RESEARCH

Research Laboratories

The research capacity of the Politécnico da Guarda is well demonstrated by its laboratories. Equipped with broad applied research capabilities, they are the tool of excellence to advance the various fields of knowledge that support our Schools.

Besides offering our researchers the means to carry out the challenges they propose, our labs are also the structure that supports the various services we provide to the business community.

Our Labs

Assessment Of Sports Performance, Physical Exercise And Health Laboratory

Center For Potential And Innovation In Natural Resources

Chemistry And Materials Laboratory

The Chemistry and Materials Laboratory has the aim of carrying out scientific and technological activities in Materials characterization. In parallel with the pedagogical and research components, it develops activities to provide services to the world at large.

ORGANIZATION

Head of Laboratory of Chemistry and Materials: José Reinas André (jandre@ipg.pt)
Secretariat: ESTG Services: 271 220 164 or 271 220 120

SERVICES PROVIDED

  • Tensile Tests of plastics, elastomers and metals at room temperatures and under heat;
  • Creep Tests of plastics, elastomers and metals at room temperatures and under heat;
  • Stress Relaxation Tests of plastics, elastomers and metals at room temperatures and under heat
  • Brinell Hardness Tests
  • Rockell C Hardness Tests
  • Vickers Hardness Tests;
  • Vickers Microhardness Assays;
  • Identification of polymeric materials.

Cost: A quote will be given according to the type of work to be carried out.

EQUIPMENT

  • Universal mechanical testing machine with climatic chamber, load cells of 10 tons and 250 kg;
  • Durometer with Brinell, Rockell C and Vickers scales;
  • Vickers micro-durometer;
  • Fluency Test Equipment;
  • Mechanical Polisher (sample preparation);
  • Optical microscope;
  • Anodizing line;
  • Electrodeposition line.

Climate And Environment Laboratory

ORGANIZATION

Head of the Climatization and Environment laboratory: Rui Pitarma (rpitarma@ipg.pt; 936259976)
Laboratory Support: José Alberto (jalberto@ipg.pt; 271 220 111, ext. 262)
Secretariat: ESTG Services: 271 220 164 or 271 220 120

SERVICES PROVIDED

Energy Certification and Indoor Air Quality of buildings:

  • Energy Certification Service within the RCCTE (Project, DCR and CE)
  • Energy Certification Service within the RSECE (Project, DCR and CE)
  • Periodic Energy and Indoor Air Quality Audits (IAQ)
  • Periodic inspections of energy systems (boilers and air conditioning equipment)

Cost: A quote will be given according to the type of work to be carried out.
Payment terms: 30% upon award + 70% upon delivery of the certificate/report

Communication And Media Laboratory

The Communication and Media Laboratory aims to support research and teaching activities, increase communication skills, encourage work in multidisciplinary teams and provide services to the internal and external community, based on an immersive experience of communication in areas of audio-visual and multimedia, information and journalism, strategic communication, and advertising. Teaching activity takes place within the frames of the Communication Short Cycle Courses, the degrees in Multimedia Communication and Communication and Public Relations, and the Master’s in Marketing and Communication.

ORGANIZATION

Head of Laboratory: Fátima Gonçalves (fgoncalves@ipg.pt); Joaquim Brigas (joaquimbrigas@ipg.pt)
Collaborators: Henrique Marques (henrique.marques@ipg.pt)

SERVICES PROVIDED

Consultancy and specialized training in partnership with entities, companies and other national and international educational institutions.

CUSTOMERS/PORTFOLIO

  • Guarda Nacional Republicana – GNR Comando Territorial da Guarda
  • Direção Regional de Agricultura e Pescas do Centro – DRAP Centro

Electrotechnics And Energy Center

Environmental Monitoring And Research Laboratory

The Environmental Monitoring and Research Laboratory is an infrastructure supporting the Industry and the Community in chemical quality control and microbiology.

In the laboratory, work is carried out in analytical chemistry and microbiology, namely chemical and microbiological control of raw materials and products, analysis of environmental products, quality control of water, wastewater and process water, soils, and foliar analyses.

