Infrastructure
PPGET’s support infrastructure consists of eight laboratories, supplemented by the administrative facilities of the Polytechnic School and the USP Butantã Campus. These laboratories play a crucial role in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research. They offer practical experience through hands-on classes and provide essential support for the experimental components of master’s dissertations and doctoral theses. Several of these laboratories possess specialised instruments, some of which are rare in Brazil, significantly elevating the quality of the research conducted.
Our teaching and research laboratories have approximately 150 specialised pieces of equipment, including simulators, scanners, presses, high-performance servers, and geospatial processing clusters. This provides a robust material foundation for both the training of highly qualified personnel and the development of highly complex research.
The PPGET houses an infrastructure tailored for multi-user access, spanning from physical testing of materials and structures to computational modelling and transport system simulation. This infrastructure is regularly utilised by students and academic staff, fostering significant inter-institutional collaboration. Many laboratories house unique or rare equipment within the country, enhancing the programme’s capacity for pioneering research and technology transfer. Additionally, all laboratories are connected to institutional networks with internet access, providing access to the CAPES Journal Portal, international databases, and code and model repositories, thereby ensuring a high-quality scientific environment.
RESEARCH LABORATORIES
The Graduate Programme in Transport Engineering includes the following research laboratories:
Coordinator: Prof. Dr Kamilla Vasconcelos Savasini
LTP is one of the most comprehensive paving laboratories in Latin America, distinguished for its capacity for testing binders and mixtures, recycled materials, and performing traffic simulations. Its key strength lies in its integrated approach to pavement performance, encompassing both functional and structural analysis, supported by advanced equipment like the traffic simulator and MTS press. LTP’s robust infrastructure caters to diverse needs, from educational purposes to collaborative projects with public entities in developing paving standards.
LTP is a renowned national research unit in the paving sector, involved in teaching and research, and supporting public policy and decision-making through collaborations with public entities and private companies. Its extensive equipment infrastructure allows for various types of material evaluations in both laboratory and field settings. Current research at LTP spans asphalt binders (conventional, modified, bio-binders), recycled materials (reclaimed asphalt pavement, construction/demolition aggregates, plastics, mining waste), asphalt surfacings (including those for improved tyre/pavement grip to reduce accidents on wet surfaces), pavement markings, functional and structural evaluation, and new technologies to increase durability with a focus on sustainability. Additionally, LTP is actively researching sustainable technologies for increased durability and the environmental performance of transport infrastructure, encompassing materials and the construction/use of pavements.
The laboratory has contracts and agreements with state-owned and private companies, and transport agencies such as the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT). LTP receives technical support for its research activities from Dr Edson de Moura.
The LTP and LIM share a facility with a total area of 1,087 m², which is divided into the following specialised areas:
- Binders Area (40 m²): Features three fixed concrete workbenches, a steel cabinet, and both 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Soils and Aggregates Area (84 m²): Equipped with a fixed concrete workbench, featuring a tank for proof immersion and a sink, and a mobile steel workbench with a granite top. It also includes a water distiller, readily available cold water and drainage points, and 110V and 220V sockets.
- Fine Sieving Area (6 m²): Features a mobile steel workbench with a granite top, a sieve cabinet, an analytical balance (6.2 kg capacity, 0.01 g sensitivity), and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Suction Room (6 m²): Equipped with a mobile steel workbench with a granite top, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Asphalt Mixtures Area (120 m²): Contains two fixed concrete workbenches, two mobile steel workbenches with metal plate tops. It also includes two fume hoods (one for heating asphalt binder and another for mixing asphalt), a pugmill mixer, a 1200°C muffle furnace, a LCPC compacting table, a MTS Universal Press, a triaxial testing chamber, a CBR press, a traffic simulator, two BOD climatic chambers, a freezer, n analytical balance (6.2 kg capacity, 0.01 g sensitivity) and an electronic scale (1200 kg capacity, 5 g sensitivity). It also provides a 99.9% moisture-free compressed air supply and offers 110V, 220V, and three-phase power sockets.
- Materials Reception, Proof Preparation, and Workshop Area (50 m²): Features a proof cutting booth, a Marshall proof moulding booth, an electronic scale with a 1-ton capacity and 1-gram sensitivity, a mechanical lathe, a pillar drill, a sieve splitter, an oven (1.35 x 1.0 x 1.80 m), a hole saw, an automatic electric compactor, and a Micro-Deval machine. It also provides a 99.9% moisture-free compressed air supply and both 220V and three-phase power sockets.
