transform the world positively.

2022

Learning Engineering Ethics

Authors
Nylund, R; Malheiro, B;

Publication
Handbook of Research on Improving Engineering Education with the European Project Semester - Advances in Higher Education and Professional Development

Abstract
Ethics promotes collective respect, well-being, and development. Its values drive individual, social, and environmental conduct and apply to all human activities. Professional ethics or deontology refers to the moral obligations binding professionals to society in the work sphere. These moral obligations are fundamental in professions that, like engineering, are behind technological innovation, given its current daily and worldwide impact. As such, it is essential to train engineers for holistic problem-solving, that is, driven by ethical, sustainability, technical, and economic constraints. This chapter analyses engineering ethics and how it is addressed within the European Project Semester, an undergraduate one-semester international exchange program, focusing on this aspect of engineering education. European Project Semester relies on multicultural teamwork, project-based learning, ethics, and sustainability-oriented design to motivate and prepare global engineers committed to protecting and improving life on the planet.

2022

European Project Semester

Authors
Budzinska, G; Hansen, J; Malheiro, B; Fuentes-Durá, P;

Publication
Handbook of Research on Improving Engineering Education with the European Project Semester - Advances in Higher Education and Professional Development

Abstract
This chapter aims to introduce the European Project Semester concept and the network of providers together with historical and current data on participants and providers. EPS is a one-semester international exchange program designed for engineering, product designers, and business undergraduates. It embraces student-centered project-based learning and multicultural and transdisciplinary teamwork to help students develop the competencies and skills required for the 21st century. It was created in 1995 in Denmark to prepare future engineers for global challenges, and it combines scientific and technical education, ethical and sustainability-driven problem-solving, intercultural communication, and teamwork. EPS has since been adopted by 19 European higher education institutions, establishing a network of EPS providers across Europe. The network offers international students a wide range of European study locations and cultural insights and, above all, the opportunity to enjoy the EPS learning experience. The number of alumni shows the program's attractiveness, range, and vitality.

2022

Handbook of Research on Improving Engineering Education with the European Project Semester

Authors
Malheiro, B; Fuentes-Durá, P;

Publication
Advances in Higher Education and Professional Development

Abstract

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