The laboratory collaborates with other national and international institutions in the development of research projects in the environmental area, executes plans for monitoring the quality of water, soil, impact assessment of the discharge of industrial effluents in the receiving environment, technical monitoring in the operation of WTPs and WWTPs, and environmental diagnostics.

ORGANIZATION

Head of laboratory: Pedro Rodrigues (prodrigues@ipg.pt)
Laboratory Support: Ricardo Rodrigues
Secretariat: ESTG Services (271 220 164 or 271 220 120)

SERVICES PROVIDED

The laboratory provides services in the environmental and chemical quality control areas according to national and international standards or through methodologies developed internally. In cases where it is necessary, the laboratory ensures the collection and transport operations of the samples or provides the necessary instructions so that they can be carried out by third parties.

Geotechnical Laboratories (I And Ii)

  • Pedagogical and research components.
  • Provision of services in Geotechnics and similar, whose nature transcends the response capacity of the regional market.
  • Provide laboratory support to private entities involved in the execution of geotechnical works.

ORGANIZATION

Head of the Geotechnical laboratories: Ana Antão and Carlos Rodrigues (crod@ipg.pt; anantao@ipg.pt)
Laboratory support: Manuel Cairrão (m.cairrao@ipg.pt)
Secretariat: ESTG Services (271 220 164 or 271 220 120)

SERVICES PROVIDED

The Geotechnics Laboratory of Politécnico da Guarda can carry out a diverse set of geotechnical studies, namely:

  • Geological-geotechnical characterization of earth and rock massifs.
  • Laboratory tests for geotechnical characterization in soil mechanics and rock mechanics.
  • Geotechnical prospection in situ for parameterization.
  • Geotechnical studies for foundation design.
  • Slope stability geotechnical studies.
  • Geotechnical studies for the design of containment structures.
  • Quality control of earthworks (landfills and excavations)
  • Road pavement evaluation reports, conditions that influence the state of degradation of the roads.
  • Architecture, Territorial Management Instruments and Spatial Planning
  • Others, upon customer’s express request

Cost: A quote will be given according to the type of work to be carried out.

EQUIPMENT

The Geotechnical Laboratories of the IPG bring together a wide range of equipment dedicated to the execution of in situ and laboratory tests in the geotechnical field. Here is a summary of some of the most significant tests:

Tests in Soil Mechanics

On-site tests:

  • Dynamic penetration test (DP’s) – DPL, DPM and DPSH.
  • Dynamic penetration tests with SPT.
  • Static penetration tests with seismic piezocone (SCPTu).
  • Vane Test Assays.
  • Tests with a Ménard pressure gauge – PMT.
  • Tests with Marchetti dilatometer – DMT.
  • Load tests with plate – PLT.
  • Load tests with Screw –Plate (SP).
  • Assays with SPT-Analyzer.
  • Drilling with continuous mechanical auger.
  • Soil sampling.
  • Detection of groundwater levels in boreholes.
  • Specific weight with sand bottle (LNEC E204).
  • Soil compaction control by Rigidity and Module “in situ”; H-4140 GeoGaugeTM.
  • Execution of tomographic seismic profiles with evaluation of the propagation speed of P and S waves and elastic parameters (E0, G0, ?)

Laboratory tests:

  • Granulometric Analysis by sieving (LNEC E239)
  • Granulometric Analysis by Sedimentation and Sieving (LNEC E196)
  • Consistency Limits (NP-143)
  • Measurement of Specific Weights
  • Measurement of Specific Weights of Solid Particles (NP 83)
  • Measurement of water content (NP 84)
  • Sand equivalent (LNEC E199)
  • Measurement of methylene blue value
  • Organic matter content (LNEC E201)
  • Compaction Test (LNEC E197)
  • CBR Test (LNEC E198)
  • Classic oedometer test with diameters of 50, 75, 100 and 125 mm, with automatic registration
  • Direct cutting tests in square box of 60×60 mm and 100x100mm, and circular with 100 mm in diameter, with automatic registration.
  • Triaxial tests
    • Equipment for specimens with diameters of: 50, 70 and 100 mm, with automatic data acquisition.
    • Type tests: UU, CIU, CID, CK0U.
    • Triaxial tests with internal instrumentation for specimens of 70 mm in diameter, with axial and radial deformation transducers, “Hall Effect” type and/or LVDT transducers.
    • Triaxial tests with imposed stress path.
    • Triaxial tests with imposed stress path, for specimens of 38 mm in diameter, with automatic control of the test and data acquisition.
  • Permeability tests
    • Constant or variable load and intact or compacted samples.
    • Permeability tests in a triaxial chamber.

