• Sacyr Conservación

Icónica

The Iconica project "Research into Safe, Intelligent, Connected and Autonomous Driving" project, in which Sacyr Conservación is participating, has the main objective of advancing the challenge of safe driving adapted to new models of electromobility and autonomous vehicles, researching and developing the technological solutions that support the necessary innovations and specific adaptations in terms of safety, which must accompany the aforementioned major transformation of the automotive sector. This will be achieved through the implementation of a national cooperation project that brings together various industrial research projects focusing on different V2X connectivity technology solutions on Spanish roads.

General objectives:

  • GO1: Advance scientific and technological knowledge on communication systems for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) information exchange through the use of 5G communications that enable the development of safe driving.
  • OG2: Reduce road accidents through the advanced deployment of technology that enables real-time information for safer driving.
  • OG3: Conduct Proof of Concept (PoC) tests to validate the technologies researched, with a view to future development and commercialisation.
  • OG4: Develop an ecosystem with companies and technology centres that enables effective collaboration to provide global V2X communications solutions for safe driving.
  • OG5: Strengthen and position the Consortium and its companies as leaders in their fields of activity, enabling their participation in international initiatives such as 5GAA, ERTICO ITS Europe, ETSI, Horizon Europe (Cluster 5, Climate, Energy and Mobility) and similar. 

This project has been approved by the CDTI, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, with a 40% grant in the last call for proposals for the Misiones '24 programme. This call for proposals is included among the actions planned in the National Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which will be financed by the Next Generation EU funds. 

The consortium is made up of the following companies: SISTEMAS Y MONTAJES INDUSTRIALES SA (leader), VODAFONE INTELLIGENT SOLUTIONS ESPAÑA SL, SACYR CONSERVACIÓN SA, INFONORTE TECNOLOGIA SL, ANTERAL SL, ALSA INNOVACIÓN Y PROYECTOS DE MOVILIDAD SL

The project will be carried out at the various headquarters of the companies that make up the consortium (Community of Madrid, Castile and León, Malaga, Navarre and Asturias). It will begin in October 2024 and is scheduled for completion on 31 December 2025.

  • Car
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1 Document
  • Infrastructures

La ingeniería de vanguardia impulsa la alta velocidad en Almería

Desde Sacyr Ingeniería e Infraestructuras ejecutamos tres grandes viaductos dentro del tramo Los Arejos-Níjar, una arteria vital del Corredor Mediterráneo de alta velocidad.

Viaducto de Lucainena

La llegada de la alta velocidad a Almería pasa por la construcción de grandes infraestructuras que sostengan la circularidad de los trenes. Desde Sacyr Ingeniería e Infraestructuras desarrollamos para Adif tres grandes viaductos que conectarán el tramo Los Arejos-Níjar, dentro del Corredor Mediterráneo. 

Para la ejecución de estos tres viaductos, nuestros equipos utilizan la técnica del empuje o lanzado de tablero que consiste en ensamblar el tablero por secciones en un área adyacente al viaducto para luego empujarlo horizontalmente hasta su posición final sobre las pilas. 

Para el empuje se utiliza un sistema de gatos hidráulicos a lo largo de las pilas. Un proceso que se ejecuta en fases y que requiere de una gran coordinación y precisión por parte del equipo.  

Esta técnica reduce significativamente la presencia de maquinaria pesada en la obra, reduciendo el impacto ambiental y protegiendo el entorno. 

El viaducto de Los Feos, con sus imponentes 906 metros de longitud y 16 pilas que se alzan hasta 40 metros, es la joya de la corona de la futura línea de alta velocidad Murcia-Almería. Es el más extenso de los 11 viaductos que vertebran el tramo Los Arejos-Níjar, todo un testimonio de la capacidad de nuestros equipos para superar grandes retos. 

Junto a él, los viaductos de Lucainena (908 metros) y Cebollero (760 metros) completan el trío de infraestructuras que Sacyr Ingeniería e Infraestructuras construye en Almería con esta innovadora técnica. Tres pilares que impulsan el desarrollo y conectan el futuro de la región. 

  • Infraestructures
  • Spain
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Sustainability reporting, a new context

Patricia Muñoz Pequeño
Sustainability Manager
Strategy, Innovation and Sustainability Division

 

In hindsight, sustainability reporting has undergone significant changes in recent years. Gone are the days when companies like Sacyr, with unwavering commitment and sensitivity to these issues, voluntarily provide information relevant to their ESG strategies and performance using internationally recognised frameworks, with GRI at the forefront.

