LIP at the “Terra em Foco 2026” conference
"Projects in Earth observation highlight the role of advanced computing in large-scale data analysis and territorial management."
LIP took part in the national conference “Terra em Foco 2026”, dedicated to Earth observation, with the presentation of three projects developed in collaboration with the Portuguese Directorate-General for Territory (DGT).
The event brought together researchers, public institutions and specialists in geospatial data, fostering knowledge exchange and the development of solutions for monitoring and managing territory.
LIP’s participation focused on three projects that demonstrate how advanced computing supports the production and analysis of large-scale geospatial data:
Very High Resolution Land Use Map of Mainland Portugal
This project aims to produce highly detailed land use maps across Portugal. Such data are essential for decision-making in areas like urban planning, environmental monitoring and land management. LIP contributed to the processing and analysis of large datasets. The work was presented by DGT.
Adaptation of SMOS routines to high-performance computing platforms
Presented by Gonçalo Barradas (LIP), this work focused on adapting algorithms developed in the scope of SMOS (Land Occupation Monitoring System) to high-performance computing environments. The goal is to improve processing speed and efficiency when handling large datasets.
LiDAR coverage of mainland Portugal
Presented by Jorge Gomes (LIP) together with Paulo Patrício (DGT), this work explores the use of LiDAR data - a technology that provides highly detailed 3D information about the territory. These datasets are key for applications such as cartography, environmental monitoring and risk assessment, requiring advanced computing capabilities.
LIP’s participation involved several members of the computing team, including Gonçalo Barradas, Pedro Pinheiro, Jorge Gomes, Henrique Carvalho, João Pina and Zacarias Benta, in collaboration with CNCA - National Center for Advanced Computing, as well as the researcher Inês Ochoa.
The contribution of LIP focused on the development and optimisation of data processing methods and the use of high-performance computing infrastructures, which are essential for handling large-scale geospatial data.
LIP’s presence at “Terra em Foco” reflects its growing role in applying advanced computing technologies to real-world challenges, particularly in the field of Earth observation.
The collaboration with DGT highlights how research-driven expertise can be translated into practical applications with societal impact, contributing to a better understanding and management of territory.