efca young professional of the year 2013 - efcanet.org files/yp/competition projects... · mateus,...

Mateus, Gonçalo

EFCA

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

2013

Candidate’s Name Gonçalo Rocheta Mateus

Nationality Portuguese

Age as at 31/03/13 31

Company COBA - Consultores de Engenharia e Ambiente, S.A.

(Engineering and Environmental Consultants)

Location Lisbon, Portugal

Contact details of the Candidate

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (+351) 21 012 50 00

Mateus, Gonçalo

Instructions for completing this form

Note to Candidates

Each section and sub-section may be expanded as required. The completed entry form

should be no longer than 16 pages in total. Section A is to be completed by your employer,

and Section C by the client.

All entries should be submitted in English. Any annexes in other languages should be

accompanied by an English translation, or will not be taken into account.

The form should be returned to your national association. They will forward it to the EFCA

Secretariat.

You will be informed of the results of the competition in early June.

Good luck!

Note to Employers

EFCA will produce press releases to announce the competition results, and will publish a

booklet containing a summary of the winning entries. The booklet will be used to promote

the competition and to showcase best practice in the sector. For this reason, you are

requested to sign below to confirm that material contained in this form may be used for this

specific purpose. If you have any restrictions, please indicate underneath your signature.

I confirm that the material contained in this form may be used by EFCA for communication

and promotional purposes:

Name: Mª Cristina Costa

Function: Head of the Special Structures Division at COBA

Mateus, Gonçalo Page 1

Section A. EMPLOYER’S RECOMMENDATION

As the Head of the Special Structures Division at COBA, I have been working with Gonçalo

Mateus since he joined the firm in 2008. Gonçalo is a structural design engineer, strongly

skilled in his field of expertise, and, despite his young age, he has diversified experience in

several civil engineering structures, built during his intense professional activity since he

graduated in 2004. He has strong communication and management skills with customers

and with the company's internal teams and has shown to have great potential to become a

leader.

When he joined the company, he started his activity in the Division performing analysis

through advanced FEM software, designing and optimizing concrete and steel structures and

also coordinating the production of drawings with a team of few draftsmen, under the

supervision of a senior engineer. Since then, he has showned to be a valuable asset of our

team, with capacity and will to work with increasing responsibilities and autonomy.

After a short period of time, he was involved in interdisciplinary teams, as the responsible for

the structural design of important hydroelectric projects, where he rapidly fit into the teams

where he was placed, showing initiative and autonomy, but always communicating with his

supervisors. As an example of this behavior, I refer to his activity as the responsible for the

structural design of the tender design of the new Hydropower Plant of the Salamonde HPS.

He has shown to be confident and trustworthy when dealing with important tasks, thus, we at

COBA often delegate him complex, diverse and unusual problems that he always faces with

confidence and optimism, being able to find and convey important information to his bosses,

and identifying situations that require the assistance of an expert.

Presently, Gonçalo is the Deputy Project Manager of the final design of Ribeiradio-Ermida

HPS. He is also responsible for the structural design of the final design of the main structures

of this hydroelectric development and for the coordination with the equipment’s’ design,

made by the supplier’s consortium. In this task, Gonçalo has proved to have the ability to

deal with large amounts of information, mainly from fields other than his own, and a large

number of interlocutors, and has been carrying out this task very successfully.

As structural engineer in the Ribeiradio-Ermida design, he is working with a small team of

structural engineers and draftsmen, which he coordinates and supervises, being also

co-responsible for the internal control and check of the structural design and for managing

the team assigned to the project.

Furthermore, he is a very pleasant person to work with, his polite and soft mood is always

helpful when dealing with the client and other project team members, having the ability to get

their commitment and good will for the project benefit.

Based on his contribution to the management and design of the Ribeiradio-Emida HPS, I

would like to nominate Gonçalo for the award of EFCA Young Professional of the Year 2013.

Name: Mª Cristina Costa

Job title: Head of the Special Structures Division

Managerial relationship to candidate: Direct Supervisor


Gonçalo Mateus is a structural engineer, graduated in 2004 with high classifications from one

of the most renowned schools of Engineering, Science and Technology in Portugal, Instituto

Superior Técnico.