With the adoption of the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NRFD) in 2014, and its Spanish transposition in Law 11/2018, sustainability reporting became a legal obligation and, since that time, the importance of these reports has only grown.  

In 2023, with the goal of defining a clear framework for sustainability reporting that would ensure the quality of the information published, data comparability, and the consistency of the information shared by companies, the European Union approved a new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) with common reporting standards known as the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).

But misgivings and opposition to this new regulation soon arose from the private sector; first, due to the technical complexity and breadth of its requirements and the difficulty of implementing them, highlighting the need for further clarification in certain areas, as well as greater flexibility in their application. 

Secondly, the smaller companies affected expressed doubts about their capacity to comply with this new regulation using their own resources and the potential damage that would be caused by the additional costs required for this purpose. 

The foregoing is paired with a deeper reflection on the part of the European Union; in a complex international environment facing major global changes, ensuring the autonomy, competitiveness, and resilience of the European economy without abandoning the sustainability commitments it has made, has become more crucial than ever.  

This has prompted the EU to redefine its roadmap, while keeping its ambition intact, as demonstrated by i) the strategy of the Green Industrial Deal, designed to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry while accelerating decarbonisation, and ii) the Omnibus Package, the main objective of which is to reduce the administrative burden on companies when reviewing various sustainability regulations, without renouncing the principles of the European Green Deal. 

From a reporting perspective, the Omnibus Package affects CSRD requirements as follows: 

-    Simplification of standards, reducing the number of requirements and providing greater technical clarity in their application. These texts are expected to be available in Q4 of 2025. 
-    Two-year postponement of entry into force for companies, allowing more time to adapt. 
-    Redefinition of application thresholds, excluding listed SMEs and modifying the ranges for the rest. 
-    Maintenance of limited assurance, eliminating the possibility of reasonable assurance in the future.  

In short, 2025 marks a turning point in this area, reflecting the European Union’s commitment to moving toward a more sustainable economy without jeopardising business competitiveness.  

Depiction of Atlantis, a supposed lost city that has inspired myths and legends. Credit: Wall Paper Delight

Three mysterious cities submerged beneath the sea

Beneath the waves, the ocean holds priceless historical treasures. We explore the fascinating stories of Pavlopetri, Thonis-Heracleion and Port Royal, three cities swallowed by the sea.

ISABEL RUBIO ARROYO | Tungsteno

 

The lost city of Atlantis has captured the collective imagination for centuries. According to ancient myths and tales, this enigmatic land vanished mysteriously beneath the waves. Despite the fascination it generates and the countless theories and searches for its supposed underwater ruins, science has found no conclusive evidence of its actual existence. However, history does offer us real examples of cities that have truly been claimed by the sea.

 

A window into the Bronze Age under the sea

 

In 1967, British oceanographer Nicholas C. Flemming discovered the remains of an ancient city under the sea, near the island of Elafonisos in southern Greece. The site was identified as Pavlopetri, a settlement that is thought to date back to the Bronze Age. The following year, a team from the University of Cambridge organised an expedition to study the site. Around 5,000 years old, Pavlopetri is one of the oldest known submerged cities, with streets, buildings and tombs still preserved beneath the sea.

The prehistoric city covered 90,000 square metres and featured a complex water management system—with canals and drains, as well as a cemetery. “This neglected place in prehistoric times had occurred to be a thriving port with intense social stratification, and a lifestyle that made the Head of Investigation John Henderson to talk about the Greek Pompeii,” note the authors of a 2016 study. Several studies suggest that the city may have been submerged around 1000 BCE. Three theories attempt to explain how this happened: one suggests a gradual rise in the sea level, another a sinking of the land, and a third that a combination of earthquake and tsunami caused the city’s disappearance.

 

 

Digital reconstruction of Pavlopetri. Credit: University of Nottingham

 

Temples, jewels and sunken ships

 

In the year 2000, underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio discovered the ancient city of Thonis-Heracleion, located seven kilometres off the Egyptian coast in the Nile Delta. Founded in all likelihood in the 8th century BCE, this port city served for centuries as the main gateway to Egypt for ships arriving from the Greek world, and it was renowned for its commercial and religious significance.