Laboratory Tests In The Field Of Rock Mechanics:

  • Preparation of a rock specimen with a parallelepiped or cylindrical shape, with face grinding
  • Macroscopic analysis of rock samples as well as petrographic analysis and description of aggregates (NP EN 932-3:2000)
  • Microscopic analysis of thin slides under a polarizing microscope, with photographic equipment, without thin slide preparation (EN 12407:2000)
  • Determination of ultrasound propagation speeds (according to the procedure proposed by ISRM and according to NP EN 14579:2007)
  • Wear test in a wet environment “slake durability test”.
  • Apparent and real density, porosity, moisture content and specific weight (according to Proc. ISRM (1999) and NP EN 13755:2006)
  • Determination of the water absorption coefficient by capillarity in stone (NP EN 1925:2000)
  • Uniaxial Compression Test (with load or deformation control) according to proc. ISRM (1999) and NP EN 1926:2000)
    • Breaking voltage.
    • Modulus of elasticity
    • Diametric Compression Test
  • Indirect tensile breaking stress
  • Measurement of the flexural strength of rocky specimens (NP EN 13161:2006).
  • Point Load Test (“Point Load Test”).
  • Measurement of frost resistance of rocky specimens (NP EN 12371:2006).
  • Measurement of the resistance to crystallization of salts in rocky specimens (NP EN 12370:2001).
  • Measurement of frost/thaw resistance of rock aggregates (NP EN 1367-1:2003).

Laboratory and field tests in Soil and Groundwater Pollution

  • Measurement of radon gas concentrations, temperature, humidity, and pressure in indoor environments under Law 79/2006 of 4 April.
  • Measurement of piezometric levels in boreholes and groundwater wells with continuous monitoring of temperature and pressure through Solinst probe.

CLIENT PORTFOLIO

ÁGUAS DO ZÊZERE E CÔA SA,
ARL Construções S.A.
Associação Humanitária dos Bombeiros Voluntários de Loriga.
Bernardo & Bernardo, Consultores Associados, Lda.
BRITO & XAVIER, S.A,
Câmara Municipal da Guarda.
Câmara Municipal de Celorico da Beira
Câmara Municipal de Fornos de Algodres.
Câmara Municipal de Mangualde.
Câmara Municipal de S. João da Pesqueira.
Câmara Municipal de Seia.
Chupas & Morrão S.A.
CIVILRIA.
COFICAB.
CONSTROPE, S.A.
Construções Gabriel Couto S.A.
Construtora Abrantina, S.A.
Cooperativa de Habitação Casa Jovem.
CPCF – Cipriano Pereira de Carvalho & Filhos
Domingos da Silva Teixeira – DST, SA.
ENAQUE – Engenharia e Arquitectura Lda.
ENFORCE – Engenharia da Energia, S.A.,
GEOESTRUTURAL Lda,
GEOPLANO AHERNE, SA.
Geosonda, Lda.
Ginado S.A. – Produção e Comercialização de Têxteis.
GSG, Gabinete de Serviços Geotécnicos, Lda.
ICERR – Direcção de Estradas do Distrito da Guarda.
Instituto Pedro Nunes (Coimbra)
Isidro Pires da Silva, Lda.
Lambelho & Ramos Lda.
Manuel Rodrigues Gouveia S.A.
MARTIFER.
MOTA-ENGIL, ENGENHARIA E CONSTRUÇÃO, SA.
OLANO, Logistica do Frio, Lda.
PROENGEL – Projectos de Engenharia e Arquitectura Lda.
Ramos Catarino, S.A.
Rui Ribeiro, Construções, S.A.
Sociedade de Construções H. Hagen S.A.
Sociedade de Construções Soares de Costa S.A.
SOMAGUE Engenharia S.A.
TRAPSA.

