The descriptions of each of the twenty two Technical and Operational Units follow.

Environmental Law

The Environmental Law Unit, through its own know-how and in association with other companies, provides services of technical and juridical advice in the environmental area:

	Legal framework and procedure of project implementation
	Environmental Responsibility (in the terms of the proposed EC directive)
	Institutional studies
	Support to tender documents
	Elaboration of regulations
	Expert witness

Alternative Energy Sources

The Alternative Energy Sources Unit, through its own know-how and the association with other companies, develops activities in relation with the use of alternative energy sources such as:

	Biogas from sanitary landfills evaluation of landfills' energetic potential pumping trials and modelling of production technical, environmental, economic and financial feasibility studies - support in obtaining financing environmental impact studies - environmental costs and benefits investment planning and programming process engineering detailed engineering of drainage, pumping and power generation systems licensing.
	Biogas from digestion of solid wastes and biomass technical, environmental, economic and financial feasibility studies - support in obtaining financing environmental impact studies - environmental costs and benefits investment planning and programming site and design studies - evaluation of energetic potential and of economic efficiency process engineering detailed engineering of pre-treatment, treatment and power generation systems licensing
	Small hydropower plants environmental, economic and financial feasibility studies - support in obtaining financing environmental impact studies - environmental costs and benefits investment planning and programming site and design studies - evaluation of energetic potential scheme design - civil engineering, irrigation networks, power generation, outlet substation and connection to the public network licensing

Coastal Zone Engineering

The Coastal Zone Engineering Unit develops consulting activities, studies and projects in the following areas:

	Mathematical Modelling and Applied Oceanography Studies on the behaviour of coastal regions, estuaries, bars, reservoirs and lagoons, as well as of harbour basins, having resource to systemic analysis through the application of a set of Mathematical Models of Marine Environment Engineering and Management - MGA - constituted by Tri-, Bi- and Uni-dimensional formulations. This set of models allows to simulate the main natural processes of interest to the Engineering of Marine Environment (in connection with the atmosphere), namely: MGA [Tide]: flow and tide propagation MGA [Waves]: waves propagation in coastal zones and harbour basins MGA [QUA]: water quality and balance of cohesive sediments (fine) MGA [Sands]: transport and balance of non-cohesive sediments MGA [Eutrophication]: nutrients dynamics MGA [Atmosphere]: air pollution
	Land Use Planning, Protection and Monitoring of Coastal Borders, Estuaries and Lagoons Studies and projects in the coastal borders, estuaries and lagoons, joining simultaneously the methods of Land Use Planning and Geographical Information Systems - GIS - with those of Mathematical Modelling and Coastal Engineering for the elaboration of: coastal border plans estuary and lagoon plans environmental re-qualification plans of zones of estuaries and lagoons studies of coastline evolution projects of artificial transposition of bars and mouths plans for monitoring coastal, estuaries and lagoons processes decision support models for the management of environmental systems
	Harbour Planning, Navigation and Hydrography Studies and designs of harbours, through the application of both Harbour Planning and Nautical Sciences methods, using jointly navigation and ship movements simulators - SIMNAV - oriented for solving problems within the scope of Harbour Engineering, namely the elaboration of: master plans, land use planning and harbour extension plans maritime traffic studies projects of navigation channels and movement basins studies of land use planning and harbour terminals equipment design of maritime signalization hydrographic plans.
	Hydraulics and Maritime Structures Studies and designs of ports and coastal regions, using the most advanced methods of Coastal Engineering and Harbour Engineering in connection with Mathematical Modelling and Applied Oceanography, for the preparation of projects for: fishing harbours and marinas harbour infrastructures - quays, bridge-quays, piers dredging and embankments jetties and rams artificial recharge of beaches submarine outfalls.

Rural Engineering and Land Use Planning

The Centre of Expertise "Rural Engineering and Land Use Planning Unit" develops activities in the following areas:

	Rural planning: in all components (economic, social, environmental and infrastructural), at regional, local and project levels for agrarian planning projects;
	Land use planning: sectorial plans and special land use plans (Reservoir Plans, Protected Area Plans and Coastal Zone Plans), intrinsically connected to non-urban spaces;
	Soil characterization: from the agricultural perspective;
	Hydroagricultural developments: study and design, rehabilitation and modernization of the various infrastructures such as dams, pumping stations, primary, secondary and tertiary irrigation networks, surface and ground drainage, rural roads and management buildings;
	Management support systems for irrigation schemes: design and implementation of regulation and remote management systems and of geographical information systems (GIS);
	Technical advice to irrigation schemes: support to management and maintenance;
	Economic and environmental feasibility studies: elaboration and management of economic and environmental studies of new hydroagricultural developments;
	Support to the management of the water used by agriculture;
	Survey of irrigation schemes;
	Training in hidroagricultural field;
	Rural development, namely in the field of hydroagricultural infrastructures.

