Personal profile
Research Interests
Recent research:
Across diverse environmental, educational, and industrial domains, the researcher integrates geospatial analysis, remote sensing, and sustainability to address water management, urban resilience, and heritage protection. Several works demonstrate applied solutions for wastewater treatment using constructed wetlands in Cuenca, Ecuador, achieving substantial pollutant removal (BOD5 ~85% and SS ~87%), and highlighting policy-aligned, low-cost ecosystems-based approaches to sanitation. The portfolio also covers mangrove dynamics in the Galápagos using Landsat imagery over two decades to quantify habitat change, with validation via stratified sampling and cross-study comparison. In manufacturing and industry, the research expands into Lean and Industry 4.0 paradigms, exploring Quality 4.0 and environmental considerations in food production, and providing models for group-based DEA efficiency accounting when inputs/outputs are shared among DMUs. Additional work includes NDEA applications to education’s impact on human development, eco-ethnobotany, urban agriculture, and environmental education initiatives during the pandemic, alongside deforestation trend analysis in Ecuadorian Amazon provinces using multi-temporal Landsat data and FAO rate calculations. Overall, the research emphasizes sustainable development, resource optimization, and governance through data-driven methods and accessible technology adoption for environmental, educational, and industrial systems.
Key Topics:
Across diverse environmental, educational, and industrial domains, the researcher integrates geospatial analysis, remote sensing, and sustainability to address water management, urban resilience, and heritage protection. Several works demonstrate applied solutions for wastewater treatment using constructed wetlands in Cuenca, Ecuador, achieving substantial pollutant removal (BOD5 ~85% and SS ~87%), and highlighting policy-aligned, low-cost ecosystems-based approaches to sanitation. The portfolio also covers mangrove dynamics in the Galápagos using Landsat imagery over two decades to quantify habitat change, with validation via stratified sampling and cross-study comparison. In manufacturing and industry, the research expands into Lean and Industry 4.0 paradigms, exploring Quality 4.0 and environmental considerations in food production, and providing models for group-based DEA efficiency accounting when inputs/outputs are shared among DMUs. Additional work includes NDEA applications to education’s impact on human development, eco-ethnobotany, urban agriculture, and environmental education initiatives during the pandemic, alongside deforestation trend analysis in Ecuadorian Amazon provinces using multi-temporal Landsat data and FAO rate calculations. Overall, the research emphasizes sustainable development, resource optimization, and governance through data-driven methods and accessible technology adoption for environmental, educational, and industrial systems.
Key Topics:
- Environmental Science, Water, Waste & Circular Economy
- Geospatial Analysis, Remote Sensing & GIS
- Environmental Monitoring, Remote Sensing & Conservation
- Optimization, Operations Research & Decision Support
- Education, Pedagogy, Teacher Training & Inclusion
- Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Arts & Creative Industries
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 15 Life on Land
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Projects
- 2 Active
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Geotechnologies for the assessment of water ecosystem services in high-Andean sub-basins of Azuay
Aviles Sacoto, E. C. (PI) & Tenesaca Verdugo, G. A. (Student)
2/02/26 → …
Project: Research and Development
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Evaluation of the Conservation Status of the Qhapaq Ñan, Achupallas-Cañar Section, and its Direct Influence Area Using Remote Sensors
Galan Montesdeoca, J. F. (Col), Serpa Andrade, L. J. (Col), Guerrero Vasquez, L. F. (Col), Falceri, L. (Col), Aviles Sacoto, E. C. (Col), Garzon Vera, B. O. (PI) & Campoverde Duran, R. A. (Col)
2/12/22 → …
Project: Research and Development
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Measuring efficiency in tourism: A problem of shared factors and multiple attributes in DEA
Avilés-Sacoto, S. V., Avilés-Sacoto, E. C., Cook, W. D. & Güemes-Castorena, D., Apr 2025, In: Socio-Economic Planning Sciences. 98, 102117.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access4 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
Reinventar la Ciudad: Soluciones Verdes y Equidad Social para Comunidades Sostenibles (Coordinación)
Translated title of the contribution :Reinventing the City: Green Solutions and Social Equity for Sustainable Communities (Coordination) Research output: Book/Report › Book
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Saneamiento Sostenible y Ciudades Resilientes: Humedales Construidos Para el Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales Domésticas. Cuenca-Ecuador
Translated title of the contribution :Sustainable Sanitation and Resilient Cities: Constructed Wetlands for Domestic Wastewater Treatment. Cuenca-Ecuador Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Análisis de la Variabilidad en la Cobertura de Manglares en las Islas Galápagos a Través de un Análisis Multitemporal con Imágenes Satelitales Landsat 7 y Landsat 8
Translated title of the contribution :Analysis of Variability in Mangrove Coverage in the Galápagos Islands Through a Multitemporal Analysis with Landsat 7 and Landsat 8 Satellite Images Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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Análisis Multitemporal del Cambio de Uso y Ocupación del Suelo en el Tramo del Qhapac Ñan Achupallas-ingapirca
Translated title of the contribution :Multitemporal Analysis of Land Use and Occupation Change in the Qhapac Ñan Achupallas-Ingapirca Section Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter