Laboratory of Instrumentation and Intelligent Systems in Civil Engineering

LABORATORY OF INSTRUMENTATION AND INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

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The Instrumentation and Intelligent Systems Laboratory develops advanced solutions based on artificial intelligence, data engineering and the Internet of Things (IoT), designed to monitor, analyse and optimise complex systems. Although the laboratory is specialized in applications in civil engineering—including infrastructure, ports, water resources, the environment and urban systems—its work is interdisciplinary and also addresses challenges in other industrial, energy and environmental sectors.

The Instrumentation and Intelligent Systems Laboratory develops advanced solutions based on artificial intelligence, data engineering and the Internet of Things (IoT), designed to monitor, analyse and optimise complex systems. Although the laboratory is specialized in applications in civil engineering—including infrastructure, ports, water resources, the environment and urban systems—its work is interdisciplinary and also addresses challenges in other industrial, energy and environmental sectors.

The laboratory

Research areas

Advanced modelling and artificial intelligence
Design, training and validation of machine learning and deep learning models for prediction, early detection, operational optimisation and decision support.
Common applications: infrastructure management, forecasting of extreme weather events, structural monitoring, environmental analysis, dynamic behaviour of physical systems, and analysis of operational data in critical environments.

Development and deployment of IoT systems
Hardware design and embedded systems, sensor and communications integration, and the deployment of IoT networks in real-world environments.
From prototypes and pilot trials to operational field monitoring networks, including coastal, urban, industrial and natural environments.

Network and communications architecture
Design, configuration and operation of IoT and LPWAN networks (e.g. LoRaWAN), from sensor deployment to data ingestion in advanced analytics systems.
It covers aspects such as coverage, security, reliability, remote maintenance and scalability.d.

Development of scientific software and data platforms
Development of tools for data acquisition, management and analysis, with integrated real-time analysis, advanced visualisation and decision support systems.
It includes web services, APIs, control panels, data pipelines and integration with research ecosystems and institutional infrastructures.

Maintenance of digital infrastructure and analytical services
Management of servers, databases and digital services to ensure reliable and secure access to instrumentation data, models and applications.
We ensure the operational continuity of platforms used in both scientific projects and industrial applications.

Technology transfer and real-world validation
Involvement in collaborative projects with public bodies, technology companies, port authorities and organisations involved in the water, energy and environmental sectors.
The laboratory acts as a bridge between applied research and operational deployment, providing technical expertise, scientific rigour and experience in transferring knowledge to the industrial sector.

Technical equipment

High-performance workstations featuring NVIDIA GPUs to train deep learning models
Network-attached storage (NAS) devices to securely manage large volumes of data
Servers dedicated to running and deploying applications, APIs and web platforms
3D printers are used for quickly prototyping components and supporting hardware and IoT projects
Communications infrastructure and gateways for IoT and LPWAN networks (e.g. LoRaWAN)
Sensor equipment, data acquisition and field testing

Key features

The laboratory offers specialized expertise across the entire development cycle of smart solutions and digital systems:

Artificial Intelligence and Data

Design and training of machine learning and deep learning models
Advanced processing and analysis of sensor data, time series and images
Development of predictive tools and decision support systems

IoT systems and sensor technology

Design and prototyping of IoT devices and embedded electronics
Configuration and deployment of communications networks (including LPWAN/LoRaWAN)
Remote monitoring, calibration and maintenance of systems installed in the field

Software and digital infrastructure

Development of scientific, industrial and web applications
Implementation of servers, APIs and data management systems
Operational dashboards and advanced real-time visualisation

Integration and knowledge transfer

Validation of technologies in real-world environments (laboratory and field)
Collaboration with public bodies, businesses and scientific institutions
Support for applied innovation projects and the transfer of results

This range of capabilities means we can take on end-to-end projects, from the initial technical design through to operational deployment and maintenance, all while integrating hardware, software, data and artificial intelligence.