CBMA and ICT develop smart green routes in Guimarães

The CLEAR PATHS project – Citizen-Led Environmental Accessible Routes – brings together the Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), which coordinates it through Giorgio Pace, and the Institute of Earth Sciences (ICT), through Renato Henriques of the Department of Earth Sciences. Funded by Guimarães European Green Capital 2026, it will turn Guimarães City Park into a living lab to develop an app that recommends personalised green routes in urban areas.

The team also includes Dalila Alves Durães and João Nóbrega, from the UMinho School of Engineering, and Andrea Ribeiro, from ISAVE. The Landscape Laboratory provides the link with the territory and the community.

The work has three phases. First, the team combines environmental and urban data, such as temperature, air quality, noise, vegetation cover, accessibility and slope, using modelling and remote sensing, and consults future users through participatory activities. Next, it develops the app, which uses a Green Comfort Score and provides information on biodiversity, habitats and observable species. Finally, it tests the app with users of different profiles and runs education and science communication activities.

After the City Park, the project may extend to other green areas in Guimarães, such as the Creixomil green corridor and Taipas Park. The team hopes it will serve as a reference for other Portuguese and European cities.