Economic and Financial Studies

The Economic and Financial Studies Unit develops the following activities:

	Onvestment analysis project appraisal economic and financial feasibility studies investment planning and programming sensitivity analysis
	Project finance/public-private partnerships business diagnosis and option evaluation risk identification and evaluation development of financial models financial monitoring of contracts economic and financial consultancy in the management of partnerships
	Socio-economic studies cost/benefit analysis socio-economic feasibility studies economic and social evaluation of environmental goods and natural resources multi-criteria analysis
	Management studies tariff studies and pricing policies management models accounting, organizational and financial management studies management information systems
	Macro-economic studies economy and regional development strategic planning- SWOT analysis global and sector development plans - water, solid wastes, transport, etc. (diagnosis, characterization, development of scenarios and strategies)
	Tools of socio-economic analysis development and programming of databases models of multi-variant analysis models of optimization and operational research econometric models non-parametric statistics

Foundations and Structures

The Foundations and Structures Unit develops activities in the following areas:

	Studies and design of structures
	Monitoring and safety of structures
	Works rehabilitation
	Technical advice
	Expert witness

These activities concern:

	Foundations and structures in general
	Structures of buildings and of hydraulic and treatment units
	Structures of land support
	Anchor blocks and anchorages
	Pontoons and viaducts
	Quay-walls
	Tunnels and underground works
	Canals
	Reservoirs
	Communication networks.

Geotechnics and Hydrogeology

The Geotechnics and Hydrogeology Unit develops studies and projects of geological/geotechnical and environmental nature and of inventory and use of geo-resources.

In the fields of geology, geotechnics and hydrogeology, the Unit develops the following activities:

	Application of geosynthetics and geocompos
	Technical advice and expertise
	Land reclamation
	Evaluation and characterization of foundation conditions and design
	Embankment, rockfill and tailings dams
	Canals and river training
	Geological and hydrogeological characterization o Canals and river training
	Definition and supervision of geotechnical surveys
	Dredging
	Underground dredging, groundwater lowering and water proofing
	Artificial recharge of beaches
	Excavations and ground cavities
	Slope stability and consolidation
	Seismicity studies
	Works instrumentation and monitoring
	Groundwater prospecting and impounding
	Research and characterization of fill materials and quarries
	Maritime protection
	Earthworks
	Land treatment and reinforcement
	Geotechnical zonation

Environmental Management

The Environmental Management Unit develops the following activities:

	Studies of environmental feasibility
	Environmental impact studies
	Support to development and implementation of environmental management systems (ISO 14001/EMAS)
	Environmental management programmes
	Environmental audits
	Municipal environmental plans
	Support to industry for obtaining environmental licenses
	Support to management and supervision of construction works
	Inventory, characterization and pollution control (analysis and mitigating measures): Water Soils Noise
	Monitorização ambiental: Water Soils Noise
	General technical advice in the field of environment

Construction Quality Management

The Construction Quality Management Unit develops the following activities in the frame of conception, design, contracting and construction works:

	Co-ordination and checking of the compatibility of studies and projects, valid for tender
	Quality control of those studies and projects
	Supervision and quality control of studies and projects, valid for construction
	Construction quality control, assembly, manufacture and supplies (supervision)
	Monitoring of manufacture and supplies
	Supervision of tests of equipment and material
	Supervision of start up and testing of both the systems and the facilities
	Supervision of the preparation and delivery of both record drawings and operation and maintenance manuals, by contractors, assemblers and manufacturers
	Supervision and monitoring of provisional acceptance documents
	Supervision and monitoring of the procedures and conditions of operation during the guarantee period
	Monitoring of training and maintenance procedures
	Supervision and monitoring of the definitive acceptance documents

Management and Operation of Systems

The Management and Operation of Systems Unit supplies services in the field of operation and maintenance of water supply, collection and treatment of wastewater and solid waste, comprising the following activities:

