Publications
Digital Twin for Heritage Structural Health Monitoring: First Experimental Tests.
A digital twin approach integrated with structural health monitoring (SHM) shows promise for real-time conservation of heritage buildings, such as the Palace of Monserrate in Sintra. The study compared low-cost MEMS sensors with a reference sensor to assess data accuracy, finding that while cost-effective solutions can capture meaningful kinematic data, their confidence levels must be carefully evaluated. This research highlights the potential of IoT-enabled wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for continuous SHM, offering a scalable and efficient method to monitor cultural landscapes without compromising structural integrity.
Enhancing the Visitor Experience with Immersive Technologies and Gaming: The Monserrate Use Case
Immersive technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), significantly enhance visitor engagement at cultural heritage sites. A proposed AR/VR-based Web app for Monserrate Palace, a UNESCO-listed site in Sintra, Portugal, demonstrates this potential by offering interactive storytelling and immersive experiences that deepen the connection between visitors and historical narratives. The study explores how these technologies can address challenges in traditional tourism, such as limited visitor engagement, while addressing technical constraints and preservation concerns. Findings suggest that AR and VR not only enrich the visitor experience but also create memorable and enjoyable interactions with cultural heritage, making them valuable tools for modern audiences.
A BIM-Based Model for Structural Health Monitoring of the Central Body of the Monserrate Palace: A First Approach
A novel IoT-based structural health monitoring (SHM) system, integrated with Building Information Modeling (BIM), demonstrates significant potential for real-time vibration analysis of historic structures. The study, conducted at the Monserrate Palace in Sintra, Portugal—a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape—shows how low-cost sensors can effectively track structural dynamics during normal and seismic events. By leveraging a hybrid BIM model (H-BIM) combined with numerical simulations, researchers achieved precise monitoring of the palace's central tower, enabling data-driven maintenance strategies. This approach could revolutionize heritage preservation by reducing costs and optimizing interventions, addressing longstanding challenges in safeguarding vulnerable cultural assets.
A Sacred Place, an Enchanted Space: Crisis and Spiritual Elasticity in the Mountain of the Moon
Sintra's Cultural Landscape, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, embodies a unique 'sensuous sacred geography' where spiritual elasticity and transreligiosity thrive. This study reveals how the mountain's natural setting, layered with historical religious significance, serves as an 'enchanted space' for individuals seeking relief from personal crises or collective eco-anxiety through vernacular spirituality. Utilizing ethnographic data, the research demonstrates that Sintra's landscape facilitates diverse spiritual practices, from ceremonies to meditations, showcasing its role as a dynamic site of spiritual resilience and adaptability.
Security and safety challenges of a palace-museum in nature environment. The case of Pena, Sintra
The National Palace of Pena, a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape in Sintra, Portugal, faces significant security and safety challenges due to its unique natural environment. A study highlights that Parques de Sintra - Monte da Lua (PSML), the managing entity since 2007, has developed an Integrated Strategic Territorial Planning through collaboration with Civil Protection bodies and stakeholders. This approach establishes sustained protocols for territorial management while implementing a Conservation Plan for Built Heritage, focusing on maintenance, space usage rules, and performance evaluation. The study underscores the importance of international principles, ethical guidelines, and cost-effective methodologies in preserving such heritage sites, offering a model for balanced security and conservation efforts.
The Use of a Building Information Model to Support Seismic Analysis: Application to the National Palace of Sintra, Portugal
A novel approach using Heritage Building Information Modelling (H-BIM) demonstrates significant potential for seismic analysis of complex historical structures, exemplified by the National Palace of Sintra. This UNESCO-listed site, characterized by its intricate unreinforced masonry architecture, was analyzed through a detailed H-BIM model that integrates geometric and material data, enabling nonlinear static seismic assessments. The study highlights how advanced digital modeling, combined with UAV and laser scanning technologies, can provide precise inputs for structural analysis software like 3Muri, offering an integrated platform for building management. This methodology not only advances the understanding of seismic behavior in heritage sites but also provides a scalable solution for preserving culturally significant structures under potential seismic threats.
Gamifying the visit to places with valuable landscapes
A mobile tool designed to engage users in discovering and sharing valuable landscapes through gamification has been shown to enhance user experience, particularly within UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The study, conducted in Sintra's Cultural Landscape—a site recognized for its global significance since 1995—evaluated the tool's effectiveness by assessing both user engagement and the impact of gamification features. Findings indicate that integrating playful elements can motivate exploration and sharing of lesser-known landscapes, offering a novel approach to cultural heritage preservation and public engagement.
A Viagem de Anne Seymour Damer a Lisboa (1790-1791) e a Representação de Portugal Pitoresco, Católico e Sentimentalista como Espaço de Convalescença e Aprendizagem em Belmour (1801) e na Correspondência da Escultora
British sculptor Anne Seymour Damer’s 1790–1791 journey to Lisbon, documented in letters and her novel Belmour (1801), offers a unique lens on Portugal as a picturesque, Catholic, and sentimental space of convalescence and learning. Damer’s vivid depictions of Lisbon—both as a place of recovery and Sintra as an escape for cultural and emotional growth—mirror contemporary British travel narratives while introducing nuanced themes of religion, health, and the 'cultural Other.' Her work stands out for its ethnographic and historical depth, blending personal experience with broader societal observations. This study reveals how Damer’s portrayal challenges conventional representations of Portugal in British literature, emphasizing sentimentality and intellectual curiosity over mere exoticism.
A importância estratégica do conhecimento do território na formação de um sistema defensivo: o caso de Sintra (Portugal) durante o Período Islâmico
During the Islamic period, Sintra's strategic landscape played a pivotal role in shaping its defensive system. Research reveals that beyond the two known castles and a ribat, Sintra likely featured additional fortifications and checkpoints, facilitating communication with distant regions and marking its maritime cultural landscape. This defensive network was underpinned by meticulous geographical planning, leveraging terrain, village connections, ports, and anchorages—some of which predate this era. The study cross-references historical, archaeological, toponymical, and geographical data to uncover these insights, highlighting Sintra's significance in the Lisbon region's military defense.
How do tourists look at Sintra’s world heritage?
Tourists primarily visit Sintra due to its UNESCO World Heritage status, with the majority praising the preservation of its Palaces and Parks. However, they also highlight the need for urban renovation in the historic center. The study reveals that most visitors prefer one-day trips, suggesting a gap in marketing strategies to encourage longer stays. Conducted through surveys in 2010, this research underscores the importance of sustainable tourism policies to mitigate the impacts of mass tourism on Sintra's cultural landscape.
Abandoned villages and related geographic and landscape context: guidelines to natural and cultural heritage conservation and multifunctional valorization
Abandoned villages, particularly those with cultural and natural heritage value, pose significant challenges for conservation and revitalization. This study identifies key factors contributing to rural abandonment in Portugal, such as economic shifts and declining quality of life, while highlighting the potential for multifunctional valorization through agro-reconversion and tourism. The research focuses on Broas, a deserted village near Sintra, analyzing its geographic and landscape context to propose sustainable strategies for heritage conservation. These include developing interpretation centers, eco-museums, or repurposing buildings for tourism, with an emphasis on creating economic opportunities that support new inhabitants while preserving both cultural and natural assets.
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