FCT (DCEA) - Capítulos de Livros em Editoras Internacionais
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- Teaching sustainability in interior design: interdisciplinary approaches and pedagogical strategies from a Portuguese higher education contextPublication . Rigueiro, Maria Constança Simões; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Leal Filho, Walter; Edwin, Golda A.; Muthu, NandhivarmanThe Anthropocene marks a new geological era characterized by pressing global challenges, particularly climate change, environmental degradation, and resource scarcity. Within this context, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) plays a key role in equipping future professionals with the knowledge, values, and skills necessary to design more sustainable and responsible solutions. This chapter examines how sustainability principles are integrated into the undergraduate and master’s programmes in “Interior Design and Equipment” and “Interior Design and Furniture” at the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Portugal, focusing on the curricular units of “Materials” and “Sustainability and Innovation”. In the curriculum of these curricular units, sustainability is positioned as a central educational objective, offering students both a theoretical foundation and practical tools such as Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and criteria-based assessment tools (CBT). The curriculum development is grounded in real-world case studies, interdisciplinary methods, and project-based learning, promotes critical thinking, ethical responsibility, informed decision-making and sustainable development. By exploring material selection processes and sustainable design methodologies, students are encouraged to develop creative and ecologically responsible solutions that reflect the realities of Interior Design (ID) practice today. This chapter contributes to the broader discussion on how Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), in the curriculum of the courses, can support the integration of sustainability into design curricula, fostering both technical competence and environmental awareness.
- Development of a rehabilitation action plan to promote urban sustainability in existing neighbourhoodsPublication . Reyes Nieto, Jocelyn Erandi; Rigueiro, Constança; Silva, Luís Simões da; Murtinho, Vítor; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Farinha, Luis; Raposo, Daniel; Ferreira, João J.; Gaspar, Marcelo Calvete; Alves, Maria Leopoldina; Serrano, LuisUrban degradation in existing neighbourhoods has become a pressing global issue, driven by demographic pressure, environmental degradation, and inefficient urban management practices. This chapter proposes a strategic framework for a sustainable rehabilitation action plan aimed at reversing these trends and promoting urban sustainability in already urbanised contexts. The framework addresses both the physical transformation of the built environment and the social dynamics required to foster long-term community engagement and resilience. Grounded in theories of sustainable urban development and participatory planning, the research employs a mixed-methods approach that integrates spatial analysis, evaluation, and policy review. This methodology supports the identification of key components necessary for effective urban rehabilitation, including diagnostic tools to assess neighbourhood conditions, guidelines for sustainable construction practices, and participatory mechanisms to ensure local ownership of interventions. The chapter’s core contribution lies in outlining a structured rehabilitation process that bridges regulatory planning frameworks with residents’ demands and aspirations. It emphasises the need for local governance to take a proactive role in enabling sustainable change through legislation that is responsive to community needs. Aligning environmental, social, and economic objectives, the proposed action plan aims to not only improve the physical environment but also to enhance social cohesion, mitigate urban desertification, and foster a stronger sense of place and responsibility among residents. Ultimately, this work offers policymakers, urban planners, and researchers a practical and theoretically grounded proposal for urban regeneration that prioritises sustainability and inclusion in the rehabilitation of existing urban neighbourhoods.
- PrefacePublication . Leal Filho, Walter; Lange Salvia, Amanda; Henrique, João Paulino Pires Eustachio; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Leal Filho, Walter; Salvia, Amanda Lange; Eustachio, João Henrique Paulino Pires; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta
- Evaluating the role of digital technologies in enhancing warehouse efficiencyPublication . Perkumienė, Dalia; Samuolaitis, Mindaugas; Hasanov, Jamil; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Safaa, Larbi; Leal Filho, Walter; Perkumienė, Dalia; Dinis, Maria Alzira PimentaThis article evaluates the role of digital technologies in enhancing warehouse efficiency, using Amazon as a case study. Over the past few years, the corporation has been using its new technology capabilities to create digital solutions that increase operational efficiency. Digital technology offers significant advantages in areas including accuracy, productivity, information sharing, and inventory control. Therefore, the study’s primary goal is to assess the digitalization solutions that enhance Amazon’s warehouse operations. For this work, a qualitative research methodology was employed, and data was gathered via SWOT analysis and semi-structured interviews. Seven Amazon employees involved in warehouse operations participated in the study. Warehouse management systems (WMS), RFID technology, Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled sensors, robotics (such Kiva robots), machine learning, and cloud platforms are some of the important digital tools utilized in Amazon’s warehouse operations. The implementation of these technologies led to a 99% increase in inventory accuracy, a 60% reduction in error rates, a 30% decrease in labor dependency, and a 25% reduction in order picking time. In addition, online data tracking was enhanced, particularly using RFID and IoT tools, which increased decision-making speed and accuracy. Staff training issues, incompatibility with outdated systems, and brief technological hiccups were among the obstacles to digitization. However, the total advantages of modernizing an organization and integrating new technology into its structure outweigh all of these, according to research participants. Under headings like artificial intelligence and machine learning, the reviewers claim that the digitization process has significantly improved a company’s warehouse operations.
