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Publicações

2023

Holistic Framework to Data-Driven Sustainability Assessment

Autores
Pecas, P; John, L; Ribeiro, I; Baptista, AJ; Pinto, SM; Dias, R; Henriques, J; Estrela, M; Pilastri, A; Cunha, F;

Publicação
SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract
In recent years, the Twin-Transition reference model has gained notoriety as one of the key options for decarbonizing the economy while adopting more sustainable models leveraged by the Industry 4.0 paradigm. In this regard, one of the most relevant challenges is the integration of data-driven approaches with sustainability assessment approaches, since overcoming this challenge will foster more agile sustainable development. Without disregarding the effort of academics and practitioners in the development of sustainability assessment approaches, the authors consider the need for holistic frameworks that also encourage continuous improvement in sustainable development. The main objective of this research is to propose a holistic framework that supports companies to assess sustainability performance effectively and more easily, supported by digital capabilities and data-driven concepts, while integrating improvement procedures and methodologies. To achieve this objective, the research is based on the analysis of published approaches, with special emphasis on the data-driven concepts supporting sustainability assessment and Lean Thinking methods. From these results, we identified and extracted the metrics, scopes, boundaries, and kinds of output for decision-making. A new holistic framework is described, and we have included a guide with the steps necessary for its adoption in a given company, thus helping to enhance sustainability while using data availability and data-analytics tools.

2023

Boosting additive circular economy ecosystems using blockchain: An exploratory case study

Autores
Ferreira, IA; Godina, R; Pinto, A; Pinto, P; Carvalho, H;

Publicação
COMPUTERS & INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

Abstract
The role of new technologies such as additive manufacturing and blockchain technology in designing and implementing circular economy ecosystems is not a trivial issue. This study aimed to understand if blockchain technology can be an enabler tool for developing additive symbiotic networks. A real case study was developed regarding a circular economy ecosystem in which a fused granular fabrication 3D printer is used to valorize polycarbonate waste. The industrial symbiosis network comprised four stakeholders: a manufacturing company that produces polycarbonate waste, a municipality service responsible for the city waste management, a start-up holding the 3D printer, and a non-profit store. It was identified a set of six requirements to adopt the blockchain technology in an additive symbiotic network, bearing in mind the need to have a database to keep track of the properties of the input material for the 3D printer during the exchanges, in addition to the inexistence of mechanisms of trust or cooperation between well-established industries and the additive manufacturing industry. The findings suggested a permissioned blockchain to support the implementation of the additive symbiotic network, namely, to enable the physical transactions (quantity and quality of waste material PC sheets) and monitoring and reporting (additive manufacturing technology knowledge and final product's quantity and price).Future research venues include developing blockchain-based systems that enhance the development of ad-ditive symbiotic networks.

2023

Investigating the Accuracy of Autoregressive Recurrent Networks Using Hierarchical Aggregation Structure-Based Data Partitioning

Autores
Oliveira, JM; Ramos, P;

Publicação
BIG DATA AND COGNITIVE COMPUTING

Abstract
Global models have been developed to tackle the challenge of forecasting sets of series that are related or share similarities, but they have not been developed for heterogeneous datasets. Various methods of partitioning by relatedness have been introduced to enhance the similarities of sets, resulting in improved forecasting accuracy but often at the cost of a reduced sample size, which could be harmful. To shed light on how the relatedness between series impacts the effectiveness of global models in real-world demand-forecasting problems, we perform an extensive empirical study using the M5 competition dataset. We examine cross-learning scenarios driven by the product hierarchy commonly employed in retail planning to allow global models to capture interdependencies across products and regions more effectively. Our findings show that global models outperform state-of-the-art local benchmarks by a considerable margin, indicating that they are not inherently more limited than local models and can handle unrelated time-series data effectively. The accuracy of data-partitioning approaches increases as the sizes of the data pools and the models' complexity decrease. However, there is a trade-off between data availability and data relatedness. Smaller data pools lead to increased similarity among time series, making it easier to capture cross-product and cross-region dependencies, but this comes at the cost of a reduced sample, which may not be beneficial. Finally, it is worth noting that the successful implementation of global models for heterogeneous datasets can significantly impact forecasting practice.