He joined the Special Structures Division of the Structures Department of COBA in January

2008, and he has been developing his professional career since then. He has shown to have

high capabilities, to be dedicated, hardworking and keen to learn.

His strong academic background and enthusiasm for learning allowed him to rapidly acquire

strong knowledge in hydroelectric developments thus becoming one of the key engineers

involved in the large hydropower projects under way at COBA. In spite of his short career, he

is already taking on roles of responsibility in the projects he is involved.

Gonçalo is very passionate about his work and is always trying to be up to date with the use

of new software, technology and constructive methodologies in the industry. He is a real

team player, always passing on his knowledge and experience to his colleagues. For this

reason, recently he was part of the pilot team in charge of the implementation of BIM

technology for large infrastructures in the company.

In short, the progress of Gonçalo Mateus throughout his professional career with COBA has

been highly satisfactory and we have high expectations and anticipate for him a very

promising career. This is why we would like to nominate him for the title EFCA Young

Professional of the Year 2013.

Name: Alexandre Portugal

Job title: Member of the Executive Board of Directors

Managerial relationship to candidate: Executive Director in charge of the Structures

Department


Section B. THE PROJECT

B.1 Project Description

Overview of the project

The Ribeiradio-Ermida multipurpose hydro scheme is the first significant project on the

Vouga River basin, in central Portugal. The main objectives of the project, currently under

construction, are water supply and irrigation, power production and flood control.

The Ribeiradio-Ermida scheme dominates a 900 km² watershed, with a 25 m³/s average

flow.

Ribeiradio, the upstream part of the project, includes an 83 m high concrete gravity dam

creating a 136 hm³ reservoir. An independent intake, connected with a 5,5 m diameter

concrete lined tunnel, feeds a peaking hydropower station, housed in a cylindrical shaft and

equipped with a single 74 MW unit (125 m³/s nominal flow). Average annual power

production will be about 115 GWh. The dam includes a gated spillway with a 2750 m³/s

design capacity and a 125 m³/s bottom outlet.

Preview of the upstream view of Ribeiradio dam


Ribeiradio hydro scheme

The Ermida dam is located 5 km

downstream from Ribeiradio. It is a concrete

gravity dam, with a maximum height of 35 m

and a central uncontrolled spillway. The

main objective of this dam is the creation of

a re-regulating reservoir, to avoid the

downstream propagation of sudden flow

variations resulting from the powering up and

shutting down of the Ribeiradio powerplant.

The Ermida scheme also includes a small

power plant equipped with 2x4 MW units.

Ermida hydro scheme

The Vouga River flows through a narrow valley with steep side slopes. However, the rough

topography does not translate into favorable geotechnical conditions. The geology of the site

is the result of a complex history, in which granitic material intruded into the original schist

and quartzitic formations; this has resulted in much variability in composition and weathering

conditions and, generally, in less than optimal geotechnical characteristics at both dam sites.

Along with a difficult geology, the narrow valley presents difficulties in terms of river diversion

and spillway flow restitution and energy dissipation, particularly at the Ribeiradio dam. The

initial solution that contemplated a ski jump restitution to the river, developed in the tender

design, has been abandoned due to unfavorable geology and the severe risk of erosion of

the river bed and of valley side instability. A slotted roller bucket solution, while outside


normal practice, was tested in a physical model; the results were quite favorable, leading to

the adoption of this solution.

Ribeiradio construction site

Ermida construction site

The project also includes other significant works like restoring communications and

environmental issues. The total length of the roads to construct or restore is about 9.3 km's,


which includes the construction of three new bridges with maximum spans and length of 34m

and 130 m, respectively.

Pressure tunnel of Ribeiradio HPS (Gonçalo is on the right)

COBA's intervention, Relationship with the Client and Project Timeframe

The project Owner, and also COBA's client, is EDP - Gestão da Produção de Energia, S.A.,

which is a company in the energy sector, with a consolidated position in the Iberian

Peninsula, both in terms of production, distribution and sale of electricity and also gas.

The ongoing National Plan of High Hydroelectric Potential Dams (PNBEPH), developed by

COBA/PROCESL in 2007, foresaw the construction of 10 new hydropower schemes.

