Abstract
Incorporating linked data-based models into the process of describing cultural objects is increasingly important for cultural heritage. Communities such as libraries, archives, and museums have developed and adopted models specific to their contexts. Without a trivial solution, choosing models to support more general applications is challenging. This Ph.D. aims to analyze existing solutions and practices in these domains and propose validated solutions for the discovery, access, interoperability, and reuse of cultural objects, following the FAIR principles. Transversal to the base models used, this research intends to adopt solutions that balance the simplicity of the models with the satisfaction of the requirements.

Abstract
The penetration of the distributed energy resources in the distribution networks is facilitated by the structure of the microgrids (MGs). The MG operator (MGO) can schedule the MG resources to meet the local load and participate in the wholesale markets. In this article, a new model is developed for the MGO participation in the day-ahead (DA) (energy and reserve) and the real-time (RT) energy markets under uncertainties. For this purpose, the effect of the uncertainties of demand and generation from renewable energy sources on the MGO decisions is represented in a two-stage stochastic model. The MGO bids in the DA and RT markets are modeled as the first and the second stage decisions, respectively. Moreover, the information gap decision theory method is used to model the behavior of the MGO to address the uncertainties of the RT energy market price and the probability of calling the reserve. The results show that as the RT price uncertainty radius increases, the energy sold to the RT market decreases/increases in the risk-averse/risk-taker strategy. Furthermore, to manage the uncertainty related to the probability of calling the reserve, the reserve capacity provided by the MGO in the risk-averse and the risk-taker strategies decreases and increases, respectively.

Abstract
The use of concrete has been widespread in our society in housing and infrastructure, despite the environmental cost associated with its production. Its decay poses a social, economic, and environmental problem. Currently, the carbonation of cement paste is monitored through the measurement of its pH, with several optical fiber sensors (OFS) have been produced for this purpose. In the current work the focus is, also, on the carbonation monitoring of cement paste through an OFS, but not through pH measurements. Single fiber reflectance spectroscopy, previously employed to measure cement paste durability, is used to monitor the discoloration of cement paste caused by carbonation. As the carbonation front reaches the fiber tip embedded in the cement paste, the signal reflected onto the fiber increases. The accelerated carbonation of two limestone cement paste samples in an atmosphere of 100% CO2 was successfully monitored. The applicability of the sensor for operational use with ambient CO2 was confirmed through the measurement of carbonation at 3% CO2. The cross interference from water ingress and egress was also evaluated, and it didn't hinder the measurements of carbonation. Therefore, a novel OFS capable of measuring cement paste carbonation and durability, was achieved. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.

Abstract

Abstract
STEM graduates play a key role in the society's sustainable development, contributing to the productivity, competitiveness and progress of the economy. However, the number of students enrolled in STEM courses is low, despite the high demand and valuation by the labour market. This reality is even more striking when analysing the numbers related to the presence of women in STEM fields, particularly in engineering courses. The under-representation of women is a problem arising from multiple factors that need to be overcome through educational policies and specific initiatives. This article describes the iProg, Scratch on Road, and Scratch4All projects that aimed at the development of competences in technological areas, namely in programming and robotics, among students from basic schools. The positive impacts of the mentioned projects encouraged the authors to create the Make a Lab project, a partnership between Coimbra Institute of Engineering (ISEC) and CASPAE, a Private Social Solidarity Institution. The central goal of this project is to respond to the critical gender gap in STEM subjects, having as a goal that 70% of the students involved in the program activities should be women. This project aims to promote interest in science and technology in students from secondary schools through the use of creative, experimental and exploratory approaches. The development of technological products adopt project based learning methodologies, mainly implemented in a laboratory located at ISEC campus. The co-definition and co-creation of these products is based on a mentoring process carried out by ISEC students, preferably women. One-off initiatives will also be carried out, as for instance hands-on experiences and thematic workshops. An itinerant exhibition will be organized using the technological products developed over the Make a Lab project. The exhibition will be available to basic and secondary schools, after the terminus of the project.

Abstract
This work performs a comparative analysis of battery energy storage system (BESS) participation in the multi-services electricity market, considering the optimal operating cost and better profitability for the BESS portfolios. A comparison of the application of these portfolios in different market conditions is proposed: (i) energy-only market, (ii) reserve-only market, (iii) sequential energy and reserve market, and (vi) joint energy and reserve market. For each BESS portfolio, hourly strategies for buying and selling offers are proposed, to maximize the revenue, accounting for the expected load and generation variations in the grid. The analysis of the BESS strategies is carried out through a case study based on actual generation data, where operating costs and BESS flexibility are assessed. One conclusion is that, even though, BESS makes a profit by participating in single markets, the best strategy is to participate in both energy and reserve markets, especially in the presence of a joint energy and reserve market model.