Mário António Patrício Carreira Vala

Mário Vala

Academic position:	PhD Student
Joining date:	01-01-2018
Roles in IT:	PhD Student
Thematic Line:	Wireless Technologies
Group:	Antennas and Propagation – Lr

Email: Send Email
Address: IT Branch – Leiria
Morro do Lena - Alto do Vieiro
Leiria
2411 - 901
Tel: 244820340

http://www.cienciavitae.pt/A515-430E-F69B

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10-04-2025

A Strong Presence of the Portuguese Delegation at EuCAP 2025

The city of Stockholm hosted the 2025 edition of the European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP). This year, Portugal’s presence was stronger than ever

02-02-2023

Project MARES - Satellite-based microwave remote sensing for marine litter mapping

IT team is co-testing, in a project supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), how to monitor the plastic waste that accumulates in the oceans with satellites.

03-02-2022

Novel IT invention for improving the performance of wireless communications systems

IT researchers from Antennas & Propagation Group at IT Leiria, Mário Vala, João Reis, and Rafael Caldeirinha, explained to us the patent’s advantageous technique.

19-12-2021

IT researchers distinguished with the Research Award and the Best Student Paper Award URSI 2021

Researchers from IT were distinguished within the scope of the 15th Congress of the Portuguese Committee of URSI.

Scientific Achievements

Thesis Information

Radiowave propagation in wildfires, DEEC/IST - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD Student, Mário António Patrício Carreira Vala, Supervisor: R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Co-supervisor: C. A. Fernandes, fev-2018 - mai-2026

Publications

1Books Chapters

T.O. Oliveira, M. Vala, S. Faria, J. R. Reis, N. Leonor, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, A Study on Small Sensor Node Antenna Performance Camouflaged Under Grassland Fire, Chapter in, Internet of Things. Technology and Applications. IFIPIoT 2021., Camarinha-Matos L.M., Heijenk G., Katkoori S., Strous L., Springer Nature Switzerland AG, Switzerland, 2022

9Papers in Journals

T. Costa, J. M. Felício, M. Vala, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, S.A. Matos, J.R. Costa, C. A. Fernandes, N. Fonseca, P. Maagt, Identifying optimal microwave frequencies to detect floating macroplastic litter using machine learning, International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies, Vol. 17, No. 5, pp. 804 - 818, June, 2025,
| Abstract | Full text (PDF 3 MBs) | BibTex
A. Fockert, M. Eleveld, J. M. Felício, T. Costa, M. Vala, P. M. Marques, N. Leonor, A. A. Moreira, J.R. Costa, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, S.A. Matos, C. A. Fernandes, N. Fonseca, M. Simpson, A. Marino, A. Perez-Portero, A. Gonga, O. Burggraaff, S. Garaba, S. Salama, Y. Xiao, R. Calvert, T. Bremer, P. Maagt, Assessing the detection of floating plastic litter with advanced remote sensing technologies in a hydrodynamic test facility, Scientific Reports, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. -, October, 2024,
| Abstract | BibTex
J. M. Felício, T. Costa, M. Vala, N. Leonor, J.R. Costa, P. M. Marques, A. A. Moreira, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, S.A. Matos, C. A. Fernandes, N. Fonseca, P. Maagt, Feasibility of Radar-based Detection of Floating Macroplastics at Microwave Frequencies, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 72, No. 3, pp. 2766 - 2779, March, 2024,
| Abstract | BibTex
M. Vala, S. Faria, P. Coimbra, N. Leonor, J. M. Felício, C. A. Fernandes, C. Salema, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Effects of Fire Plumes from Pine Needles on Small-scale Fading in Radiowave Propagation, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 71, No. 4, pp. 3473 - 3484, April, 2023,
| Abstract | BibTex
S. Faria, M. Vala, P. Coimbra, N. Leonor, J. M. Felício, C. A. Fernandes, C. Salema, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Measurement Trials and Modeling of Radio Propagation Through Small-scale Fire using Pinus Pinaster Fuel Bed, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 581 - 585, March, 2023,
| Abstract | BibTex
N. Leonor, S. Faria, M. Vala, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, A Combined ITM and LITU-R Model for Enhanced Radio Coverage Predictions of Mission Critical Communications in Mountainous Vegetated Terrains, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 21, No. 9, pp. 1777 - 1781, September, 2022,
| Abstract | Full text (PDF 3 MBs) | BibTex
J. R. Reis, M. Vala, T.O. Oliveira, T. Fernandes, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Metamaterial-Inspired Flat Beamsteering Antenna for 5G Base Stations at 3.6 GHz, Sensors, Vol. 21, No. 23, pp. 8116 - 8116, December, 2021,
| Abstract | Full text (PDF 2 MBs) | BibTex
M. Vala, S. Faria, N. Leonor, J. M. Felício, C. A. Fernandes, C. Salema, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Complex permittivity study of a Pinus Pinaster needle bed on fire, URSI Radio Science Bulletin, Vol. 2021, No. 378, pp. 14 - 21, September, 2021 | BibTex
J. R. Reis, M. Vala, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Review paper on Transmitarray Antennas, IEEE Access, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 94171 - 94188, December, 2019,
| Abstract | BibTex