- PrefacePublication . Safaa, Larbi; Leal Filho, Walter; Perkumienė, Dalia; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Safaa, Larbi; Leal Filho, Walter; Perkumienė, Dalia; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta
- Understanding climate change and net zero landscapePublication . Hashimzada, Seyid Zeynab; Khatoon, Roquyya; Melnyk, Olena; Apata, Oluwagbenga; Asanovic, Vanja; Erten, Begum; Vasić, Ljubinka; Nosheen, Asia; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Sher, FarooqThis chapter elaborates on the global climate change situation and outlines strategies for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. The study is set against the backdrop of rising global energy consumption, which increased from 270.5 EJ (Exajoules) in 1978 to 580 EJ in 2018, resulting in a 87% increase in CO₂ emissions, from 18.0 to 33.7 billion tonnes over the same period. The primary objectives are to assess climate tipping points, explore decarbonization technology options, and evaluate the contribution of interdisciplinary approaches to climate resilience. Methodologically, the chapter combines results from climate models, life cycle studies, satellite observations, and empirical socioeconomic studies. It acknowledges that renewable energy will provide 90% of electricity by 2050, and afforestation and reforestation (AR) can contribute up to 4.05 Gt CO₂-equivalent emission reductions by 2030. Soil carbon sequestration (SCS) is technically feasible at a rate of 2.3–5.3 Gigatons of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) per Year. Negative emissions technologies such as biochar application may remove −1,173 kg CO₂-eq./t CO₂, and BECCS alternatives between −12 and −1,013 kg CO₂-eq./t CO₂. Climate tipping points are more probable than a 1.5°C increase in global warming and may have long-term consequences for the Amazon and Greenland Ice Sheets. Additionally, digital transformation reveals that firms with a 0.32% mean digital asset intensity experienced considerable reductions in carbon emissions. The originality of the chapter resides in bringing environmental modelling together with socioeconomic data, historic context, and digital innovation. It provides scalable, evidence-based solutions with the possibility of adoption in climate policy, green infrastructure, and equity-based mitigation approaches
- Social, economic, and environmental impacts of renewable energy technologiesPublication . Bushra Husnain; Narcisa Smječanin Omerbegović; Hamaguchi, Yoshihiro; Roquyya Khatoon; Alexander Chupin; Asia Nosheen; Liviu Cătălin Andrei; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; FarooqThe escalating impacts of climate change and the depletion of fossil fuels necessitate a global transition to renewable energy technologies (RETs). This chapter explores the social, economic, and environmental impacts of RETs, aiming to assess their role in achieving sustainable energy goals. The primary objectives include evaluating how RETs influence job creation, air quality, public health, and gross domestic product growth, while addressing social acceptance and equitable energy access. Methodologically, the chapter synthesizes data from global case studies, surveys, and empirical research between 2010 and 2024, offering a multidimensional perspective. In 2024, global CO2 emissions reached 41.6 billion tons, prompting a critical shift toward RETs like solar, wind, bioenergy, and hydropower. Notably, RETs could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% by 2050 and potentially prevent 2.5 million premature deaths annually due to improved air quality. Employment in renewables rose to 13.7 million by 2022, with projections of 35 million jobs by 2050. The novelty of this chapter lies in its integrated assessment approach, combining technological advancements with social and economic metrics, while highlighting research gaps in equity, policy, and life cycle emissions. Future applications include developing equity-aware planning tools, digitalized energy grids, and policies supporting just transitions for marginalized groups. The findings offer a robust framework for future policymaking and guide the equitable implementation of RETs in the global energy transition.
