Abstract
The method of seismic refraction is widely used in many applied Geology fields and problems today. Although it has some limitations, in the case of detecting a lower velocity bounded layer, this method is well tailored to a crystalline environments where, more often, weathering degree is highest on the surface and gradually decreases in depth and thus can aid in associating the weathering degree to velocity. Some relationships have been made to establish a connection between velocities and the elastic properties of rocks. In recent years seismic refraction methods have evolved in terms of improved equipment, especially by means of better seismographs, but particularly due to better inversion techniques that consider the subsurface as a more heterogeneous environment. The later are commonly known as travel time tomography techniques. In crystalline environments this is useful due to the occasional heterogeneity of the near surface but also because of the gradual character of velocity change as opposed to sudden velocity breaks at boundaries that were associated with intercept time methods and even GRM. With this in mind we sought, over the years, to apply this method to projects throughout Portugal. In the northern part it is even more adequate due to the dominant granitic and schistose environments that we encounter. In the past few years High Speed railway networks have been planned to integrate with the European network, already existing in some countries namely Spain and France among others. The project requires detailed planning for excavation in hilly and mountainous terrain due to both engineering and environmental considerations. We had access to a seismic refraction dataset, acquired by a local geophysical company, comprising of around a 190 individual 60m profiles and we interpreted them with a travel time tomography technique. Each section easily permits the filtering of velocity domains and we considered the 800m/s as an empirical limit to separate geotechnical soil from soft rock. Afterwards, by georeferencing in GIS every test over the corresponding lithology, we were able to establish, through simple descriptive statistical parameters, defining characteristic relationships between each lithological group and the geophysical results. These relationships could surely be useful for the sustainable development of the project in this highly variable geologic environment.

Abstract
The growing concern for the preservation of heritage in face of natural hazards led to the appearance of the Regional Framework Operation (OQR) NOE - Heritage and Prevention of Natural Hazards under the Community Initiative INTERREG III C. The OQR NOE, led by the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur (PACA, France) region, together with the Northern Portuguese regional coordination agency (CCDR-N), Molise and Sicily regions (Italy) and eastern region of Attica (Greece) aimed at developing preventive measures to safeguard the cultural heritage due to occurrence of natural hazards. The main aims, were to undertake an evaluation of existing practices through a strategy of inter-regional cooperation among the partners NOE and develop concrete actions in the field including strategies for prevention, early warning and intervention adapted to the heritage, awareness and accountability of officials and local decision makers, implementation of trans European experience, development of new technologies, cooperation and support for Euro innovative operations. In this context arised the subproject (SP) GEORISK, that joined an inter-regional cooperation of the City Council Port (CMP), the Bureau de Recherches et Geologiques Mini (BRGM), the Department of Geology, Faculty of Science of the University of Porto (DGFCUP) and the Portuguese Institute of Architectural Heritage (IPPAR), now called the Institute for Management Architectural and Archaeological Heritage (IGESPAR). For the implementation of the SP four main lines of action were defined: (i) Know the methods of assessment of geological hazards in France and Portugal and to foster the exchange of experiences, (ii) identify the specific level of management in relation to heritage geological risks; (iii) define the relevant actions to develop from local and regional decision makers, and (iv) Prepare a "Map of Geological Hazards in Historic Area of Porto (ZHP), to then therefore define a set of management measures, prevention, protection and intervention that can be generalized to other similar cases and to preserve the existing assets and then outline a plan for sustainable recovery. With these objectives in mind we sought map and integrate in GIS all the available information in order to assess the main geologic hazards of Porto: slope stability and seismic hazard

Abstract
The in-situ investigation and characterization of ISC'2 experimental site comprised the application of several geophysical borehole, penetration and surface methods, namely S waves high resolution shallow reflection (SHRR), ground penetrating radar (GPR), P and S waves seismic cross-hole (CH), downhole (DII), refraction, electrical resistivity, as well as geotechnical tests, namely SPT, CPT, DMT, among others. The site, located within the campus of Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), is geologically fortned by an upper layer of heterogeneous residual granite soil overlaying rather weathered granite contacting a gneissic migmatite. Direct and indirect results from some of the referred surveys are compared between them and with some of the available geological and geotechnical information, in particular hereby (Part II), those obtained from SHRR, GPR, and CH seismic tests. The integration of the available information was then used to build a tentative geological interpretation model. One of the objectives of this component of the global study, hereby presented, was to evaluate the possibility of obtaining valid infortnation from a single technique, particularly, S waves shallow reflection.

Abstract

Abstract
Batalha Abbey is a 14th century UNESCO world heritage site that shows signs of decay. During the last years, high resolution geophysical methods have been used to contribute to the knowledge of its construction characteristics and to an informed maintenance and rehabilitation project. Here in it is presented a multimethod high-resolution geophysical investigation of its main tower. A 3D resistivity survey was carried out on the surface around the tower to investigate the ground beneath it. A GPR survey was used on the tower walls surface to investigate its interior. Three frequencies, 250MHz, 500MHz and 800MHz, were used. Finally, a seismic tomography study was done around the tower with both geophones and sources on the tower walls to provide a 3D velocity image of the tower interior. 3D resistivity results give a clear image of the walls foundations and of the ground beneath the tower. GPR 250MHz data provide a complete GPR image across the tower, although of low resolution. Higher resolution GPR results provided clearer information on the constructive elements of the tower. Finally, the seismic tomography results gave, for the first time, a complete image of the tower interior and proved it a compact construction with no voids.

Abstract
Water from mountainous regions is a strategic natural resource. In Mediterranean mountainous regions, which, in many cases, correspond to protected areas, high-altitude roads are often the main threat to the sustainability of water resources. In these regions, the regular socioeconomic functioning requires frequent road de-icing operations which normally consist of spreading NaC1 and other chemicals, such as CaCl2, in pavements. The main purpose of this research is to assess the environmental impact of road de-icing on groundwater resources in a Mediterranean mountainous region and to describe it by means of a hydrogeological conceptual model. The research focused in a cross-sectional sector located in Serra da Estrela (Central Portugal), where a hydrogeological inventory was carried out, followed by hydrogeochemical and hydrogeophysical studies. The results clearly identify different hydrogeo-chemical signatures in polluted (Cl-Na facies and higher EC) and unpolluted (HCO3-Na, Cl-Na, and very low EC). The relation of hydrogeochemistry and altitude is complex and depends on both natural processes (namely, water-rock interaction) and anthropic processes (de-icing operations). The hydrogeophysical survey systematically identified the presence of a pollution plume migrating downstream from roads.