Furthermore, 2 new hydropower schemes and 5 power reinforcements to existing dams, in a

total of 17 new Hydro Power Plants (HPP), are being built in addition to the above mentioned

program. The Ribeiradio-Ermida scheme is one of the complementary projects of this plan.

COBA has been providing consulting services to EDP since 2007 and is involved in a total of

7 of those projects. Regarding the Ribeiradio-Ermida Project, COBA is responsible for the

development of all the stages of the hydro scheme: Feasibility Study; Licensing Design;

Tender Design; and Final Design of civil engineering structures and technical assistance for

approval of equipment’s' design.

Construction began in October 2010, the first filling of the reservoir is planned for August

2014 and the powerhouse is planned to be fully operational in January 2015.

Specific Challenges

With the beginning of the construction works, the geologic materials exposed during the

excavations revealed weaker characteristics of the bedrock than those estimated during the

field investigation undertaken in the previous stages of the project.


The depth and severity of weathering in the right bank revealed to be more unfavorable. Also

some faults identified in the geologic survey, with the exposure during excavations, revealed

to be thicker and with a more unfavorable orientation, namely a major fault in the right bank.

The existence of another important fault in the river bed, already identified in the geologic

survey, is also noteworthy.

Ribeiradio Dam: Excavation and foundation surfaces with the two major faults

These difficult geologic conditions led to several changes of the Tender Design, mainly:

- The redefinition of the foundation and excavation surfaces, in a continuous process

throughout the excavations, while the geological and geotechnical survey of the

excavated surfaces were performed;

- The change in strategy for the river diversion, that initially was planned in to the right

bank, but due to the delay in the excavation works had to be changed to a block on

the river bed, in the left bank;

- The definition of new galleries in the bedrock for drainage and grouting, that had an

impact on the layout of the remaining galleries inside the dam;

- The change of the initial solution for the energy dissipator type of the spillway, with a

ski-jump in the tender design, for a slotted roller bucket in the final design, that had

some impact on the height of the overflow section of the dam.


Upstream view of the Ribeiradio dam with the diversion in construction

Between the licensing design and the final design of the project, a new fire safety code was

published. This led to several conceptual changes in the design of the powerhouses, that

traditionally are dealt with in previous stages of the design. Additionally, some changes in the

accessibility and escape conditions from the inside of the dams were required by the owner’s

team, which led to the placement of an elevator and a vertical stairwell inside Ribeiradio

dam.

These changes to the design were made under the pressure of the construction works in

progress and always aiming to maintain the demanding end dates of the contract

unchanged.

Top view of the excavation works at Ribeiradio HPP shaft

B.2 Innovative Characteristics of the Project

As already mentioned above, the flood discharge energy dissipator with a slotted roller

bucket can be considered as an innovative characteristic of the project. The design of the


roller bucket was supported by a physical model developed at LNEC (Portuguese National

Laboratory for Civil Engineering). This type of energy dissipator is usually adopted to heights

of less than 50 to 55 m, but the good results attained for the river bed erosion showed this

was a suitable solution for a considerably larger height.

Physical model of the roller bucket

To estimate the hydraulic forces acting on the dissipator and aiming to support the structural

dimensioning of the roller bucket, some pressure measurements were performed in the top

and lateral faces of the slots in the model.

Another innovative characteristic of the design was the fulfilling of the new fire safety

legislation, that implied some new conceptual considerations, namely the introduction of fire

safety chambers and the partitioning of the different floors of the powerhouse in order to

reduce the fire load and the design volume for the smoke extraction.

B.3 The YP’s role in, and specific contribution to, the project

As a young professional, Gonçalo Mateus participated in the three stages of the Ribeiradio-

Ermida project: Licensing Design, Tender Design and Final Design.

In the final design, which is still under way, Gonçalo is the deputy project manager.

He is responsible for the coordination of the draftsmen team assigned to the project and for

the coordination of the internal multidisciplinary team of engineers involved in the final

design: hydraulics, geotechnical, civil, environmental, mechanical and electrotechnical.

Regarding his work as a structural engineer, Gonçalo is responsible for the structural

detailing of the dam, including the river diversion, the intake structure, the pressure tunnel

and the tailrace tunnel of the Ribeiradio development. Concerning the downstream

development, Ermida, Gonçalo is responsible for the structural detailing of the dam and the

river diversion. For both powerhouses, he is responsible for the coordination of the team of

structural engineers and also for the internal control and check of the structural design.


