Coordinator: Elisabete Freitas 

The Research Area of Competence of “Transport Systems and Infrastructures” (TSI) will have an broad intervention in the field of transport infrastructures, mainly roads, covering the path between raw materials utilisation and mobility in general, with a particular attention to the service offered to citizens in terms of mobility efficiency, comfort, safety and health.

In order to follow all the chain of intervention, TSI area will develop research on “innovative ecomaterials & technologies” in particular promoting the recycling and reutilisation of existing materials of road infrastructures, incorporating wastes from other origins, always bearing in mind the mandatory purpose of reducing the use of new materials, additionally taking care of health aspects of production and application of road materials.

Together with these general objectives, TSI area will take advantage of advanced nanomaterials and nanotechnology knowledge inside CTAC centre and in other centres, so as transport materials and infrastructures would be able to offer a way of communicate with other infrastructures and users, always considering a life-cycle analysis to obtain lower environmental impact, through the continuous reduction of energy consumption in the direction of low carbon infrastructures.

Another relevant focus of TSI area activity will be that of monitoring transport infrastructures quality with advanced laboratory and in field producing data for life-cycle analysis constituting an irreplaceable tool for promoting a sustainable management of these very important assets.

Urban mobility is another very important area of intervention, considering two separate functions: a) people and vehicle mobility inside the city; b) addressing cities not as isolated entities but in harmony with regional partners to guarantee easy flow of resources, people and information.