Avaliação da Envolvente Urbana de Escolas de 2.º e 3.º Ciclos Desenvolvimento de um Índice de Apoio à Mobilidade Escolar Sustentável

26 de novembro de 2025

School mobility is increasingly recognised as a key component of urban sustainability, influencing the daily lives of children, families, and the wider community. It goes beyond road safety to include environmental, social, and spatial planning dimensions. However, in many areas, the journey to school remains heavily dependent on private cars, contributing to congestion, pollution, and reduced independence for children. The conditions of the built environment around schools significantly shape these travel choices. Elements such as continuous and adequately wide pavements, nearby bus stops, safe pedestrian crossings, and cycling infrastructure all influence accessibility and safety. Having tools that objectively assess these conditions is therefore essential for supporting local decision making and promoting safer, more sustainable travel patterns. This study developed and applied an index for assessing school surroundings, using clear and easily interpretable indicators. The methodology combined geographic information systems with direct field observation to evaluate dimensions such as pedestrian accessibility, public transport provision, road safety, and cycling networks. The index was tested in three contrasting settings: Lisbon (Escola Básica de Telheiras), Odivelas (Escola Básica Vasco Santana), and Macedo de Cavaleiros (Escola Básica e Secundária). The results reveal marked differences between dense urban environments and smaller towns, reflecting distinct spatial structures and levels of infrastructure. The index proved effective in identifying strengths and weaknesses in each case, providing useful evidence to support public policies and guide future investments aimed at improving school mobility in a safer and more sustainable way.

Autores da comunidade :

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  T

  Tomás Miguel Almeida Santos

  ist1105687

Orientadores desta instituição:

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  F

  Filipe Manuel Mercier Vilaça e Moura

  ist14188

civil-engineering - Engenharia Civil

por - Português

Instituto Superior Técnico