2023

A Novel Approach to Assess Balneotherapy Effects on Musculoskeletal Diseases-An Open Interventional Trial Combining Physiological Indicators, Biomarkers, and Patients' Health Perception

Autores
Silva, J; Martins, J; Nicomedio, C; Goncalves, C; Palito, C; Goncalves, R; Fernandes, PO; Nunes, A; Alves, MJ;

Publicação
GERIATRICS

Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate whether a 14-day period of balneotherapy influences the inflammatory status, health-related quality of life (QoL) and quality of sleep, underlying overall health state, and clinically relevant benefits of patients with musculoskeletal diseases (MD). The health-related QoL was evaluated using the following instruments: 5Q-5D-5L, EQ-VAS, EUROHIS-QOL, B-IPQ, and HAQ-DI. The quality of sleep was evaluated by a BaSIQS instrument. Circulating levels of IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured by ELISA and chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay, respectively. The smartband, Xiaomi MI Band 4, was used for real-time sensing of physical activity and sleep quality. MD patients improved the health-related QoL measured by 5Q-5D-5L (p < 0.001), EQ-VAS (p < 0.001), EUROHIS-QOL (p = 0.017), B-IPQ (p < 0.001), and HAQ-DI (p = 0.019) after balneotherapy; the sleep quality was also improved (BaSIQS, p = 0.019). Serum concentrations of IL-6 were markedly decreased after the 14-day balneotherapy (p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed regarding the physical activity and sleep quality data recorded by the smartband. Balneotherapy may be an effective alternative treatment in managing the health status of MD patients, with a decrease in inflammatory states, along with positive effects on pain reduction, patient's functionality, QoL, quality of sleep, and disability perception status.

2023

A Neural Network Approach in WSN Real-Time Monitoring System to Measure Indoor Air Quality

Autores
Brito, T; Lima, J; Biondo, E; Nakano, A; Pereira, I;

Publicação
3rd International Mobile, Intelligent, and Ubiquitous Computing Conference, MIUCC 2023

Abstract
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) pertains to the air quality within a specific space and is directly linked to the well-being and comfort of its occupants. In line with this objective, this research presents a real-time system dedicated to monitoring and predicting IAQ, encompassing both thermal comfort and gas concentration. The system initiates with a data acquisition, wherein a set of sensors captures environmental parameters and transmits this data for storage in a database. The measured parameters are analyzed by a neural network algorithm that predicts anomalies based on historical data. The neural network model generated predictions from 75.9% to 98.1% (depending on the parameter) of precision during regular situations. After that, a test with smoke in the same place was done to validate the model, and the results showed it could detect anomalies. Finally, prediction data are stored in a new database and displayed on a dashboard for monitoring in real-time measured and prediction data. © 2023 IEEE.

2023

Industrial Digitalization Solutions for Precision Forestry Towards Forestry 4.0

Autores
Torres, MB; Spencer, G; Neto, L; Gonçalves, G; Dionísio, R;

Publicação
Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

Abstract
This paper presents machine digitalization solutions with particular application in forest machines, such as harvesters and wood processing machines. In line with all the requirements of Industry 4.0, this type of machines also needs digitization to align with the concept defined as Forestry 4.0, where we think of a smarter forest in which all stakeholders, humans, forest producers, machines and factories communicate. For machine manufacturers is a step that must be taken to modernize machines, enabling remote access services for maintenance, productivity monitoring, and management of forest operations. It consists of developing cyber-physical systems around the machines with digital twins that allow the simulation and identification of faults that may occur. A solution is presented to enable CAN Bus communication between the controller, operator joysticks, and sensors/actuators, as well as a Digital Twin solution to emulate machine operations. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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