Creation of management entities analysis of juridical and institutional conditions economic and financial feasibility studies - risk analysis SWOT analysis detection of synergies and economies of scale definition of objectives (social and organizational) and the value chain of the system definition of the organic and functional structure of the management entity elaboration of previsional management documents

Monitoring of management and operation of the system performance indicators management indicators indicators of adherence of the community management information systems tariff studies and pricing policies diagnosis of account and financial management system of environmental management - environmental policy, planning, implementation and operation, verification and corrective actions operation plans contingence/safety plans mapping and survey inspection and diagnosis of systems simulation (mathematical modelling) of networks / systems function operation/maintenance planning (preventive, corrective) planning and monitoring of solid waste services operation

Management and Supervision of Construction Works

The Management and Supervision of Construction Works Unit develops the following activities in the frame of conception, design, contracting and construction works:

	Definition of aims
	Economic and financial studies and models
	Value engineering
	Strategic and master planning
	Estimate of the investment cost
	Preparation and co-ordination of tender and licensing documents
	Support to selection, negotiation and contract of project and consulting engineers
	Preparation of tender documents concerning the supply of goods and services to construction, manufacture and assembly works
	Evaluation of tender procedure of contractors, supervisor/inspector entities and suppliers
	Support to the selection and contracting of contractors, supervisor/inspector entities and suppliers
	Support to the selection and contracting of consultants, experts and laboratories
	Support to contract management during the construction
	Monitoring and control of the delivery period of studies and projects
	Verification and control of the work plans of contractors and suppliers
	Monitoring and control of construction planning
	Monitoring and control of costs
	Verification and approval of the invoices of contractors and suppliers, and corresponding price revision

Water Supply

The Water Supply Unit develops the following activities:

	Strategic planning, design of systems for supply of water and other fluids, comprising: water intake and impounding reservoirs water supply conduits pumping stations water distribution networks gas distribution networks interior networks of buildings.
	Systems optimization: modelling of water supply systems modelling of unsteady flows diagnosis and rehabilitation of water supply systems technical advice to the operation of water supply systems.
	Elaboration of candidatures for funds for the implementation of water supply systems.

Wastewater Collection

The Wastewater Collection Unit develops the following activities:

	Strategic planning, design and dimensioning of wastewater collection systems, comprising: hydraulic works and structures retention basins wastewater outfalls pumping stations drainage networks interior networks of buildings.
	Systems optimization: modelling of wastewater collection systems modelling of unsteady flows diagnosis and rehabilitation of wastewater collection systems technical advice to the operation of wastewater collection systems
	Elaboration of candidatures for funds for the implementation of wastewater collection systems.

Health, Safety and Hygiene

The Health, Safety and Hygiene Unit, in conformity with the applicable legislation, develops the activities of:

	Supervision and control of health, safety and hygiene conditions, in the framework of preparation of studies and projects
	Supervision and control of health, safety and hygiene conditions during construction and assembly

Electrical Installations and Equipment

The Electrical Installations and Equipment Unit, in the framework of multidisciplinary teams, develops studies and projects in the following areas:

	Electrical installations
	Energetic optimization
	Instrumentation and automation
	Remote management/Remote control
	Settlement of technical relations with the energy distributors
	Licensing of electrical installations

Mechanical Installations and Equipment

The Mechanical Installations and Equipment Unit, in the framework of multidisciplinary teams, develops studies and projects in the following areas:

	Water, wastewater, irrigation and drainage pumping stations
	Water and wastewater treatment plants
	Solid waste processing
	Operation and safety of hydraulic works

Analytical Laboratory

The Analytical Laboratory Unit, alone or in association with other laboratories, performs analysis of waters, for a set of parameters, in the following areas:

	Freshwaters and potable waters
	Wastewaters

This Centre also responds to the requests in the areas of water treatability, analysis of soils, sludges, sediments, leachates and solid wastes, and support to treatment systems operation.

Metrology

The Metrology Unit develops activities of monitoring and measuring in the following areas :

	Environmental monitoring
	CCTV inspection systems
	GPS localization systems
	Monitoring of water supply and wastewater collection systems

The definition of this purpose corresponds to a statement of intentions, and thus far our capability comprises: noise level measuring, GPS systems and some support to diagnosis and monitoring of water supply systems.