- Gantry (250 m²): Contains a large-scale hydraulic press (380 V – 338 A), a railway ballast permeameter, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Meeting / Videoconferencing Room (30 m²): Furnished with a meeting table, 11 chairs, 14 shelves, 3 cabinets, a 55-inch TV, a Polycom Real Presence Group 310 system, a network port, a 23.6-inch AOC LED monitor, an air conditioning unit, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Technicians’ Office (30 m²): Equipped with 3 desks, 12 cabinets, 5 chairs, 3 computers with monitors, network ports, 2 printers, an air conditioning unit, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Professor’s Office I (17 m²): Contains 2 desks, 3 cabinets, 1 computer with two monitors, 4 chairs, a network port, an air conditioning unit, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Professor’s Office II (12 m²): Contains 1 desk, 2 cabinets, 1 computer, 2 chairs, a network port, an air conditioning unit, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Secretary’s Office (12 m²): Equipped with 5 cabinets, a drawer unit, a coffee machine, a Dell computer with an LG monitor, a network port, an HP LaserJet 1300 printer, an air conditioning unit, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Laboratory Class Support Room (Undergraduate and Postgraduate) (90 m²): Contains 30 student desks, 7 cabinets, 2 tables, a network port, 2 air conditioning units, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Postgraduate and Undergraduate Research Student Room (135 m²): Contains 3 desks, 2 cabinets, an air conditioning unit, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Postgraduate Study Room (125 m²): Equipped with 8 desks, 8 chairs, 2 cabinets, 12 air conditioning units, 15 computers with monitors, 3 network ports, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Proof Cutting/Abrasion and Comminution and Aggregate Bays (40 m²): Features a screw compressor, a chiller cooling system, a Los Angeles abrasion machine, a proof cutting saw, a crusher, and 220V and three-phase power sockets.
- Storage Containers (2) (40 m²): Equipped with shelves and cabinets.
Site: https://ltp.poli.usp.br/staff/
Instagram: @ltpusp
Telephone: +55 (11) 3091-5213 / 6089
Coordinator: Prof. Dr Rosângela dos Santos Motta
LIM possesses a rare infrastructure in Brazil, primarily focussing on the structural testing of permanent railway tracks. It stands out as one of the few laboratories in the country equipped with a ballast permeameter and a large-scale hydraulic press. Its key strength lies in its capacity to replicate actual railway operating conditions, enabling accurate and secure tests within a controlled setting.
LIM, a multidisciplinary laboratory within the Civil Engineering department of the Polytechnic School, is a prominent research infrastructure in Brazil’s railway sector, dedicated to diverse railway engineering research. Established in 2015, its inception followed a joint project with the São Paulo State Secretariat for Economic Development, Science and Technology (SDECT), which facilitated the acquisition of over BRL 5 million in equipment. In recent years, LIM’s research has particularly emphasized the railway permanent tracks. This includes developing equipment and conducting laboratory and field activities, with a focus on railway trackbed layers and structural assessment for maintenance management. Much of this research involves a partnership with Vale, utilising data from case studies on their Carajás Railway (EFC) and Vitória-Minas Railway (EFVM) for integration into PPGET theses and dissertations.
Prof. Dr Liedi Légi Bariani Bernucci, Vice-Coordinator of LIM, is also the coordinator of the UnderRail Chair project. This project unifies initiatives from several Brazilian institutions, including the Polytechnic School of USP, with funding from Vale. These institutions are the Federal University of Uberlândia, Federal University of Bahia, Feevale University, and Vale Institute of Technology. Dr Edson de Moura provides technical support for the laboratory’s research activities.
Telephone: +55 (11) 3091-5172 / 5213
The LTP and LIM share a facility with a total area of 1,087 m², which is divided into the following specialised areas:
- Binders Area (40 m²): Features three fixed concrete workbenches, a steel cabinet, and both 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Soils and Aggregates Area (84 m²): Equipped with a fixed concrete workbench, featuring a tank for proof immersion and a sink, and a mobile steel workbench with a granite top. It also includes a water distiller, readily available cold water and drainage points, and 110V and 220V sockets.
