Ícaro A. Fonseca
About
I hold dual roles as Adjunct Associate Professor at NTNU and as Business Technologist at Wilhelmsen Ship Management. On the academic side, I have worked on various aspects of the digitalization of ship design, construction, and operations, ranging from digital twins to design optimization. On the business side, I work on decarbonizing commercial vessels and ensuring their compliance with environmental regulations. I am a naval engineer with degrees from NTNU and Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), in Brazil.
Research
Co-author of 18 articles, 5 in journals and 13 in conferences, on the topics of digital twins, simulation of ocean operations, computational vessel design, design optimization, and data management in shipbuilding and design. I am the lead author of 8 out of the 11 articles published before I took the position as Adjunct Associate Professor at NTNU. Additionally, 2 of the 3 other articles had as first author MSc students co-supervised by me. Since 2023, I have focused on developing my skills in guiding new doctoral researchers and raising funds for the development of new research and innovation projects focusing on the topic of commercial shipping decarbonisation.
Teaching and Guidance
Main advisor for Janica Bronson's ongoing PhD research and co-advisor for three graduated MSc students. Evaluator for seven MSc theses in IHB at NTNU. Guest lecturer in courses at NTNU, UFPE, Ningbo University, in China, and the Brazil-Japan Collaborative Program on Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering, which included five Brazilian universities and four Japanese universities, e.g., University of São Paulo (USP), The University of Tokyo, and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Former teaching assistant for the undergraduate course Ship Hydrodynamics I at UFPE.
Academic and Professional Experience
Adjunct Associate Professor at NTNU since 2023, working on data modelling and integration in the design and construction phases of the ship value chain. Current involvement as a member of the Smart European Shipbuilding (SEUS) project (funded by the Horizon Europe Framework) and previous experience with international (Norway-Brazil) and Norwegian projects. Business Technologist at Wilhelmsen Ship Management since 2022, working on vessel energy efficiency and compliance with greenhouse gas emissions regulations, such as CII, EU ETS, and FuelEU Maritime. Previous collaborations with University College London (UCL), USP, and The Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO). Previous experience as Research Assistant at NTNU and Engineering Intern at Vard Promar shipyard.
Service
Reviewer for 5 journals (e.g., Ocean Engineering, Systems Engineering, International Journal of Maritime Engineering) e 1 conference (ECMS). Attendant to around 17 academic and professional events among conferences, seminars, symposium, and workshops, taking the roles of session chair, presenter, participant in joint discussions, and listener. Associate Member at the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and in their Maritime Innovation Committee (M.I.C.). Participant in the Interdisciplinary Research Team on Maritime Transport at NTNU and former Student Representative on the Naval Engineering Undergraduate Programme Board at UFPE.
Education and Degrees
PhD in Engineering with emphasis on Ocean Operations from NTNU (2022). MSc in Ship Design from NTNU (2018). Naval Engineering degree from UFPE (2016), with scholarship from Petrobras (PRH-PB04). During the degree, I had 1 year of academic exchange at the former Ålesund University College, now NTNU in Ålesund, with scholarship from the Science without Borders program sponsored by CAPES (Brazilian agency) and former Statoil, now Equinor. Recipient of the RINA Wakeham Prize in 2024.
Publications
2025
-
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Sepälla, Ludmila;
Koelman, Herbert;
Agis, Jose Jorge Garcia.
(2025)
Can European Shipyards be Smarter? A Proposal from the SEUS Project.
European Transport Research Review
Academic article
2024
-
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Andrews, David.
(2024)
Wither now the Design Building Block (DBB) Approach.
TU Delft OPEN Publishing
International Marine Design Conference (IMDC) (15)
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
-
Bronson, Janica Altea;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Luz, Fernando.
(2024)
Data models in ship design and construction – insights from 4D BIM.
TU Delft OPEN Publishing
International Marine Design Conference (IMDC) (15)
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
-
Bronson, Janica Altea;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Haskins, Cecilia;
Aragao Fonseca, Icaro;
Garcia Agis, Jose Jorge.
(2024)
Robust Digital Information for Physically Large and Complex SoS: A Maritime Design Case Study.
IEEE conference proceedings
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Bronson, Janica Altea;
Aragao Fonseca, Icaro;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2024)
Challenges Towards an Integrated Digital Twin Platform for Maritime Systems: Tackling Shifts in Data Ownership.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Bronson, Janica Altea;
H. P. Luz, Fernando;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2024)
Graph databases for multi-domain taxonomies in maritime systems.
ECMS European Council for Modelling and Simulation
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
2023
-
Vieira, Daniel Prata;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Nishimoto, Kazuo;
Assi, Gustavo;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Rhodes, Donna.
(2023)
Leveraging epoch-era analysis and digital twin for effective system concept and execution: A CO2 storage salt-cave project.
Systems Engineering
Academic article
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Ferrari de Oliveira, Felipe;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2023)
Open Framework for Digital Twin Ship Data: Case Studies on Handling of Multiple Taxonomies and Navigation Simulation.
International Journal of Maritime Engineering
Academic article
2022
-
Ferrari de Oliveira, Felipe;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2022)
Applying Open Web Architectures Towards Collaborative Maritime Design and Simulation.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Pedro Cardozo, de Mello;
Sasaki, Humberto.
(2022)
A Standards-Based Digital Twin of an Experiment with a Scale Model Ship.
Computer-Aided Design
Academic article
2021
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Nordby, Kjetil;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Ferrari de Oliveira, Felipe.
(2021)
Ship in Manoeuvring (OpenBridge case).
