29-07-2025
Photo: João Lima/NOVA FCT
Third-year students of the Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Engineering at NOVA FCT recently presented innovative technological projects aimed at tackling one of the country’s most pressing issues: wildfires.
The challenge was part of the Curricular Development Activity course and focused on creating solutions that improve communication among different field agents — from firefighters to municipalities and civil protection entities.
The initiative was inspired by the Land IT project, coordinated by NOVA FCT. This spatial decision support system, presented as a web app, is designed to assist the managing entities of OIGPs in planning and implementing land management strategies. The project was developed in collaboration with the Municipality of Mação, one of the regions most affected by wildfires in recent years.
António Louro, a representative of the municipality, visited NOVA FCT to see the students’ work and highlighted:
"What we saw in the fourteen different products developed by the students was truly interesting and even impressive. It’s remarkable how they managed to create systems that are ready to be used and tested, not just simple small-scale demonstrators. We found many ideas that are very relevant and could be considered by organizations dealing with land management, transformation, and sustainability."
The students’ proposals included mobile and web applications with features such as real-time data sharing, team communication, and even formats inspired by social networks, promoting stronger collaboration among field agents. The projects showcased a high level of complexity and tool integration, ranging from cloud infrastructures and remote monitoring to real-time data analysis and operations management through profiles with different levels of responsibility.
According to course coordinator Henrique Domingos, “these are real-life examples of what a third-year student should be able to do: solve complex problems, work as a team, and propose technological solutions that make a difference in society.”
Student Cláudia Faria emphasized the value of the experience: “It was a very interesting project, and we really learned a lot.” Her colleagues João Rivera and João Monteiro pointed out the challenges: “It was tough because the problem wasn’t very clear at first, but it was important since it allowed us to apply our knowledge.”
This initiative reinforces NOVA FCT’s commitment to hands-on, interdisciplinary education that addresses major global challenges.
Photo gallery (João Lima/NOVA FCT)