- Fine Sieving Area (6 m²): Features a mobile steel workbench with a granite top, a sieve cabinet, an analytical balance (6.2 kg capacity, 0.01 g sensitivity), and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Suction Room (6 m²): Equipped with a mobile steel workbench with a granite top, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Asphalt Mixtures Area (120 m²): Contains two fixed concrete workbenches, two mobile steel workbenches with metal plate tops. It also includes two fume hoods (one for heating asphalt binder and another for mixing asphalt), a pugmill mixer, a 1200°C muffle furnace, a LCPC compacting table, a MTS Universal Press, a triaxial testing chamber, a CBR press, a traffic simulator, two BOD climatic chambers, a freezer, n analytical balance (6.2 kg capacity, 0.01 g sensitivity) and an electronic scale (1200 kg capacity, 5 g sensitivity). It also provides a 99.9% moisture-free compressed air supply and offers 110V, 220V, and three-phase power sockets.
- Materials Reception, Proof Preparation, and Workshop Area (50 m²): Features a proof cutting booth, a Marshall proof moulding booth, an electronic scale with a 1-ton capacity and 1-gram sensitivity, a mechanical lathe, a pillar drill, a sieve splitter, an oven (1.35 x 1.0 x 1.80 m), a hole saw, an automatic electric compactor, and a Micro-Deval machine. It also provides a 99.9% moisture-free compressed air supply and both 220V and three-phase power sockets.
- Gantry (250 m²): Contains a large-scale hydraulic press (380 V – 338 A), a railway ballast permeameter, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Meeting / Videoconferencing Room (30 m²): Furnished with a meeting table, 11 chairs, 14 shelves, 3 cabinets, a 55-inch TV, a Polycom Real Presence Group 310 system, a network port, a 23.6-inch AOC LED monitor, an air conditioning unit, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Technicians’ Office (30 m²): Equipped with 3 desks, 12 cabinets, 5 chairs, 3 computers with monitors, network ports, 2 printers, an air conditioning unit, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Professor’s Office I (17 m²): Contains 2 desks, 3 cabinets, 1 computer with two monitors, 4 chairs, a network port, an air conditioning unit, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Professor’s Office II (12 m²): Contains 1 desk, 2 cabinets, 1 computer, 2 chairs, a network port, an air conditioning unit, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Secretary’s Office (12 m²): Equipped with 5 cabinets, a drawer unit, a coffee machine, a Dell computer with an LG monitor, a network port, an HP LaserJet 1300 printer, an air conditioning unit, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Laboratory Class Support Room (Undergraduate and Postgraduate) (90 m²): Contains 30 student desks, 7 cabinets, 2 tables, a network port, 2 air conditioning units, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Postgraduate and Undergraduate Research Student Room (135 m²): Contains 3 desks, 2 cabinets, an air conditioning unit, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Postgraduate Study Room (125 m²): Equipped with 8 desks, 8 chairs, 2 cabinets, 12 air conditioning units, 15 computers with monitors, 3 network ports, and 110V and 220V power sockets.
- Proof Cutting/Abrasion and Comminution and Aggregate Bays (40 m²): Features a screw compressor, a chiller cooling system, a Los Angeles abrasion machine, a proof cutting saw, a crusher, and 220V and three-phase power sockets.
- Storage Containers (2) (40 m²): Equipped with shelves and cabinets.
Coordinator: Prof. Dr José Tadeu Balbo
The LMP stands out by integrating numerical modeling with experimental roadway testing. A key feature is the MIRA tomograph with 48 transmitter-receiver antennas, enabling comprehensive non-destructive examinations. Furthermore, it is one of the few laboratories in the country equipped to model and diagnose pavement structures under tropical conditions, thereby promoting advancements in materials engineering.
At LMP, researchers develop full-scale experimental, theoretical, and numerical models to analyse pavement structures and their functional and structural performance. The laboratory is dedicated to the continuous evaluation of climatic effects in tropical environments, by using experimental concrete pavement tracks on the USP campus in São Paulo.
Current research includes characterising experimental fatigue models for high-performance cemented pavements, a project that was funded by CNPq (PQ-1C fellowship, 2020-2024) and by FAPESP-CONICYT Research Project (2020-2022) with the Universidad de La Concepción, Chile. It explored permeable concrete for footpaths, cycle paths, and vehicle parking areas.
Since 2016, an experimental continuously reinforced concrete pavement track has been in use, built in partnership with twelve companies from the civil construction and manufacturing industries. This track incorporates recycled aggregates from concrete and cement, representative of Brazil’s southern and southeastern regions.
