About Me - Leonel Dias

I’m Leonel Dias, born in Caxinas, Vila do Conde — a fishing town in northern Portugal. I grew up around the sea, maps, and people who work with their hands. I’ve been building things with code ever since I can remember.

I studied Computer Engineering at FEUP. Master’s in 2010. Started a PhD, left it. It wasn’t the right moment. I believe in doing things with purpose, not just because they’re expected.

INESC TEC (2010–2020). R&D in GIS, web systems, and mobile computing. Published papers, spoke at conferences, built real products. That’s where I learned that research means nothing if it doesn’t ship.

3Maps (2013–2024). Led the development of geospatial platforms for municipalities, regional governments, and ports. Modernized legacy systems. Made them faster, scalable, and actually useful.

APDL (2024–now). Building the next generation of port management systems. Real-time vessel tracking, geospatial data platforms, digital twins. The kind of stuff that makes ports work smarter.

I make complex things simple. Not by cutting corners, but by understanding the problem deeply enough to find the elegant solution.

15+ years in tech · 20+ projects shipped · still building

When I’m not coding, I’m reading, walking by the shore, cooking, or spending time with family. The sea keeps me grounded — and a bit of PlayStation, trips, and good food help too.