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Publicações

2025

The dual role of customer-citizen engagement for sustainability

Autores
de Matos, MA; Patrício, L; Teixeira, JG;

Publicação
JOURNAL OF SERVICE THEORY AND PRACTICE

Abstract
Purpose Citizen engagement plays a crucial role in transitioning to sustainable service ecosystems. While customer engagement has been extensively studied in service research, citizen engagement has received significantly less attention. By synthesizing customer and citizen engagement literatures, this study develops an integrated framework to conceptually clarify the dual role of customer-citizen engagement for sustainability. Design/methodology/approach This study builds on a systematic literature review of customer engagement literature in service research and citizen engagement literature. Following a theory synthesis approach, we qualitatively analyzed 126 articles to develop an integrated conceptual framework of customer-citizen engagement for sustainability through a process of abductive reasoning. Findings The analysis showed that customer engagement and citizen engagement literatures have developed mostly separately but provide complementary views. While the customer engagement literature has traditionally focused on business-related facets, such as engagement with brands, the citizen perspective broadens the engagement scope to other citizens, communities and society in general. The integrated framework highlights the interplay between citizen and customer roles and the impact of their relationships with multiple objects on sustainability. Originality/value This integrated framework contributes to advancing our understanding of customer-citizen engagement, broadening the scope of subject-object engagement by examining the interplay between these roles in how they engage for sustainability and moving beyond the traditional dyadic perspective to a multi-level perspective of service ecosystems. This framework also enables the development of a set of research directions to advance the understanding of engagement in sustainable service ecosystems.

2025

Preface

Autores
Mamede, S; Santos, A;

Publicação
AI and Learning Analytics in Distance Learning

Abstract
[No abstract available]

2025

The impact of digital influencers on product/service purchase decision making-An exploratory case study of Portuguese people

Autores
Caiado, F; Fonseca, J; Silva, J; Neves, S; Moreira, A; Gonçalves, R; Martins, J; Branco, F; Au Yong Oliveira, M;

Publicação
EXPERT SYSTEMS

Abstract
The growing use of technology and social media has resulted in the emergence of digital influencers, a new profession capable of changing the mentalities and behaviours of those who follow them. This study arises to better understand the potential impact digital influencers might have on the Portuguese population's purchase behaviour and patterns, and for this purpose, seven hypotheses were formulated. An online questionnaire was conducted to respond to these theoretical assumptions and collected data from 175 respondents. A total of 129 valid answers were considered. It was possible to conclude that purchase intention does not necessarily translate into a purchase action. It was also concluded that the relationship between social network use and the purchase of products/services recommended by influencers is only statistically significant for Instagram. Furthermore, the individuals' generation is not statistically significant / linked with purchasing a product/service recommended by influencers. Yet further, a small percentage of respondents have also identified themselves as impulsive shoppers and perceived Instagram as their favourite social network. With the results of this study, it is also possible to state that the influencer's opinion was classified as the last factor considered in the purchase decision process. Additionally, there is a weak negative association between purchasing a product/service recommended by influencers with sponsorship disclosure and remunerated partnership, which decreases credibility and discourages purchasing, in Portugal, a feminine culture which dislikes materialism.

2025

Artificial Intelligence for Control in Laser-Based Additive Manufacturing: A Systematic Review

Autores
Sousa, J; Brandau, B; Darabi, R; Sousa, A; Brueckner, F; Reis, A; Reis, LP;

Publicação
IEEE ACCESS

Abstract
Laser-based additive manufacturing (LAM) offers the ability to produce near-net-shape metal parts with unparalleled energy efficiency and flexibility in both geometry and material selection. Despite advantages, these processes are inherently, as they are characterized by multiphysics interactions, multiscale phenomena, and highly dynamic behaviors, making their modeling and optimization particularly challenging. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing the monitoring and control of additive manufacturing. This paper presents a systematic review of AI applications for real-time control of laser-based manufacturing processes, analyzing 16 relevant articles sourced from Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science databases. The primary objective of this work is to contribute to the advancement of autonomous manufacturing systems capable of self-monitoring and self-correction, ensuring optimal part quality, enhanced efficiency, and reduced human intervention. Our findings indicate that 62.5 % of the 16 analyzed studies have deployed AI-driven controllers in real-world scenarios, with over 56 % using AI for control strategies, such as Reinforcement Learning. Furthermore, 62.5 % of the studies employed AI for process modeling or monitoring, which was integral to the development or data pipelines of the controllers. By defining a groundwork for future developments, this review not only highlights current advancements but also hints future innovations that will likely include AI-based controllers.

2025

The Application of Machine Learning and Deep Learning with a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Pedestrian Modeling: A Systematic Literature Review (1999-2023)

Autores
Reyes-Norambuena, P; Pinto, AA; Martínez, J; Yazdi, AK; Tan, Y;

Publicação
SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract
Among transportation researchers, pedestrian issues are highly significant, and various solutions have been proposed to address these challenges. These approaches include Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and machine learning (ML) techniques, often categorized into two primary types. While previous studies have addressed diverse methods and transportation issues, this research integrates pedestrian modeling with MCDA and ML approaches. This paper examines how MCDA and ML can be combined to enhance decision-making in pedestrian dynamics. Drawing on a review of 1574 papers published from 1999 to 2023, this study identifies prevalent themes and methodologies in MCDA, ML, and pedestrian modeling. The MCDA methods are categorized into weighting and ranking techniques, with an emphasis on their application to complex transportation challenges involving both qualitative and quantitative criteria. The findings suggest that hybrid MCDA algorithms can effectively evaluate ML performance, addressing the limitations of traditional methods. By synthesizing the insights from the existing literature, this review outlines key methodologies and provides a roadmap for future research in integrating MCDA and ML in pedestrian dynamics. This research aims to deepen the understanding of how informed decision-making can enhance urban environments and improve pedestrian safety.

2025

Spray Quality Assessment on Water-Sensitive Paper Comparing AI and Classical Computer Vision Methods

Autores
Simoes, I; Sousa, AJ; Baltazar, A; Santos, F;

Publicação
AGRICULTURE-BASEL

Abstract
Precision agriculture seeks to optimize crop yields while minimizing resource use. A key challenge is achieving uniform pesticide spraying to prevent crop damage and environmental contamination. Water-sensitive paper (WSP) is a common tool used for assessing spray quality, as it visually registers droplet impacts through color change. This work introduces a smartphone-based solution for capturing WSP images within vegetation, offering a tool for farmers to assess spray quality in real-world conditions. To achieve this, two approaches were explored: classical computer vision techniques and machine learning (ML) models (YOLOv8, Mask-RCNN, and Cellpose). Addressing the challenges of limited real-world data and the complexity of manual annotation, a programmatically generated synthetic dataset was employed to enable sim-to-real transfer learning. For the task of WSP segmentation within vegetation, YOLOv8 achieved an average Intersection over Union of 97.76%. In the droplet detection task, which involves identifying individual droplets on WSP, Cellpose achieved the highest precision of 96.18%, in the presence of overlapping droplets. While classical computer vision techniques provided a reliable baseline, they struggled with complex cases. Additionally, ML models, particularly Cellpose, demonstrated accurate droplet detection even without fine-tuning.

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