A new area of research for the laboratory is the structural analysis of concrete pavements using low-frequency wave tomography. This involves the MIRA tomograph, which is supported by an image analysis software implemented in Matlab by the laboratory’s researchers.
The LMP, spanning 26.61 m², is equipped with Wi-Fi, internet ports, telephone and electricity points, and air conditioning. The furniture includes a triple wooden shelving unit, a double office desk, a two-seater sofa, two computer desks, a side table, a small wooden shelving unit, and five chairs.
Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Claudio Barbieri da Cunha
For over three decades, the LPT has been instrumental in modelling urban and regional transport networks. Its focus lies in leveraging real-world data to analyse accessibility and conduct simulations. The lab’s strength stems from its direct collaboration with public administration and urban planning initiatives, bridging the gap between academic research and practical mobility policy.
Since the 1980s, the LPT laboratory has been a nationally recognised contributor to transport planning and operation through its research and outreach initiatives. It has also been instrumental in training professionals who now hold positions in universities and companies, both in Brazil and abroad. The laboratory’s portfolio includes projects with significant social impact, such as “Development of the Operational Control Centre and Simulation Model for USP Circular Bus System – 2000”; “Demand, Capacity, Accessibility and Environmental Audit Studies for Congonhas, Guarulhos and Viracopos Airports – INFRAERO – 2001 / 2002”, “Master Plan for CEAGESP (São Paulo General Warehouse) – 2003 / 2004”, “Study of the Access to the Port of Santos (2009)” and “Study of the Road System of Alphaville, Tamboré and Region – SP (2013-2014)”.
LPT’s recent research themes focus on the modelling, economic-operational analysis, and computerisation of various transport systems, including regional and urban transport, multimodal terminals, and logistics. Specific examples of their work involve the mathematical modelling of airline network recovery from both operator and passenger perspectives, user behaviour modelling for urban and interurban travel using stated preference surveys and discrete choice models, and the application of large-scale databases for modelling urban network performance.
The laboratory boasts a large physical area and substantial computational resources, with funding from agencies such as CNPq, FAPESP, and CAPES. In addition to its coordinator, participating academic staff include Prof. Dr Orlando Strambi (Senior) and, more recently, Prof. Dr Mateus Humberto. The LPT also benefits from the IT technical support provided by Engineer Renato Alvarenga.
The LPT spans a total area of 177.73 m², divided as follows:
- Meeting Room (22.98 m²): equipped with a 12-seater meeting table, an air conditioning unit, eight 110V power sockets, and a telephone.
- Professor’s Office I (11.96 m²): contains an office desk, a chair, three steel cabinets, six 110V power sockets, and a telephone.
- Professor’s Office II (17.94 m²): contains a corner office desk, a chair, a drawer unit, three steel cabinets, two steel filing cabinets, an air conditioning unit, six 110V power sockets, and two telephones.
- Circulation Area / Kitchen (27.86 m²): contains two office desks, a chair, a refrigerator, a sink, a steel cabinet, a cold water point, a drainage point, eight 110V power sockets, and one 220V power socket.
- Professor’s Office III (19.66 m²): equipped with three office desks, a chair, a wooden cabinet, an air conditioning unit, six 110V power sockets, and two telephones.
- Visiting Researcher’s Office:(11.59 m²): equipped with an office desk, five chairs, two steel cabinets, six 110V power sockets, and a telephone.
- Technician’s Office (18.81 m²): contains two office desks, a chair, a steel cabinet, an air conditioning unit, eight 110V power sockets, and three telephones.
- Postgraduate Student Office I (29.11 m²): contains six office desks, six chairs, one steel cabinet, two wooden cabinets, an air conditioning unit, eighteen 110V power sockets, and three telephones.
- Postgraduate Student Office II (17.82 m²): contains five office desks, five chairs, one steel cabinet, an air conditioning unit, 20 110V power sockets, and five telephones.
Coordinator: Prof. Dr Claudio Barbieri da Cunha
With a modern computing infrastructure and access to high-performance servers, LMAT facilitates the development of algorithms applied to urban logistics, sustainability, and e-commerce. A key strength of LMAT is its ability to offer practical computational solutions for real-world challenges, often in collaboration with businesses.