Water Quality and Treatment

The Water Quality and Treatment Unit develops the following activities:

	Studies on the quality of water resources, potable water and wastewater
	Strategic planning, design, process engineering, implementation and definition of water and wastewater treatment facilities
	Elaboration of candidatures to funds for the implementation of water and wastewater facilities
	Rehabilitation of water and wastewater facilities
	Support to the operation of water and wastewater facilities

Water Resources and Hydraulic Works

The Water Resources and Hydraulic Works Unit develops activities in the following areas:

	Water resources: inventory of surface water resources, in terms of management, validation and analysis of hydrological information and surface hydrological studies planning and management of water resources related to preliminary design of dams and the operation of integrated storage systems economy of water with respect to resource use
	Fluvial hydraulics: analysis of the hydrodynamic and morphologic behaviour of systems and evaluation of flow regimes planning of interventions for control of systems flood control (beds alteration, flood flow lamination, systems of flood warning and alert) torrential correction, control of river bed erosion improvement of the surrounding environment, including definition of limits on use of adjacent zones and of the resulting water areas.
	Hydraulic works: design, rehabilitation, safety and operation of hydraulic works, namely weirs, small hydro-power plants, headrace canals and dams.

Waste Management

The Waste Management Unit develops the following activities:

	Waste management plans: master plans, strategic plans, operational plans
	Waste characterization: definition of characterization methodologies, monitoring of physical performance, treatment and analysis of results
	Studies and projects in the following areas: Non-selective or selective waste collection systems: definition and design of deposition and collection solutions, optimization of circuits, equipment specification public cleansing: definition and design of deposition and collection solutions, optimization of circuits, equipment specification recycling centres and transfer plants separation centres environmental rehabilitation and sealing of dumps sanitary landfills waste use/treatment: material, organic and energetic reuse, treatment and final disposal rehabilitation and re-qualification of facilities of transfer, selection and/or waste treatment
	Environmental education: support to the conception of campaigns
	Training: training of waste system personnel, preparation of support texts
	Elaboration of candidatures to funds for the implementation of waste systems
	Support to operation of waste systems / optimization of the functioning of waste systems: development of special products for management control, technical advice.

Information Systems

The Systems Units, through its own know-how and association with other companies, develops activities based on competences in the area of software, hardware and communication networks, allowing the selection, design, development and maintenance of complete solutions of information systems:

	Software development of support software for the monitoring of systems management and operation development of instruments and support to economical, financial and socio-economical studies development of information systems solutions, allowing personalization according to the client and the product development of services and solutions on Web platforms, in order to offer shared solutions of monitoring, information and environmental management (in an Application Service Provider logic) and of sensibilization of the citizen databases: administration (DBA) and development on different SGBD, including ORACLE, Informix, Interbase and SQLServer Geographical Information Systems (GIS): consultancy and development of solutions on ESRI (ArcInfo, ArcView, ArcIMS), Intergraph (GeomediaPRO, Geomedia and Geomedia WebMap) and MAPInfo (Mapinfo and MapX) platforms, in view of a greater facility of integration with the solutions already existing in the different clients PICCOLO: consultancy, commercialization, development of upstream applications and training on Piccolo, software for automatic calculation and modelling of water distribution networks, under static and dynamic regimes, as well as leak detection; it also includes a quality module, which allows simulation of the propagation and attenuation in the time of the residual chlorine of the network; it proposes several calculation options, namely reservoirs, pumps, sectioning and retention valves, pressure and flow regulators MOUSE: support to Mouse applications, software for modelling and optimization of domestic wastewater and stormwater collection networks, in both steady and unsteady regimes Operating Systems: administration of the operating systems Unix, Linux, Solaris and Windows, having in mind the possibility of supporting, in each situation, the solution that would be the most convenient in face of the operational needs/ constraints
	Hardware: Specification and selection of the equipment necessary to the efficient and productive implementation and exploitation of the information systems solutions to be installed; definition of: hardware characteristics of servers, mass-storage systems (RAIDs), backups, workstations and necessary peripherals.
	Networks and Communications: conception and design of networks (including voice solutions and data on IP, wireless networks, secure connections on VPNs, etc), comprising passive and active components.

In order to achieve these aims, this Centre has programming capacity on several languages, namely Delphi, Visual Basic, Perl, Java, JSP, ASP and NET technology.

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