28Papers in Conferences

S. Faria, M. Vala, J. M. Felício, C. Salema, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, N. Leonor, C. A. Fernandes, Influence of Fire Whirls on Radiowave Propagation, European Conference on Antennas and Propagation - EuCap, Stockholm, Sweden, March, 2025 | BibTex
M. Vala, J. M. Felício, T. Costa, N. Leonor, J.R. Costa, P. M. Marques, A. A. Moreira, S.A. Matos, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, C. A. Fernandes, N. Fonseca, P. Maagt, Medium-Scale Measurement Campaign for Floating Macroplastic Detection in a Realistic Environment at X-Band Frequencies, European Conference on Antennas and Propagation - EuCap, Estocolmo, Sweden, March, 2025,
| Abstract | BibTex
M. Vala, J. R. Reis, J. M. Felício, N. Leonor, C. A. Fernandes, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Wind-Induced Backscatter Clustering from Vegetation at W-Band, European Conference on Antennas and Propagation - EuCap, Glasgow, United Kingdom, March, 2024 | BibTex
M. Vala, J. M. Felício, T. Costa, N. Leonor, J.R. Costa, P. M. Marques, A. A. Moreira, S.A. Matos, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, C. A. Fernandes, N. Fonseca, P. Maagt, Small-Scale Passive Millimetre-Wave Imaging Measurements for Marine Litter Detection at W-Band, European Conference on Antennas and Propagation - EuCap, Glasgow, United Kingdom, March, 2024 | BibTex
T. Costa, J. M. Felício, M. Vala, N. Leonor, J.R. Costa, P. M. Marques, A. A. Moreira, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, S.A. Matos, C. A. Fernandes, N. Fonseca, P. Maagt, Feature Selection for Identifying Optimal Microwave Frequencies to Detect Floating Macroplastic Litter in C and X Bands, European Conference on Antennas and Propagation - EuCap, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Vol., pp. -, March, 2024,
| Abstract | BibTex
T. Costa, J. M. Felício, M. Vala, N. Leonor, J.R. Costa, P. M. Marques, A. A. Moreira, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, S.A. Matos, C. A. Fernandes, N. Fonseca, P. Maagt, Detection of Low Permittivity Floating Plastic Sheets at Microwave Frequencies, European Conference on Antennas and Propagation - EuCap, Florence, Italy, Vol., pp. -, March, 2023,
| Abstract | BibTex
M. Vala, J. M. Felício, T. Costa, N. Leonor, J.R. Costa, P. M. Marques, A. A. Moreira, S.A. Matos, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, C. A. Fernandes, N. Fonseca, P. Maagt, On the Feasibility of Using Passive mm-Wave Imaging for Marine Litter Detection at the W-Band, European Conference on Antennas and Propagation - EuCap, Florence, Italy, Vol., pp. -, March, 2023,
| Abstract | BibTex
L. Duarte, M. Vala, C. Ribeiro, L. Alves, C. A. Fernandes, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, A feasibility study on real-time concealed object detection in foliage using STDCC radar, 13th IEEE/IET International Symposium on Communication Systems, Networks and Digital Signal Processing CSNDSP, Porto, Portugal, July, 2022,
| Abstract | BibTex
T.O. Oliveira, J. R. Reis, M. Vala, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, A Microstrip Quasi-Yagi Antenna based on Optimised Waning Crescent Elements for WSN, URSI URSI Atlantic Asia-Pacific Radio Science Meeting URSI AT-AP-RASC, Gran Canaria, Spain, June, 2022,
| Abstract | BibTex
S. Faria, M. Vala, N. Leonor, J. M. Felício, C. A. Fernandes, C. Salema, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Modelling of Radiowave Propagation Through Small-scale Forest Fire, URSI Atlantic Radio Science Meeting AT-AP-RASC, Gran Canaria, Spain, May, 2022,
| Abstract | BibTex
S. Faria, M. Vala, N. Leonor, J. M. Felício, C. A. Fernandes, C. Salema, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Measurement Trials of Radiowave Propagation Through Pinus Pinaster Fuel Bed Under Fire, European Conference on Antennas and Propagation - EuCap, Madrid, Spain, March, 2022,
| Abstract | BibTex
G. Ramos, M. Vala, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, N. Leonor, L. Mello, Angle of Arrival Retrieval from Power Angular Spectrum using Antenna Pattern Deconvolution at K-band, European Conference on Antennas and Propagation - EuCap, Madrid, Spain, March, 2022,
| Abstract | BibTex
M. Vala, S. Faria, N. Leonor, J. M. Felício, C. A. Fernandes, C. Salema, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Complex Permittivity Study of a Pinus Pinaster Needle Bed on Fire, ANACOM URSI 15.º Congresso do Comité Português da URSI ''Sustentabilidade ambiental no uso do espectro radioelétrico, Leiria, Portugal, November, 2021,
| Abstract | BibTex