Software
-
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Oliveira, Felipe;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao.
(2021)
An open web platform aimed at ship design, simulation and digital twin.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2021)
Challenges when creating a cohesive digital twin ship: a data modelling perspective.
Ship Technology Research
Academic article
2020
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2020)
Fundamentals Of Digital Twins Applied To A Plastic Toy Boat And A Ship Scale Model.
ECMS European Council for Modelling and Simulation
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2020)
Experiment with a Digital Twin of a Ship Scale Model.
Software
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2020)
Digital Twin Aquarium - Simple motion monitoring application based on open standards.
Software
-
Escamilla i Miquel, Sergi;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Vieira, Daniel.
(2020)
An open-source library for hydrodynamic simulation of marine structures.
Marine Systems & Ocean Technology
Academic article
2019
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Ferrari de Oliveira, Felipe;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2019)
Virtual Prototyping and Simulation of Multibody Marine Operations Using Web-Based Technologies.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2019)
A Prime on Web-Based Simulation.
ECMS European Council for Modelling and Simulation
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Miquel, Sergi Escamilla;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2019)
Open Source Simulation for Virtual Maritime Operations.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
2018
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Ryan, Christopher;
Thomas, Giles.
(2018)
An Open and Collaborative Object-Oriented Taxonomy for Simulation of Marine Operations.
Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2018)
An Open and Collaborative Object-Oriented Taxonomy for Simulation of Marine Operations (MSc Thesis).
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
2015
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2015)
An object-oriented approach for virtual prototyping in conceptual ship design.
ECMS European Council for Modelling and Simulation
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Journal publications
-
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Sepälla, Ludmila;
Koelman, Herbert;
Agis, Jose Jorge Garcia.
(2025)
Can European Shipyards be Smarter? A Proposal from the SEUS Project.
European Transport Research Review
Academic article
-
Vieira, Daniel Prata;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Nishimoto, Kazuo;
Assi, Gustavo;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Rhodes, Donna.
(2023)
Leveraging epoch-era analysis and digital twin for effective system concept and execution: A CO2 storage salt-cave project.
Systems Engineering
Academic article
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Ferrari de Oliveira, Felipe;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2023)
Open Framework for Digital Twin Ship Data: Case Studies on Handling of Multiple Taxonomies and Navigation Simulation.
International Journal of Maritime Engineering
Academic article
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Pedro Cardozo, de Mello;
Sasaki, Humberto.
(2022)
A Standards-Based Digital Twin of an Experiment with a Scale Model Ship.
Computer-Aided Design
Academic article
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2021)
Challenges when creating a cohesive digital twin ship: a data modelling perspective.
Ship Technology Research
Academic article
-
Escamilla i Miquel, Sergi;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Vieira, Daniel.
(2020)
An open-source library for hydrodynamic simulation of marine structures.
Marine Systems & Ocean Technology
Academic article
Books
-
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Andrews, David.
(2024)
Wither now the Design Building Block (DBB) Approach.
TU Delft OPEN Publishing
International Marine Design Conference (IMDC) (15)
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
-
Bronson, Janica Altea;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Luz, Fernando.
(2024)
Data models in ship design and construction – insights from 4D BIM.
TU Delft OPEN Publishing
International Marine Design Conference (IMDC) (15)
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
Part of book/report
-
Bronson, Janica Altea;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Haskins, Cecilia;
Aragao Fonseca, Icaro;
Garcia Agis, Jose Jorge.
(2024)
Robust Digital Information for Physically Large and Complex SoS: A Maritime Design Case Study.
IEEE conference proceedings
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Bronson, Janica Altea;
Aragao Fonseca, Icaro;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2024)
Challenges Towards an Integrated Digital Twin Platform for Maritime Systems: Tackling Shifts in Data Ownership.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Bronson, Janica Altea;
H. P. Luz, Fernando;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2024)
Graph databases for multi-domain taxonomies in maritime systems.
ECMS European Council for Modelling and Simulation
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Ferrari de Oliveira, Felipe;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2022)
Applying Open Web Architectures Towards Collaborative Maritime Design and Simulation.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2020)
Fundamentals Of Digital Twins Applied To A Plastic Toy Boat And A Ship Scale Model.
ECMS European Council for Modelling and Simulation
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Ferrari de Oliveira, Felipe;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2019)
Virtual Prototyping and Simulation of Multibody Marine Operations Using Web-Based Technologies.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2019)
A Prime on Web-Based Simulation.
ECMS European Council for Modelling and Simulation
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Ryan, Christopher;
Thomas, Giles.
(2018)
An Open and Collaborative Object-Oriented Taxonomy for Simulation of Marine Operations.
Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2015)
An object-oriented approach for virtual prototyping in conceptual ship design.
ECMS European Council for Modelling and Simulation
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Report
-
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Oliveira, Felipe;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao.
(2021)
An open web platform aimed at ship design, simulation and digital twin.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Miquel, Sergi Escamilla;
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2019)
Open Source Simulation for Virtual Maritime Operations.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2018)
An Open and Collaborative Object-Oriented Taxonomy for Simulation of Marine Operations (MSc Thesis).
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
Product
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Nordby, Kjetil;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo;
Ferrari de Oliveira, Felipe.
(2021)
Ship in Manoeuvring (OpenBridge case).
Software
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2020)
Experiment with a Digital Twin of a Ship Scale Model.
Software
-
Fonseca, Icaro Aragao;
Gaspar, Henrique Murilo.
(2020)
Digital Twin Aquarium - Simple motion monitoring application based on open standards.
Software