Titulo Estágio
Developing a Digital Twin Architecture for Serra da Estrela Cheese Production
Áreas de especialidade
Sistemas de Informação
Engenharia de Software
Local do Estágio
DEI-FCTUC
Enquadramento
The production of Serra da Estrela cheese, an endogenous product of cultural and economic value, is a key driver of sustainable development in the Serra da Estrela region. This ancestral tradition is deeply linked to the preservation of the environment, respect for animal welfare, and the substance of rural communities, and is directly aligned with several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, such as reducing inequalities (SDG 10), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and living on the land (SDG 15).
Despite its traditional craftsmanship, the production of Serra da Estrela cheese faces modern challenges, such as improving production efficiency, ensuring quality control, and complying with regulatory standards. In this context, this project aims to address these challenges by creating a digital twin of the Serra da Estrela cheese production process, from the acquisition of raw materials (milk) to the sale of the final product. This digital twin concept, a virtual replica of the physical process, has the potential to streamline operations, ensure quality and compliance, and optimize production while preserving the authenticity and quality of the cheese. This approach will enable real-time monitoring and data-driven decision making, transforming the traditional artisanal process into an intelligent and sustainable one.
This thesis will contribute to ongoing research conducted at DEI in cooperation with Estrela UNESCO Global Geopark (https://www.geoparkestrela.pt/), together with the producer associations. The objective is to integrate all the actors involved in the cheese production process, from the shepherds who provide the milk to the traders who sell the final product, into a first version of a digital platform (proof of concept) that allows real-time monitoring of all the stages of the production process.
Objetivo
The main objectives of this work are:
• Acquire knowledge about the traditional process of Serra da Estrela cheese production and the vision of its transformation using digital twins;
• Conduct a literature review on digital transformation in food production, with a focus on the application of digital twins in food production supply chains.
• Design and development of a digital twin platform for the Serra da Estrela cheese production process, providing a proof of concept for the integration of the supply chain from raw material acquisition to point of sale.
• Evaluate the applicability of the proposed solution to support the optimization of cheese production and ensure the quality and authenticity of the product.
The proposed goals are interesting to MEI students aiming to develop digital solutions for sustainable development, with real impact on traditional food production, and changing the role of data in rural settings. Digital twins are emerging in the market, allowing the candidate to understand in more detail its characteristics and design requirements. The student will participate in the information system design and software prototype developments (the communications and IoT infrastructure is out of the scope of the thesis).
Plano de Trabalhos - Semestre 1
The main phases for the first semester are presented as follows:
1) Research the state-of-the-art
Start: September 2023
Duration: 2 months
2) Contacts with the research team at DEI and Estrela Geopark and producer associations to identify the digital twin requirements
Start: October 2023
Duration: 2 months
3) Initial design of the Serra da Estrela cheese production digital twin architecture
Start: November 2023
Duration: 1 month
Results of the 1st semester:
• Literature review
• Requirements and architecture for the application case
• Intermediate report
Plano de Trabalhos - Semestre 2
The main phases for the second semester are presented as follows:
4) Development of the proof of concept
Start: January 2024
Duration: 4 months
5) Writing the thesis and a scientific paper
Start: May 2024
Duration: 2 months
Results of the 2nd semester:
• Final report
• Scientific paper
Condições
The student will be integrated in the Information Systems group (ISG) of CISUC, Department of Informatics Engineering, University of Coimbra. A workplace and the required resources will be provided. This work offers an opportunity to strengthen the skills of IS design and software development. The development tasks will focus exclusively on the software elements of the digital twin (e.g., mobile or web platform; the student will also participate in the selection of technologies for software development).
Orientador
João Barata e José Monteiro
barata@dei.uc.pt 📩