Cristina Matos Silva | Sustainable Construction | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Maria Cristina de Oliveira Matos Silva, University of Lisbon, Portugal.

Prof. Maria Cristina de Oliveira Matos Silva is an Assistant Professor at IST – University of Lisbon, specializing in Civil and Environmental Engineering. With over 20 years of experience, she focuses on nature-based solutions, sustainable construction, and building energy performance. She has been involved in research projects, authored numerous publications, and supervised both Ph.D. and M.Sc. theses. As a founding board member of the Portuguese Green Roof Association, her passion for green infrastructure drives her work. She is a recognized expert in her field, contributing significantly to the academic and professional engineering communities.

Publication profile

Orcid

Education and Experience

Ph.D. in Civil Engineering – IST, University of Lisbon (2006)
Major degree in Civil Engineering – IST, University of Lisbon and DTU, Denmark (2000)
Qualified Expert in Building Energy Certification – Energy Agency (ADENE), Portugal (2009, 2013, 2021)
Assistant Professor – IST, University of Lisbon (Current)
Civil Engineer – CONSULASIA, Macau (2006-2007)
Civil Engineer – Engineering Consulting (2000-2006)

Suitability For The Award

Prof. Maria Cristina de Oliveira Matos Silva is a highly accomplished researcher and educator in the field of Civil Engineering, with a strong focus on sustainable building practices and nature-based solutions. Her extensive academic and professional experience, coupled with significant contributions to research, positions her as a prime candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

Professional Development ()

Maria Cristina is deeply committed to promoting sustainable construction practices , with a particular focus on nature-based solutions in buildings. She has led various research projects, including GENESIS, which models the environmental, economic, and social benefits of green roofs and walls . Her work emphasizes the importance of green infrastructure , both in terms of energy efficiency and urban regeneration. She also regularly coordinates training sessions, technical seminars, and special issues as a guest editor , showcasing her dedication to continuous knowledge sharing and professional growth.

Research Focus

Maria Cristina’s research mainly revolves around sustainable construction, green infrastructure, and nature-based solutions . Her work contributes to enhancing urban environments through green roofs and green walls, focusing on their economic and environmental benefits . She investigates energy performance, comfort in buildings, and urban regeneration, providing innovative solutions that improve both sustainability and resilience . Her highly cited research on the integration of green technologies in architecture has garnered international recognition , influencing both academic and practical applications in urban development.

Awards and Honors ()

Best Paper Award – The Engineering Economist (2018)
Highly Cited Paper – Web of Science Core Collection (Top 1% in Engineering, 2021)
Founding Member – Portuguese Green Roof Association
Principal Investigator – Multiple National and International Research Projects
Supervision of Ph.D. and M.Sc. Theses – Over 60 theses supervised

Publications

Assessing the impact of evapotranspiration from green roofs on reducing surface temperatures (2024) – Cited by 0
Optimizing Local Materials in Green Roofs Through Citizen Science Activities at a Primary School in Azores (2024) – Cited by 0
Effectiveness of Cool and Green Roofs Inside and Outside Buildings in the Brazilian Context (2024) – Cited by 0
Assessing Ecological Gains: A Review of How Arthropods, Bats and Birds Benefit from Green Roofs and Walls (2024) – Cited by 0
Bridging CBA and MCA for evaluating green infrastructure: Proposal of a new evaluation model (MAGICA) (2023) – Cited by 2
Potential of rainwater harvesting in the retail sector: a case study in Portugal (2023) – Cited by 0
Combining green roofs and rainwater harvesting systems in university buildings under different climate conditions (2023) – Cited by 0
The economic value of green roofs: A case study using different cost–benefit analysis approaches (2023) – Cited by 0