INTERACT Research Fellow present Doctoral Thesis
The researcher Daniela Terêncio presented her PhD Tesis in Agronomic and Forest Sciences carried out within the INTERACT project [“Integrative Research in Environment, Agro-Chains and Technology”].
With the title “Decision Support Systems for Rainwater Harvesting and Reunoff Conrol in Watersheds”, the research work was presented in the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro [UTAD] on January 10th.
“INTERACT was the main impulse of this work” – Terêncio
The research showed the objective of her investigation in a work praised by the jury composed by the Professors Ana Maria Pereira [UTAD], António Pinheiro [Instituto Superior Técnico from University of Lisbon], Rodrigo Mala (Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto), José Aranha [UTAD] and Luís Filipe Fernandes [UTAD]. “This work answers to the concern about the increase of preassures on water resources”, Terêncio said, referring that this growth comes maninly from “external forces like population growth, irregular supply, water waste, aquifer contamination and also climate changes”. All these changes may intensify existing and future “tensions” as well as increase the frequency and intensity of droughts and floods”.
Terêncio’s work has involved testing some “rainwater methodologies” with the aim of “migrating and improving water, agricultural and forestry planning management at “local scale” or even “river basin scale”. In addition, the researcher has developed a “flood mitigation model on retention basis”. This model allows the elimination of “high and ver high flood risk areas rather than trying to ensure full flood control”, the research points, adding that the primary objective is “the mitigation of water-related management problems”.
The INTERACT project has assumed a special role in carrying out the research dissertation. “It was the main impulse of this doctoral work”, Terêncio undelines, particulary because “all the objectives of the work developed within the project were jointly used for the doctoral”.
