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Publicações

2022

Greater than the sum: On regulating innovation in electricity distribution networks with externalities

Autores
Marques, V; Costa, PM; Bento, N;

Publicação
UTILITIES POLICY

Abstract
To modernize distribution networks and enable the energy transition, we need to understand the most appro-priate regulatory approach. A set of new technologies with positive externalities challenge the traditional reg-ulatory models. We develop a decision model to assess firms' incentives to invest in new technologies under different regulatory schemes that consider externality effects. Results show that regulatory schemes under which companies retain the gains (or losses) of achieving (or not) efficiency targets more effectively promote inno-vation investments that reduce network costs. However, a case-by-case approach should be preferred for tech-nologies whose benefits go mostly beyond the network activities.

2022

Reducing fresh fish waste while ensuring availability: Demand forecast using censored data and machine learning

Autores
Migueis, VL; Pereira, A; Pereira, J; Figueira, G;

Publicação
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION

Abstract
Food waste reduction represents a potential opportunity to enhance environmental sustainability. This is especially important in fresh products such as fresh seafood, where waste levels are substantially higher than those of other food products. In this particular case, reducing waste is also vital to meet demand while conserving fisheries. This paper aims to promote more sustainable supply chains by proposing daily fresh fish demand forecasting models that can be used by grocery retailers to align supply and demand, and hence prevent the production of food waste. To accomplish this goal, we explored the potential of different machine learning models, namely Long Short-Term Memory networks, Feedforward neural networks, Support Vector Regression, and Random Forests, as well as a Holt-Winters statistical model. Demand censorship was considered to capture real demand. To validate the proposed methodology, we estimated the demand for fresh fish in a representative store of a large European retailing company used as a case study. The results revealed that the machine learning models provided accurate forecasts in comparison to the baseline models and the statistical model, with the Long Short-Term Memory networks model yielding, in general, the best results in terms of root mean squared error (27.82), mean absolute error (20.63) and mean positive error (17.86). Thus, the implementation of these types of models can thus have a positive impact on the sustainability of fresh fish species and customer satisfaction.

2022

Using Virtual Choreographies to Identify Office Users' Behaviors to Target Behavior Change Based on Their Potential to Impact Energy Consumption

Autores
Cassola, F; Morgado, L; Coelho, A; Paredes, H; Barbosa, A; Tavares, H; Soares, F;

Publicação
ENERGIES

Abstract
Reducing office buildings' energy consumption can contribute significantly towards carbon reduction commitments since it represents similar to 40% of total energy consumption. Major components of this are lighting, electrical equipment, heating, and central cooling systems. Solid evidence demonstrates that individual occupants' behaviors impact these energy consumption components. In this work, we propose the methodology of using virtual choreographies to identify and prioritize behavior-change interventions for office users based on the potential impact of specific behaviors on energy consumption. We studied the energy-related office behaviors of individuals by combining three sources of data: direct observations, electricity meters, and computer logs. Data show that there are behaviors with significant consumption impact but with little potential for behavioral change, while other behaviors have substantial potential for lowering energy consumption via behavioral change.

2022

Scheduling in a no-wait flow shop to minimise total earliness and tardiness with additional idle time allowed

Autores
Schaller, J; Valente, JMS;

Publicação
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH

Abstract
Scheduling jobs in a no-wait flow shop with the objective of minimising total earliness and tardiness is the problem addressed in this paper. Idle time may be needed on the first machine due to the no-wait restriction. A model is developed that shows additional idle can be inserted on the first machine to help reduce earliness. Several dispatching heuristics previously used in other environments were modified and tested. A two-phased procedure was also developed, estimating additional idle in the first phase, and applying dispatching heuristics in the second phase. Several versions of an insertion improvement procedure were also developed. The procedures are tested on instances of various sizes and due date tightness and range. The results show the two-phase heuristics are more effective than the simple rules, and the insertion search improvement procedure can provide considerable improvements.

2022

Wind Energy Assessment for Small Wind Turbines in Different Roof Shapes Based on CFD Simulations

Autores
Oliveira, C; Cerveira, A; Baptista, J;

Publicação
SUSTAINABLE SMART CITIES AND TERRITORIES

Abstract
With a still high rate of use of energy from non-renewable sources, it is crucial that new energy generation solutions are adopted to reach greenhouse gas reduction targets. The integration of renewable energy sources in buildings is an interesting solution that allows reducing the need for energy from the power grid, contributing to a significant increase in the energy efficiency of buildings. The main aim of this paper is to evaluate the impact that the aerodynamics of the buildings in particular the roof shape has considering the integration of wind energy systems. The results of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are presented in order to identify the effect of the two roof shapes on energy production by wind turbines (WT). For this purpose, the factor matrices (FM) that gives information about the wind profile around the building taking into account the building's roof profile were calculated. Comparing the results for the wind flow obtained by the FM and the CFD simulations for the flat and gabled roofs, similarities are observed for them, allowing to conclude that the CFD analysis results in a methodology with great accuracy for the aerodynamic study of buildings roof shape.

2022

Canopy VIS-NIR spectroscopy and self-learning artificial intelligence for a generalised model of predawn leaf water potential in Vitis vinifera

Autores
Tosin, R; Martins, R; Pocas, I; Cunha, M;

Publicação
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Abstract
This paper focuses on predicting predawn leaf water potential through a self-learning artificial intelligence (SL-AI) algorithm, a novel spectral processing algorithm that is based on the search for covariance modes, providing a direct relationship between spectral information and plant constituents. The SL-AI algorithm was applied in a dataset containing 847 observations obtained with a handheld hyperspectral spectroradiometer (400 -1010 nm), structured as: three grapevine cultivars (Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Barroca), collected in three years (2014, 2015 and 2017), in two test sites in the renowned Douro Wine Region, northeast of Portugal. The Psi(pd) SL-AI quantification was tested both in regressive (R-2 = 0.97, MAPE = 18.30%) and classification (three classes; overall accuracy = 86.27%) approaches, where the radiation absorption spectrum zones of the chlorophylls, xanthophyll and water were identified along the vegetative growth cycle. The dataset was also tested with Artificial Neural Networks with Principal Component Analysis (ANN-PCA) and Partial Least Square (PLS), which presented worse performance when compared to SL-AI in the regressive (ANN-PCA - R-2 = 0.85, MAPE = 43.64%; PLS - R-2 = 0.94, MAPE = 28.76%) and classification (ANN-PCA - overall accuracy: 72.37%; PLS - overall accuracy: 73.79%) approaches. The Psi(pd) modelled with SL-AI demonstrated, through hyperspectral reflectance, a cause-effect of the grapevine's hydric status with the absorbance of bands related to chlorophyll, xanthophylls and water. This cause-effect interaction could be explored to identify cultivars and cultural practices, hydric, heating and lighting stresses.

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