- Mountainous environment in the central Region of Mucajaí, Roraima, Brazil: Citizen Science and Geotouristic ApproachesPublication . Saldanha Veras, Ana Sibelonia; Ahmed, Waqas; Augusto Cruz de Azevedo Barros, Nelson; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Leal Filho, Walter; S. Lopes, Hélder; Lencastre, Marina Prieto; Estrada, Rui; Vidal, DiogoGeotourism consists of a form of interpretation and awareness practiced in ecosystems geographically located in environments of expressive geological and geomorphological aesthetics, associated with citizen science, which is also inclusive, with the strong involvement of ordinary citizens who collect data from observation of natural environments, streamlining scientific research and generating scientific knowledge, preparing citizens to manage the diverse demands of remote areas. The balance lines of these domains can be severely impaired by global warming, for which human beings have been blamed in this Cenozoic era, destabilizing access to recreation and guided tours. Through a methodological approach based on an international literature review focusing on the northern Amazon, the main objective of this chapter is to demonstrate the relevance of sustainability practiced by citizens from the local reality of mountain geosites, establishing the relationship with the municipality of Mucajaí, Roraima, Brazil. The results can be considered useful references for the scientific community, contributing to the sum of local strategies, with global repercussions, for the development of citizenship, so as not to contribute to the increase in the climate emergency experienced today. To this end, it will be necessary to promote behaviors that avoid episodes of great repercussion and irreparable damage to the communities involved in conducting, encouraging and rescuing the sense of preservation, thus promoting ecological knowledge, and contributing to a more sustainable world.
- Management of modern organisations in the context of Lithuanian smart tourismPublication . Samuolaiti, Mindaugas; Raupelienė, Asta; Brusokas, Andrius; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Ložkinas, Adas; Leal Filho, Walter; Safaa, Larbi; Perkumienè, Dalia; Dinis, Maria Alzira PimentaIn the management of each tourism organisation, one encounters essential factors characteristic of the management of organisations, but in each of them, efforts are made to improve both different factors and based on different methods. In managing a modern tourism organisation, several external and internal factors are of great importance. These include a strategic focus, the external environment, product innovation, effective marketing and cooperation, customer experience and quality management, human resources, organisational culture. Only a tourism organisation that applies and considers these factors in its activities is enabled to achieve the highest possible results, service quality and competitiveness. This study aims to evaluate the management of a tourism organisation from the perspective of a modern organisation. The interview method was used to achieve the research results. The research was done in 2024. The findings of study show that the importance of managing modern tourism organisations has been emphasised in the scientific literature. This emphasis extends to the need for purposeful adaptation and improvement. The modernity of a tourism organisation is expressed through its constant ability to adapt to the ever-changing environment, embrace learning and development, and foster innovation. The research reveals that modernity is associated with the uniqueness of the tourism organisation. Adaptation to the ever-changing external environment means constant monitoring of trends, adaptation of new technologies, and development of internal organisational culture, encouragement of employees’ courage and freedom, and self-expression. In terms of the application of new technologies in tourism organisations, the continuous improvement and simplification of the system is significant, but there is no rush to use the benefits provided by the artificial intelligence tool.
- A critical analysis of sustainability indicators for education and curricula in higher education institutions and their adaptation to the Portuguese contextPublication . Rigueiro, Maria Constança Simões; Caeiro, Sandra; Câmara, Patrícia; Fonseca, Ana; Godinho, Teresa; Mapar, Mahsa; Moreira, Anabela Mendes; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Farinha, Carla Sá; Simão, João; Silva, Manuela Vieira da; Leal Filho, Walter; Trevisan, Laís Viera; Pace, Paul J.; Mifsud, MarkThe sustainability assessment within Higher Education Institutions (HEI) serves as a critical learning and capacity-building tool, fostering reflection on sustainability initiatives and advancing alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Current sustainability assessment tools include various indicators across different dimensions of sustainability implementation within HEI. However, there is a significant gap in categorising specific indicators relevant to learning and curricula. In line with a recent initiative by the Sustainable Campus Network (RCS) in Portugal, this study aims to analyse how existing sustainability assessment tools address indicators within the domains of education and curricula. The research aims to identify and categorise indicators relevant to the education and curricula dimension, offering a preliminary list complemented by implementation examples. This analysis draws on a variety of available sustainability assessment tools for HEI. This goal is part of a broader research context in future development of sustainability indicators to systematically assess and monitor sustainability practices within Portuguese HEI. A systematic literature review was done to extract the education and curricula indicators from two key sources (i) existing sustainability assessment tools used globally, and (ii) existing sustainability reports of Portuguese HEI. As a result, 216 “education and curricula” indicators were collected, laying a solid foundation for further analysis and application in the Portuguese HEI context. The indicators were grouped into four different categories, Teaching, Learning, Outreach, and Administrative and Organisational Framework. Within the Portuguese context, only 13 sustainability reports were analysed (out of 97 HEI), in which six institutions addressed the ‘education’ category, primarily focusing on the number of courses, subjects, research initiatives, and projects aligned with the SDG. Although the present analysis was limited to publicly available sustainability reports, which may not fully reflect the breadth of initiatives undertaken by HEI, the findings highlight a significant gap in sustainability reporting among Portuguese HEI. The results of this study are expected to guide HEI towards more effective integration and promotion of a global culture of sustainability within the domains of curricula and education.
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