GEOTEC in the media

GEOTEC in the media

As academic researchers, our three main activities are performing research, providing teaching/training and disseminating our work.  

GEOTEC – the GeoSpatial Technologies research group – performs cutting-edge research in geospatial and related technologies, applied to various application fields. As such, we have research lines in Internet of Things (e.g., COIOTIA), mobility, digital health (e.g., SYMPTOMS), smart cities (e.g., NextCity), agriculture, and others, which are funded through competitive European, national or local research projects. Evidence of our research efforts can be found in scientific journals, where we have published in most top journals in our field.

For teaching and training, next to “regular” teaching in the university’s bachelors and masters, we are increasingly involved in teaching and training projects, predominantly under the European Erasmus+ framework. These projects focus on teaching innovation, outreach activities towards specific focus groups (e.g., secondary school students, women in STEM, vocational training, etc.), reskilling and upskilling activities, etc. Representative examples are the SpaceSuite project, where we investigate market needs and develop curricula and training modules for reskilling and upskilling professionals for the space downstream sector, and the SUCRE project, where we promote science for high school children through computational thinking and programming.

Finally, but not less importantly, dissemination focuses on letting the public know what we are doing. Next to  scientific publications, which focus on the scientific community, we are also committed to informing the general public about our scientific and educational advances. Over the last two years, thanks to our cutting-edge research and training activities, GEOTEC has been receiving significant media attention, ranging from local and regional newspapers and radio stations to national tv coverage.

As 2026 has just kicked off, we take a moment to reflect on the media attention we received over the past two years.

The SyMptOMS Project – Mobile solutions for Mental Health

The SyMptOMS project, a cooperation between the GEOTEC and LABPSITEC research groups, focuses on developing innovative mobile mental health solutions. Generally speaking, we are investigating how sensor and geospatial technologies can be leveraged to improve mobile mental health interventions, and how technology-based mental health interventions can innovate treatment delivery.

SYMPTOMS-JIT: sensor-based smartphone-guided exposure therapy for anxiety disorder.

In this research line, led by Sven Casteleyn and Carlos Granell, a mobile and smartwatch application were developed that systematically and timely collect quantitative (i.e., sensor data, such as GPS coordinates or hearth rate) and qualitative data (i.e., through short questionnaires about the patient’s mental state) from a patient. As such, the app tracks the patient’s whereabouts and encourages him/her to do a so-called “exposure” when a feared situation is detected (previously configured by the therapist, based on location). If the patient agrees, he/she is then guided through the exposure by the SYMPTOMS-JIT mobile app, using step-by-step instructions and multimedia therapeutic content delivery, based on his/her behavior and mental state (e.g., determine how long to stay, remind coping mechanisms, propose exercises, allow an escape, etc.). Therapists can visualize the exposures, together with all data collected from the patient, through a monitoring web application.

SYMPTOMS-JIT was featured in the following national, regional and local media:

  • AlumniSAUJI. Vols participar en un estudi sobre ansietat? Labpsitec i Geotec de l’UJI ofereixen tractament psicològic GRATUÏT basat en l’evidència científica (6 October 2025)
    AlumniSAUJI, UJI alumni network, on its social networks, press releases and radio programme.

    Recruitment article for patients to participate in the Randomized Controlled Trial, which aims to demonstrate the efficacy of the mobile-based SYMPTOMS treatment.

    https://www.uji.es/serveis/alumnisauji/base/noticies-arxiu/2025/ANSIETAT

Horizon Resilience: a serious game to treat depression

Under the SYMPTOMS umbrella, and as part of her doctoral research, Águeda Gómez Cambronero, supervised by Sven Casteleyn (Geospatial Technologies Group, GEOTEC) and Adriana Mira Pastor (Psychology and Technology Lab, LabPsiTec), created Horizon: Resilience, an innovative smartphone-based serious game designed to aid in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Horizon: Resilience is a city-builder game, whereby cognitive behavioral therapy techniques are interwoven into the gameplay. By playing the game, associating with the main character and helping him to build up a new life in a new city and facing the difficulties this entails, the player is taught coping mechanisms and thought processes to deal with depression. The game also promotes and integrates physical activity, known to be beneficial when dealing with depression, into the gameplay.

Horizon: Resilience was features in national television and radio, and in various regional and local media:

IoT and Artificial Intelligence – CoAIoT Project

GEOTEC is leading cutting-edge developments combining IoT and AI in smart platforms. The CoAIoT project, led by Sergi Trilles, who recently received a Leonardo Grant from the BBVA Foundation, aims to decentralize data analysis through community-shared micromodels and edge computing. Here are the relevant media appearances:

Digital Twin for Urban Sustainability – Lisbon Project

Under the NextCity project, led for UJI by Joaquín Huerta, GEOTEC contributes to a European initiative to build a digital twin of Lisbon, integrating geospatial data and simulations to enhance urban resilience and sustainability planning.

The following article was features in the media:

  • RUVID – Lisbon Digital Twin (07.11.2024)

Scientific outlet. Describes GEOTEC’s contribution to a simulation framework that supports climate resilience and urban water risk management.
https://ruvid.org/el-init-uji-participa-en-el-diseno-de-un-gemelo-digital-en-lisboa-para-transformarla-en-una-ciudad-inteligente-y-sostenible/

Academic Training – Erasmus Mundus Program

Led by Joaquín Huerta for UJI, GEOTEC coordinates the Erasmus Mundus MSc in Geospatial Technologies, an internationally recognized program focused on geoinformatics and smart city applications.

  • El Periódico Mediterráneo – Graduate Interview (30.04.2024)

Regional press publication. Features Laura Milena Muñoz discussing the Erasmus Mundus Master’s quality and international outlook.
https://www.uji.es/com/revista/base/2024/04/30/noticiesuji/2/1.pdf

SUCRE program – Pre-university outreach and education

Led by Carlos Granell and Sergi Trilles, SUCRE promotes computational thinking and hands-on programming through collaborative learning activities that combine IoT devices, sensors, and actuators, bringing real-world technology into classrooms and fostering early STEM vocations.

  • Posted by geoadmin
  • On 21 January, 2026
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Tags: agueda-gomez, carlos-granell, IoT, joaquín-huerta, master, NextCity, projects, sergi-trilles, Serious games, sven-casteleyn, Symptoms

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