Researchers from Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, are leading the international project “Spatial Tools for Assessing Risks in Sudden Natural Hazards” (STARS), which aims to develop educational modules that incorporate spatial representation and analysis technologies, specifically using geographic information systems (GIS) and BIM models. These modules focus on risk modeling in the context of sudden natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, and landslides), which are critical issues on a global scale.
Alexandre Gonçalves, a researcher at Técnico and the project coordinator, explains that these modules can be taught both in universities and organisations, “such as civil protection, for example”. “The subjects aren’t new, but the technologies are”, he adds.
STARS originated from a challenge presented by Lund University to Técnico, following several partnerships. This time, the Portuguese university has taken the lead. A “Ph.D. student from Ecuador” played a key role in bringing South American universities into the collaboration.
This Erasmus+ project, under the “Capacity Buildings” Action in the field of Higher Education, with a budget of nearly 620,000 euros, will last three years and culminate in the creation of three courses, divided into modules that can be individually or jointly implemented by any of the partners.
The project’s first in-person meeting took place on 7 and 8 May 2026, at Técnico – Alameda Campus. The School hosted sessions aimed at structuring the curriculum and its content, as well as discussions on pedagogical and implementation aspects and the sharing of materials to be produced. Technical aspects related to improving the computing resources of the participating universities’ laboratories were also addressed.
The project team includes: Alexandre Gonçalves, Ana Paula Falcão, Rita Bento, Rodrigo Oliveira, Rui Gomes, and Jonatan Moreno.
The consortium consists of six partners: Lund University (Sweden), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal), Universidad Técnica del Norte (Ecuador), Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (Ecuador), Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia (Colombia), and Universidad Industrial de Santander (Colombia).