FEM models performed for the structural analysis of the dams: On the left, the Ribeiradio Dam with the right

bank fault, on the right, the results of the thermal analysis performed for Ermida Dam

Regarding the technical assistance to the construction works, Gonçalo is always in contact

with the Owner and Construction Supervision team, to clarify all doubts, so as to adapt the

design to the progress of the construction works. Along with the project manager, he is in

charge of allocating tasks between the team members and external specialists, ensuring that

deadlines and costs are complied with.

FEM models performed for the powerhouse shaft, on the left, and for the outlet structure, on the right

He is also in charge of the coordination and the interface between the equipment’s design,

made by the supplier’s consortium, and the civil detailed design, evaluating the interference

that equipments may have in the structural design and ensuring that all the team members

receive the necessary input from the equipment to comply with the construction planning.


B.4 Communication with the client/end-user

Regular meetings are held with the client, the construction supervisor, the suppliers'

consortium and, occasionally, with the contractor, in which technical issues are discussed. In

these meetings Gonçalo takes an active part defending the design presented to the client

while always maintaining a cooperative attitude towards changes in demands and conditions

required by the client.

One example of this swift and flexible manner of dealing with changes, even when the

project is at a later stage, was the use of precast beams in the coverage of both power

plants, not initially considered in the design and asked for by the contractor to reduce the

construction period. Gonçalo handled it in a natural and positive way, adjusting the structural

design to these new requirements.

Gonçalo has proven to listen to our client’s concerns and, with an open mind attitude, he

makes the necessary adjustments to the design in order to integrate the constraints of all the

participants in the project. By doing so, he has built a good relationship with EDP, the leader

of the renewable energies in Portugal and with a significant international positioning, with the

intention to secure future works in this domain.

B.5 Describe the project end results and the benefits to the client/end-user

From a technical perspective, we, at COBA, consider that we are providing to our client a

good technical design, complying with very demanding delivery dates, adapting the design to

the permanent changes in the contractor's work schedule, making it possible to fulfill the

contract deadline.

Also, in a broader perspective, the engineering services provided to our client allowed to

implement such an extended program of new hydroelectric schemes in a very demanding

timeframe. The complementarity between the in-house capabilities of EDP and outsourcing

engineering activities at COBA has proven to be a successful and a solid partnership that

allowed for an important number of projects to be accomplished in the period 2007-2013,

most of which are currently under construction.

The projects in which COBA is involved represent an increase of 1300 MW hydroelectric

power that contributes with 35% to achieve the main objective of the Renewable Energy

Portuguese Plan, which translates for the national plan, the European Union 20-20-20

energy climate policy that establishes for 2020 the following objectives for global warming

mitigation:

- 20% of energy consumption to come from renewable resources:

- a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 20% below 1990 levels;

- 20% reduction in primary energy use compared with projected levels, to be achieved

by improving energy efficiency.

In this way, we consider that the Ribeiradio-Ermida HPS project, and our work at COBA,

contributes towards a more sustainable future.


Section C. CLIENT’S APPRECIATION OF THE CANDIDATE

My name is Gilberto da Silva Monteiro and I am the Coordinator of the Final Design of the

Ribeiradio-Ermida HPS on behalf of EDP - Gestão da Produção de Energia, S.A.

Within the scope of final design activities, I am the responsible for the coordination between

EDP and COBA, as well as for the coordination of the project supervision, ensuring that

EDP’s technical standards’ and projects organization are met.

I have been working with Gonçalo Mateus since the beginning of the final design stage of the

project, since January 2010. During this time, I had the opportunity to work with him in

frequent meetings held between the Designer\Owner and also with the Construction

Supervision, the Equipment Supplier’s Consortium and sometimes with the Contractor.

As the Owner’s Supervisor, I must say that I am very satisfied with his contribution to the

project. Gonçalo understands the customer needs and, up to date, he has been keeping

pace with very demanding time schedules, while always striving to reach good technical and

economical solutions for the project.

He is able to effectively communicate, in a clear way, with the vast and multidisciplinary

technical team assigned to the project, avoiding misinterpretations that, at least, consume

time and may cause delays. I recognize his professional and technical approach, positive

attitude and passion for the project.