S. Faria, M. Vala, N. Leonor, J. M. Felício, C. A. Fernandes, C. Salema, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Electromagnetic study of complex permittivity on a medium-scale flat terrain fire scenario, Simposium Nacional de la Unión Científica Internacional de Radio, Vigo, Spain, September, 2021,
| Abstract | BibTex
J. R. Reis, T.O. Oliveira, M. Vala, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, High Performance Antennas for Early Fire Detection Wireless Sensor Networks at 2.4 GHz, IEEE IEEE IEEE-APS Topical Conference on Antennas and Propagation in Wireless Communications APWC2021 APWC2021, Hawai, United States, August, 2021,
| Abstract | BibTex
S. Faria, M. Vala, P. Coimbra, J. M. Felício, N. Leonor, C. A. Fernandes, C. Salema, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Analytical Studies of Refractive Index Variation in Pine Needles Media under Wildfire Conditions, European Conference on Antennas and Propagation - EuCap, Düsseldorf, Germany, March, 2021,
| Abstract | BibTex
T.O. Oliveira, J. R. Reis, M. Vala, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, High-Gain Wideband Parasitic Microstrip Antenna for 5G and IoT at 26 GHz, Conf. on Telecommunications - ConfTele, Leiria, Portugal, February, 2021,
| Abstract | BibTex
M. Vala, J. R. Reis, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, On the Practical Limitations of Scalable Electronic 2D Beamsteering Using Metamaterials at Micro and Millimetre-wave Frequencies, Telecoms Conference ConfTELE, Leiria, Portugal, February, 2021,
| Abstract | BibTex
S. Faria, M. Vala, P. Coimbra, N. Leonor, J. M. Felício, C. A. Fernandes, C. Salema, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Radiowave Propagation Modelling of Dual Wildfire Front Spreading over Hilly Terrain at 700 MHz, Telecoms Conference ConfTELE, Leiria, Portugal, February, 2021,
| Abstract | BibTex
P. Coimbra, S. Faria, M. Vala, J. M. Felício, C. A. Fernandes, N. Leonor, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, C. Salema, Experimental Setup for Radio Characterization of Fire at Microwave Frequencies, Telecoms Conference ConfTELE, Leiria, Portugal, February, 2021,
| Abstract | BibTex
S. Faria, M. Vala, P. Coimbra, J. M. Felício, N. Leonor, C. A. Fernandes, C. Salema, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Comparative Study of Computational Electromagnetics Applied to Radiowave Propagation in Wildfires, URSI International Union of Radio Science General Assembly & Scientific Symposium URSI GASS, Rome, Italy, September, 2020,
| Abstract | Full text (PDF 381 KBs) | BibTex
J. R. Reis, M. Vala, T. Fernandes, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Metamaterial-inspired Flat-Antenna Design for 5G Small-cell Base-Stations Operating at 3.6 GHz, 12th IEEE/IET International Symposium on Communication Systems, Networks and Digital Signal Processing CSNDSP, Porto, Portugal, July, 2020,
| Abstract | BibTex
R. F. S. Caldeirinha, J. R. Reis, M. Vala, A novel dual-polarised transmitarray form beamsteering at 28 GHz, IET IET Antennas and Propagation Conference IET APC, Birmingham, United Kingdom, November, 2019 | BibTex
R. F. S. Caldeirinha, J. R. Reis, M. Vala, On the Practical Limitations of Electronic Beamsteering using Metamaterials at 28 GHz, IEEE IEEE-APS Topical Conference on Antennas and Propagation in Wireless Communications APWC2019, Granada, Spain, Vol. -, pp. - - -, September, 2019,
| Abstract | BibTex
J. R. Reis, M. Vala, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Novel Electronically Reconfigurable Transmitarray for 2D Beamsteering: Emerging Applications, Conf. on Telecommunications - ConfTele, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol. 0, pp. 0 - 0, June, 2019,
| Abstract | BibTex
M. Vala, J. R. Reis, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, A 28 GHz Fully 2D Electronic Beamsteering Transmitarray for 5G and future RADAR applications, Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conf. – LAPC, Loughborough, United Kingdom, November, 2018,
| Abstract | BibTex
M. Vala, A. Sardo, J. R. Reis, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Electronic Reconfigurable Beam-redirecting Metasurfaces for Outdoor-indoor Radio Coverage Enhancement at 5.2 GHz, IEEE International Symp. on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Commun - PIMRC, Bologne, Italy, Vol. 0, pp. 0 - 0, September, 2018,
| Abstract | BibTex
R. F. S. Caldeirinha, J. R. Reis, M. Vala, A. Sardo, A. Hammoudeh, Nigel Copner Copner, Electronically Reconfigurable Active Metamaterials for 2D Beamsteering, Encuentro Ibérico de Electromagnetismo Computacional - EIEC, Coimbra, Portugal, May, 2018 | BibTex