The Laboratory of Modelling and Algorithms in Transport and Logistics focusses on advancing scientific and technological knowledge in Logistics and Transport through mathematical modelling and the development of algorithms and computational tools. Key activities include conducting cutting-edge research, postgraduate personnel training and development, and technology transfer. The laboratory also aims to foster connections with leading global reference centers and engage in advanced studies and other pertinent activities within Logistics Systems Engineering. This encompasses areas such as Sustainable Logistics in the Energy Transition for Logistics, Urban Freight Distribution, and E-commerce Logistics in Urban Areas.
LMAT has a total area of 69.6 m², divided into four main spaces:
Professor’s Office (12.3 m²): features a delta-shaped executive desk (2.0m × 1.5m) with remote meeting structure, three swivel armchairs, four low cabinets (0.80m × 0.50m × 0.74m), and a mobile four-drawer cabinet (0.40m wide). The area is enclosed by floor-to-ceiling partitions with a glass upper section and is equipped with an air conditioning unit (8,000 BTU), a desktop computer with two monitors, three 110V sockets, one data/telephone point, a network port with Wi-Fi access.
Meeting Room (16.5 m²): contains a meeting table (2.50m × 1.10m) with ten swivel armchairs, three tall executive cabinets with three shelves each (0.80m × 0.50m × 2.10m), three low cabinets (0.80m × 0.50m × 0.74m), and a whiteboard. The area is enclosed by floor-to-ceiling glass partitions with a glass upper section. It is equipped with an air conditioning unit (8,000 BTU), a 50-inch TV, six 110V sockets, and a network port with Wi-Fi access.
Postgraduate, Undergraduate Research, and Postdoctoral Student Office (30 m²): furnished with eight delta-shaped desks (1.40m × 1.40m), eight executive swivel armchairs, eight mobile three-drawer cabinets (0.30m wide), and five low junction-style cabinets with one shelf each (0.80m × 0.50m × 0.74m). It is equipped with an air conditioning unit (15,000 BTU), eight desktop computers with monitors, three laser printers, twenty 110V sockets, eleven fibre optic network ports with Wi-Fi access, and one data/telephone point.
Administrative Assistant’s Office and Reception (10.8 m²): equipped with a desktop computer and monitor, a printer, a refrigerator, three low cabinets (0.80m × 0.50m × 0.74m), five sockets, two fibre optic network ports with Wi-Fi access, and one data/telephone point.
Telephone: +55 (11) 3091-6092
Coordinator: Prof. Dr Diego Bogado Tomasiello
LabGeo is equipped with a spatial processing cluster and data science tools applied to transport and urban planning. It excels in managing large volumes of georeferenced data, critical for research on accessibility, urban segregation, and territorial indicators. LabGeo is also a member of international networks, including MIT and UCL.
LabGeo conducts research focussed on geoprocessing applications in civil and environmental engineering. This includes spatial analyses, digital processing of satellite imagery, and the mining of extensive spatial datasets (spatial data science).
Current projects delve into transport-related social exclusion,spatial analyses of urban mobility and accessibility, road safety, and logistics. LabGeo’s collaborations include projects with the World Bank, characterising urban mobility for Paraisópolis residents in São Paulo (São Paulo’s second largest slum); with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), developing urban logistics indicators from truck tracking big data; and with the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis at University College London (CASA/UCL), an international reference centre in geospatial analysis, assessing accessibility and socio-spatial segregation in London and São Paulo in partnership with INPE, UFABC, and CEM (CEPID/FAPESP/USP).
Additionally, the Laboratory provides technical support and collaborates on local development initiatives like GEOSAMPA (São Paulo City Council’s spatial data portal), and data-sharing initiatives such as RADARTONA, also promoted by the city council in partnership with Mobilab. LabGeo’s research activities are further supported by the IT assistance of Mr. Leonardo Alves Godoy.
LabGeo spans an area of 122.20 m² and offers Wi-Fi and internet connectivity. It is equipped with 5 workstations, totaling 14 monitors, and a spatial data processing cluster composed of 5 microcomputers. The laboratory also features air conditioning, a telephone, a printer, an alarm system, and a coffee machine. An order for two additional workstations has been submitted.
The furniture inventory comprises 2 large desks, 2 U-shaped desks (designed for two occupants, with modular configurations), 7 large rectangular desks, 1 meeting table with a capacity for 10 individuals, and 10 swivel chairs with adjustable height, high backs, and armrests. It also has 2 wall-mounted cupboards, 2 large cupboards, 4 medium-sized cupboards, 4 small floor-standing cupboards, 2 small wall-mounted cupboards, 7 drawer units, and 1 whiteboard.