Name and signature: Gilberto da Silva Monteiro

Job title: Coordinator and Supervisor for the Final Design of the Ribeiradio-Ermida Project

Company: EDP - Gestão da Produção de Energia, S.A.


Section D. CV OF THE CANDIDATE

Curriculum Vitae

Personal information

First name(s) / Surname(s) GONÇALO Rocheta MATEUS

Business Address Av. 5 de Outubro, 323, 1649-011 Lisboa, Portugal

Telephone(s) (+351) 21 012 50 00 Mobile: (+351) 918513237

E-mail [email protected]

Nationality Portuguese

Date of birth 26/05/1981

Work experience

Dates 2008/...

Occupation or position held Structural Engineer with the Special Structures Division of the Structures Department

Main activities and responsibilities Structural and geotechnical design of hydropower projects, bridges and tunnels.

From his experience, emphasis is placed on the following projects:

- 2010/... Ribeiradio – Ermida Hydropower Scheme (Portugal). Final Design. Ribeiradio dam with a height of 83 m and Ermida gravity dam with 35 m, two power stations with capacities 72 MW and 2x4 MW. Deputy Project Manager. Co-responsible for the coordination of the multidisciplinary team of engineers assigned to the project, for the structural design of the dams and also for the technical assistance to the construction works, in close communication with the Owner and Construction Supervision team.

- 2011/12 Jamba-Ia-Mina Multipurpose Project (Angola). Feasibility Study and Tender Design.

Concrete (RCC gravity) and earthfill dam with a 23,5 m height and 937 m crest length; spillway (7000 m3/s); reservoir with a total capacity of 500 hm3; cavern power plant with a capacity of 205 MW for a flow of 300 m3/s; water conveyance system with three lined tunnels (3 x DN 5,00 m, with a length of 200 m) and tailrace tunnel (inner diameter of 10,00 m and length of 6700 m). Participation in the Geotechnical and Structural Studies.

- 2009/12 Salamonde II Hydropower Undertaking. Salamonde II Power Plant and Water

Conveyance System (Portugal). Licensing Design, Tender Design, Final Design and Technical Assistance. The Salamonde II Hydroelectric Undertaking includes a cavern power plant with 66 x 24 m2 and a height of 45 m, equipped with a 210 MW, underground water conveyance canal (intake in the Salamonde Reservoir, pipeline and restitution tunnel with 2000 m and Ø 11,8 m). The water intake was built resorting to a arch concrete cofferdam with a height of 26,5 m and length of about 100 m. Responsible for the Structural Design of the licensing and tender design of all the undertaking and for the final design of the arch cofferdam.

- 2010/11 Foz Tua Hydropower Undertaking. Power Plant and Water Conveyance System

(Portugal). Licensing Design and Tender Design. Power plant equipped with 2 reversible groups with a rated capacity of 262 MW and nominal flow of 310 m3/s and net head of 93,6 m; underground water conveyance system with 1470 m and maximum discharge capacity of 2 x Ø 7.5 m). Responsible for the Structural Design.

- 2009/12 Jamba-Ia-Oma Multipurpose Undertaking (Angola). Feasibility Study and Tender Design.

Concrete (buttress and gravity) and earthfill dam with a 46 m height and 490 m crest length; surface power plant equipped with 3 units with a capacity of 25 MW each (75 MW) for a flow of 75 m3/s. Participation in the Geotechnical and Structural designs.

mailto:[email protected]


- 2008/09 Ribeiradio – Ermida Hydropower Undertaking (Portugal). Licensing Design and Tender

Design. Ribeiradio dam with a height of 83 m and Ermida gravity dam with 35 m, two power stations with capacities 72 MW and 2x4 MW. Participation in the structural design.