Information Systems Laboratory

Prototyping And Digital Manufacturing Laboratory

The School of Technology and Management has a state-of-the-art 3D Printer, Dimension SST1200 model, which allows the rapid construction of functional prototypes in ABS (polymeric material), with high precision and durability and at competitive costs.

With this new technology, The STM of Politécnico da Guarda reinforces its offer of skills and capabilities to the Industrial Community in ​​Design, Architecture, Product Development and Rapid Prototyping. Unlike illustrative prototypes produced in weaker materials by other technologies, the Dimension SST 1200 produces robust, functional models that can withstand rigorous functional testing.

ORGANIZATION

Head of Rapid Prototyping Laboratory: Luís Miguel Lourenço (mlopes@ipg.pt)
Laboratory Support: Joaquim Abreu (joaquimabreu@ipg.pt)
Secretariat: ESTG Services: 271 220 164 or 271 220 120

SERVICES PROVIDED

The Dimension SST 1200 allows you to test ergonomic shape, fittings, gears, joints and other functional parameters for which precision is required. It is thus possible to quickly reproduce different models with different shapes, from your PC after virtual modeling, using appropriate software (eg AutoCAD 3D, Inventor, Solidworks, etc.). Models created by the Dimension SST 1200 were tested in wind tunnels and with pressure hoses having supported up to 60 PSI.

The utility of these prototypes is most varied and can be used as conceptual prototypes for validation of 3D CAD geometries, as marketing tools and in functionality tests, namely using liquids, thanks to the properties of the ABS material. Other important value lies in their application as excellent masters to produce silicone molds, being also possible to produce prototypes directly with different colours.

Cost: A quote will be given according to the type of work to be carried out.

Robotics Laboratory

Tourism And Hospitality Laboratory

The Tourism and Hospitality Laboratory aims to contribute to the development of projects and solutions in Tourism and Hospitality, which allow increasing the territory’s levels of attractiveness, competitiveness, and sustainability. It is intended to collaborate with the various tourist agents to provide new action strategies and stimulate tourist attractiveness, boost products and/or services, generate business, according to the trends of the tourist market, through the planning and development of the territory in line with the Tourism Strategy 2027 and the +Sustainable Tourism Plan 20-23.

GOALS

  • Analyse and monitor the dynamics of demand and supply in order to generate scientific knowledge to better act in the tourist market;
  • Deepen the network of contacts with the different actors that make up the Tourism and Hospitality cluster;
  • Promote network cooperation with organizations from different sectors of tourism activity, working in collaborative approaches in the co-creation of solutions.
  • Share and disseminate scientific knowledge, namely through scientific publications and organization/participation in technical-scientific events within the scope of Tourism and Hospitality.
  • Strengthen the relationship between organizations and the School of Tourism and Hospitality of Politécnico da Guarda, bearing in mind its vocation as a centre for training development, promoting strategies for new tourist products, and training the territory.
  • Create a scholarship for students to facilitate, promote and disseminate specialized knowledge in Tourism and Hospitality.
  • Carry out consultancy studies on projects in the areas of Tourism and Leisure, Hospitality, Restaurants and Catering, among other related areas.

Head of Laboratory: Manuel Salgado (manuelsalgado@ipg.pt); Ricardo Guerra (ricardoguerra@ipg.pt)
Collaborators: Cristina Rodrigues (cristinarodrigues@ipg.pt); Paula Pires (paulapires@ipg.pt); Rafaela Silva (silvarafaela@ipg.pt)
Email: turlab@ipg.pt

SERVICES PROVIDED

  • Consultancy on projects in the areas of Tourism and Leisure, Hospitality, Restaurants and Catering.
  • Design and development of new tourism products and services.
  • Partnerships in Tourism and Leisure, Hotel, Restaurant and Catering services.
  • Training, updating and improvement of human resources in ​​Tourism and Hospitality.