In response to a changing world, we've evolved. Our group is now RISE – Resilient Infrastructure, Systems and Environment – a research and development (R&D) group dedicated to creating sustainable and resilient solutions for the built environment. Formerly known as the Civil Research Group, this new identity reflects our commitment to forward-thinking infrastructure and environmental challenges.
Research topics
RISE is part of the Faculty of Engineering of the Lusófona University in Lisbon, and is rooted in the engineering field for sustainable and resilient buildings and infrastructure. It has been focused on three research topics:
- Structural Health Monitoring
- Circular Materials
- Resilience and Sustainability in Built and Natural Environments
Our vision
Civil construction faces a series of challenges and trends that will fundamentally transform the way we conceive, design, and (re) construct buildings and infrastructure. The fourth industrial revolution, namely the use of intelligent robots and autonomous vehicles, sustainability, and energy efficiency are leading civil construction to a different orbit than the one we have known for several decades.
Sustainable Development Goals
This group contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9 and related SDGs 11, 12, and 13, by promoting sustainable and resilient infrastructure through the introduction of new technologies, materials, and innovation intended to facilitate efficient use of resources and guarantee the safety and comfort of people.
Specifically, this group contributes to the:
- SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) by developing sustainable and resilient infrastructures and promoting an efficient use of resources;
- SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by promoting resilient infrastructure through innovative design, risk-informed decision-making, and sustainable urban planning;
- SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) to do more and better with less materials, by promoting the circular economy of materials and the repeated use of the same material without downgrading its functionality which increases resource efficiency and leads to low-carbon and green economies; and
- SDG 13 (Climate Action) to take action to combat climate change and its impacts, by mitigating the carbon dioxide emissions through the production of new materials with less footprint in carbon emissions and adapting the existing structures.