- 2009 Gove Dam. Dam Rehabilitation and Construction of the Hydropower Plant and

respective Substation (Angola). Final Design and Technical Assistance. Dam: homogeneous embankment cross-section and rockfill toe, maximum height of 58 m and crest length of 1112 m; Power plant: installed capacity of 60 MW; 220 kV outdoor substation. Member of the team in charge of the Final Design of the Structures and Foundations of the Gove Power Plant and respective Substation, including the designs of the penstock, tailrace, heightening of the dam crest, water intake and other structural components

- 2009 Oporto Light Metro Network. Extension of Line D (Yellow) to the South (including the

D. João II Station Interface) (Portugal). Final Design. Underground railway station built through Top-Down and Cut&Cover methods beneath the existing Stº Ovídio roundabout; access trenches with pile cut-offs and box tunnels with shallow foundations, surface access halls with 20 m reinforced prestress concrete spans with steel lining and modern architecture. Participation in the structural and geotechnical design.

Name and address of employer COBA - Consultores de Engenharia e Ambiente, S.A.

Type of business or sector Engineering Consultancy

Dates

2007

Occupation or position held Structural Engineer in the Bridge Division

Main activities and responsibilities Design of bridges, earth retaining structures and special structures - 2007 Viaducts 2 and 3 in the IC6 Highway (Portugal). Section between Catraia dos Poços

and Vendas de Galizes. Tender Design. Balanced cantilever bridges with a maximum span of 100 m and a maximum length of 440 m. Responsible for the structural design.

- 2007 A16/IC16 Highway (Portugal) – Section between the CREL (IC18) Interchange and

Lourel (IC 30 integrated in the Greater Lisbon Motorway Concession). Responsible for the Preliminary and Final Design of 10 current engineering structures (overpasses and underpasses).

Name and address of employer Dimeconsult – Engenheiros Consultores, Lda.


Dates

2004/2007

Occupation or position held Structural Engineer in the Special Structures Division

Main activities and responsibilities Design of bridges, earth retaining structures and special structures

Name and address of employer Quadrante – Engenharia e Consultoria, Lda.


Education

Dates 1999-2004

Title of qualification awarded Licenciatura ( 5 year University Degree) in Civil Engineering specialized in Structures (specialization in the last 2 years of the course)

Name and type of organisation Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Technical University of Lisbon. Portugal

Dates 2004

Erasmus Socrates Exchange Programme.

Name and type of organisation Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Technical University of Lisbon. Portugal


Specialization Courses

Dates 2012

Name and type of organisation Course “Bentley Building Structural & Architectural & Mechanical – AECOsim V8i”. Bentley. Lisbon. 24th September to 4th October.

Dates 2010

Name and type of organisation Course on “Design of Joints in Steel and Composite Structures”. CMM (Portuguese Steel Work Association). Lisbon. 29th and 30th January.

Dates 2009

Name and type of organisation Course on “Design of Structures Subjected to Fire”. CMM (Portuguese Steel Work Association). Lisbon. 23th and 24th October.

Dates 2008

Name and type of organisation Course on “Construction Planning and Management”. IST (Technical University of Lisbon).

Dates 2008

Name and type of organisation Course on “Project Planning resorting to Microsof Project Software”. COBA

Dates 2007

Name and type of organisation Course on Computational Geotechnics “PAO&PLAXIS Course: Computational Geotechnics”. Amsterdam, 22nd to 24th January.

Personal skills and competences

Mother tongue(s) Portuguese

Other language(s)

Self-assessment Understanding Speaking Writing

European level (*) Listening Reading Spoken interaction Spoken production

English

C2 Proficient user C2 Proficient user C1 Proficient user C1 Proficient user C1 Proficient user

Spanish/ Castilian

B1 Independent user

B1 Independent user

B1 Independent user

B1 Independent user

B1 Independent user

French

A2 Basic User B1 Independent user

A2 Basic User A2 Basic User A2 Basic User

(*) Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Social skills and competences Captain of the forward pack in the juvenile team of Rugby of IST

Organisational skills and competences

I belong to the administration of the housing buildings where I live and control an annual budget of 120,000€.

Computer skills and competences Sound knowledge of MS Office and MS Project, VBA, several FEM software packages (SAP2000, Robot, Plaxis, RMbridge) and CAD software (Autocad and Microstation)

Hobbies and activities Enjoying the company of my family especially of my new-born son. Jogging (half-marathon runner), Squash and Paddle Tennis.

Membership of professional

organisations

Member of the “Ordem dos Engenheiros" (Portuguese College of Engineers – nr. 52.531)

http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/LanguageSelfAssessmentGrid/en

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