22-10-2025
Photo: João Lima/NOVA FCT
José Nuno Varandas Ferreira, professor and researcher at the Department of Civil Engineering of NOVA FCT, was distinguished with the “SPG Research Award 2025” by the Portuguese Geotechnical Society (SPG).
The award recognizes the best scientific paper published in a high-impact international journal over the past year in the field of Geotechnics. The winning paper, titled “Differential settlements monitoring in railway transition zones using satellite-based remote sensing techniques”, was published in the prestigious journal Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, one of the most renowned worldwide in the areas of Civil and Structural Engineering.
In this study, performed in collaboration with the Portuguese company Spotlite, the researcher proposes a new hybrid PS-SBAS InSAR processing methodology developed to monitor differential settlements in railway transition zones, such as bridge approaches and track switches. The method combines high spatial resolution with long-term coherence, enabling the extraction of detailed and robust displacement profiles. This approach demonstrates the potential of satellite remote sensing as a complementary tool to traditional railway inspection and maintenance strategies.
The award ceremony took place on October 20 at the Myriad Hotel during the 1st Gala of the Portuguese Geotechnical Society, which celebrated outstanding individuals and landmark projects in the national geotechnical engineering community.
This distinction highlights the scientific excellence and innovative capacity of NOVA FCT, reflecting the contribution of its researchers to the advancement of knowledge and the development of technological solutions with global impact.