Website: http://labgeo.poli.usp.br/
Telephones: +55 (11) 3091-5504 | (11) 3091-5173
Coordinator: Prof. Dr Edvaldo Simões da Fonseca Junior
With over 20 total stations and high-precision GNSS systems, the LTG conducts research in applied geodesy, structural monitoring, and positioning. It also stands out for its use of terrestrial laser scanners and studies on GHG emissions, supported by agencies like FAPESP. It is an integral part of the Brazilian Continuous Monitoring Network of the GNSS System (RMBC), managed by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).
LTG is the oldest laboratory in the Department of Transport Engineering. It specialises in spatial information research, including:
- a) calibration and classification of topographic and geodetic equipment;
- b) application of GPS/GNSS technology for positioning and displacement control in large engineering structures, maintaining a continuous monitoring station at the USP campus in São Paulo and two additional stations at the Oceanographic Institute’s bases in Cananéia and Ubatuba, all part of the RBMC;
- c) monitoring civil structures using precision geodesy and topography tools such as GPS/GNSS, electronic levels, electronic distancemeters, and laser scanners;
- d) application of gravimetry for calculating and determining geoidal heights and the geoidal model;
- e) the study, evaluation, and establishment of global altimetric reference frames;
- f) the utilisation of Digital Cartography and Digital Terrain Models to support engineering projects; and
- g) the estimation of GHG emissions from vehicle tracking, utilizing GPS/GNSS and multiple inertial sensors, a research effort supported by a FAPESP project valued at approximately R$ 2 million.
The LTG’s research efforts are further supported by IT technician Mr Adalberto Moreira Mariano and laboratory technician Mr Arildo Fernandes de Morais.
The LTG occupies an area of approximately 116m², equipped with 1 computer with integrated monitor, 1 personal computer, 4 notebooks, 14 network points, 12 220V sockets, 26 110V sockets, 1 telephone point, a network cabinet and TP link, and 1 network with two cold water points. It also has 8 steel cupboards, 4 air conditioning units, 7 plain wooden tables, 1 wooden meeting table, 1 steel workbench, 5 wooden cupboards, and 12 chairs.
In addition to the infrastructure already described, the LTG currently possesses over 20 Total Stations, 20 optical levels, 3 robotic Total Stations used for monitoring, 1 Terrestrial Laser System, and a state-of-the-art Trimble GNSS system.
Coordinator: Prof. Dr Mariana Abrantes Giannotti
The LTIT was established through USP Polytechnic School’s Department of Transport Engineering in partnership with the private companies Planservi, VETEC, Autodesk, and São Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP). It aims to provide undergraduate and postgraduate students with computerised resources for training and education in transport-related technologies.
The laboratory benefits from key partnerships that supply essential software. A partnership with Trimble, led by Prof. Dr Edvaldo Simões da Fonseca Junior, provides software such as Trimble RealWorks for processing laser data, and TBC Trimble Business Centre, which handles the loading and pre-processing of data from Total Stations, GNSS, laser, and drones. Additionally, Prof. Dr Claudio Luiz Marte initiated a partnership with PTV, the provider of Vissim/Viswalk, Visum, and Vistro software packages, for macro and micro-simulations of the flow of vehicles and pedestrians. Prof. Dr Cassiano Isler also secured a partnership to equip the laboratory with Inro’s Emme software.
The laboratory is a hub for didactic innovations and active methodologies in engineering education, integrating computational teaching with practical application. It fosters integration between academic disciplines, stimulating a shift towards project and problem-based engineering education, offering students a more integrated vision. This allows projects to begin in one discipline and continue in others, effectively transforming teaching towards active methodologies as indicated by leading international educational centers.
Cultivating student proactivity and participation in the teaching and learning process is essential, particularly for today’s internet-savvy generations. During the 2021-2024 four-year period, we successfully updated and expanded our computer resources, achieving a one-computer-per-student ratio. This significant improvement addresses a key demand, aligning with our goal of developing engineers who are equipped to create, innovate, and unleash their entrepreneurial potential, which is vital for the nation.
Our computer room now features 41 new computers in active use, complemented by three additional units for backup. Among these, 20 computers are powered by 12th generation Intel i7 processors with 16 GB of RAM, and 24 are equipped with Intel Xeon W-1250 processors running at 3.3 GHz, also with 16 GB of RAM.
Providing a dedicated machine for each student significantly enhances the teaching and learning dynamic.