Two ArchLabour Talks with DINÂMIA’CET-Iscte Visiting Researchers
DINÂMIA’CET-Iscte welcomes visiting researchers Julia Rabelo and Çiğsem Yağmur Yüksel for two ArchLabour talks exploring Urban Heritage and Archival Research: Research Trajectories and the Bairro do Zambujal Case and also, A Socio-Ecological Sensory Mapping Framework Using Human-in-the-Loop AI and MAXQDA
The talks will take place on 28 September, at 2:00 p.m., at Iscte (Lisbon), Building 4, Room A104, and will also be streamed online via this - Link for streaming .
The talks are organised in the context of DINÂMIA’CET-Iscte’s ArchLabour Project.
1st Talk | 2PM
Urban Heritage and Archival Research: Research Trajectories and the Bairro do Zambujal Case
by Julia Rabelo
The first talk introduces the research trajectory at the intersection of urban studies, heritage, and climate adaptation, with particular attention to West African cities and Guinea-Bissau. It will briefly outline the academic and professional experiences that shaped her current doctoral research at the University of Liverpool, which investigates urban heritage conservation and climate change adaptation in historic urban centres.
The presentation will then focus on the research developed during her stay in Lisbon as part of WG2 of COST Action CA23145, centred on the Zambujal area and the use of archival sources to examine urban ambiances and housing environments in metropolitan Lisbon. It will present the objectives of this work, the types of archival materials consulted, and the ways in which historical documentation can contribute to understanding processes of urban transformation and everyday living environments.
As the research visit will already be underway, the presentation will also include preliminary reflections and initial findings emerging from the first week of archival work.
About the speaker
Julia Rabelo is an architect, urban planner, and PhD researcher at the University of Liverpool, affiliated with the AHUWA (Architecture, Heritage and Urbanism in West Africa) research group. Her research explores urban heritage conservation and climate change adaptation in Guinea-Bissau. She has worked on urban development, housing, and participatory planning projects across West Africa, Latin America, and Europe.
2nd talk | 3PM
A Socio-Ecological Sensory Mapping Framework Using Human-in-the-Loop AI and MAXQDA
by Çiğsem Yağmur Yüksel
The second talk introduces a methodological framework for evaluating spatial perception and environmental atmospheres through a socio-ecological lens, within WG2, “Data Collection and Archiving Urban Ambiences”, of COST Action CA23145. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems theory, the research develops a multi-layered sensory mapping methodology to examine human–environment interactions across nested spatial systems.
The talk highlights the integration of Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) generative AI with MAXQDA for qualitative analysis, thematic visualisation, and code co-occurrence mapping. Combining human interpretation with AI-assisted processes, this hybrid workflow explores how environmental narratives, sensory experiences, and spatial attributes can be organised and interpreted within structured socio-ecological maps.
The presentation also outlines the scope, objectives, and methodological development of the Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) conducted at DINÂMIA’CET-Iscte. Drawing on the first week of fieldwork in Lisbon, it will reflect on emerging observations and methodological insights into the application of sensory mapping and qualitative tools to architectural atmospheres, restorative environments, and spatial research.
Ultimately, the talk seeks to foster academic exchange on integrating human-supervised AI workflows and socio-ecological perspectives into contemporary architectural and urban research.
About the speaker
Çiğsem Yağmur Yüksel, PhD, is a Research Assistant in the Department of Architecture at Çukurova University, Türkiye. Her research focuses on architectural psychology, healing environments, and restorative design. She explores human-centred spatial experiences and methodologies, integrating qualitative analysis, sensory mapping, and AI-supported frameworks into architectural research and design.