Patents

1Patents

R. F. S. Caldeirinha, J. R. Reis, M. Vala, Célula unitária, superfície de mudança de fase para direcionamento de ondas eletromagnéticas, sistema e método relacionados, PT115901, National, Granted, 08-11-2019, Portugal,
| Abstract

Projects

Closed Projects3

Acronym	Name	Funding Agency	Start date	Ending date
MARES	Satellite-based microwave remote sensing for marine litter mapping	ESA-ESTEC	04-10-2021	31-12-2023
Propagation5G	Study and optimisation of propagation models for 5G	FCT/CAPES	01-04-2019	31-05-2022
RESCuE-TOOL	Radio coverage for emergency communication systems to operate under critical wildfire environments TOOL	FCT	31-12-2018	27-02-2023

Other Scientific Achievements

4Awards

M. Vala, S. Faria, N. Leonor, J. M. Felício, C. A. Fernandes, C. Salema, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Complex Permittivity Study of a Pinus Pinaster Needle Bed on Fire, Best Student Paper Award - 1st Place at ANACOM: 15.º Congresso do Comité Português da URSI, 01-11-2021
M. Vala, J. R. Reis, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, On the Practical Limitations of SCalable Electronic 2D Beamsteering Using Metamaterials at MIcro and Millimetre-wave Frequencies, ConfTELE 2021 Top 10% Best Paper Award. Seven papers (10%) were nominated for consideration for this award by the Reviewers and the Technical Program Committee., 01-02-2021
S. Faria, M. Vala, P. Coimbra, N. Leonor, J. M. Felício, C. A. Fernandes, C. Salema, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Radiowave Propagation Modelling of Dual Wildfire Front Spreading Over Hilly Terrain at 700 MHz, ConfTELE 2021 Top 10% Best Paper Award. Seven papers (10%) were nominated for consideration for this award by the Reviewers and the Technical Program Committee., 01-02-2021
J. R. Reis, M. Vala, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Selected Papers at CSNDSP2020, Selected Papers for journal extension: "Metamaterial-inspired fat-antenna design for 5G base-stations operating at 3.6 GHz", J. R. Reis; M. Vala; and R.F.S. Caldeirinha, IEEE/IET International Symposium on Communication Systems, Networks and Digital Signal Processing - CSNDSP, Porto, Portugal, July, 2020., 01-07-2020

1Prototypes

J. R. Reis, M. Vala, R. F. S. Caldeirinha, Metamaterial-inspired flat beamsteering antenna for 5G

Related UN SDG

Activities from this researcher fall under the following United Nations Strategic Development Goals (SDGs):

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