The city suffered several natural disasters, and it is believed that an earthquake eventually caused it to sink beneath the sea. The European Institute for Underwater Archaeology has studied the submerged site and uncovered more than 60 shipwrecks near its ruins, reflecting the area’s intense marine activity. During excavations in 2023, researchers discovered the remains of a sanctuary dedicated to the Greek goddess Aphrodite, as well as a temple to the god Amun. They also found gold jewellerysilver artefacts, ceramics, and bronzes imported from Greece. Well-preserved wooden structures were also found, as well as ritual and funerary items, such as silver libation dishes (used for offerings poured in honour of a deity) and alabaster vessels for perfumes and ointments.

 

Heracleion, the ancient Egyptian port city that collapsed beneath the sea.

 

The "wickedest" city of the New World

 

Port Royal, in Jamaica, was once the most important commercial center in the New World. The town, “commonly referred to as "the wickedest city on earth", conjures images of marauding pirates, daring naval conquests, looting, riches, destruction and devastation,” according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

It began as a strategic cay used for cleaning and refitting ships when the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. Following the English conquest in 1655, it quickly developed into a fortified city and flourished as the principal commercial and naval port of the English Caribbean. Its economy thrived on the slave trade, sugar, and privateering—and it gained notoriety as a lawless paradise of alcohol, money, and sex, where one in four buildings was reportedly either a bar or a brothel.

 

 
 

Old map of Port Royal. Credit: The Gentleman’s Magazine / Wikimedia Commons

 

Excavations have revealed that beyond its many taverns, Port Royal also featured workshops, homes, and warehouses. The city stood out for its wealth and its prominence as a key center of trade and piracy in the Caribbean. In 1692, a devastating earthquake caused two-thirds of the city to sink into the sea. Subsequent fires and hurricanes thwarted any attempts at full recovery. Although Port Royal persisted as a British naval base and secondary port, it never regained its former status as a thriving hub of commerce and piracy. Today, it survives as a small fishing village in Jamaica.

 

How we’re removing microplastics from our water

Sacyr Agua has partnered with Captoplastic to roll out pioneering technology that helps detect and remove microplastics in our wastewater treatment plants.

At Sacyr Agua, we’re pushing the boundaries of sustainability and innovation by detecting and removing microplastics in our wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). By joining forces with Captoplastic, we are working together to make this possible.  

Although microplastic pollution (plastic particles smaller than 5 mm) occurs throughout the whole water cycle, reducing them in the treated water leaving our WWTP is a significant step in protecting the environment.

These plants are designed to remove organic matter and conventional pollutants from wastewater, but they do not normally include specific processes to deal with the wide variety of microplastics that reach them. 

“As well as becoming their preferred partner for projects in Spain, this partnership also allows us to use Captoplastic’s technology and references exclusively in markets such as Australia, Peru and Colombia,” says Eduardo Campos, Managing Director of Sacyr Agua.

An agreement built on innovation


The collaboration with Captoplastic began following a successful pilot project at the Yecla WWTP (Murcia), managed by Sacyr Agua, as part of our open innovation programme, Sacyr iChallenges. 

It was there that we discovered Captoplastic’s pioneering solution, which continuously detects and removes microplastics. This fits perfectly with our commitment to sustainability and our drive to bring advanced technologies into our business.

 

 
 

Pilot project success


To test and validate the technology, Captoplastic moved a demonstration pilot plant from the Cantoblanco campus of the Autonomous University of Madrid to the Yecla WWTP, where the trials were carried out.

Beforehand, a detailed study of the microplastics present in the different stages of the plant was completed, both in the water line and the sludge line. Several types of microplastics were identified, including polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA), acrylic, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyurethane (PU). 

These microplastics were found in different forms, such as pellets, fibres and fragments, with the highest concentration in the sludge line.

The results of this first pilot trial were very positive, showing a 76% reduction in the initial concentration of microplastics. This proves the effectiveness of the solution and its potential to be scaled up.

 

Captoplastic Technology

 

Captoplastic is a Madrid-based small business dedicated to developing innovative solutions for detecting and removing microplastics. Established in 2020, the company has been recognised as a Knowledge-Based Company and works with strategic partners such as the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the BeAble Innvierte Kets Fund.

Its technology uses an agglomeration technique, adding an inorganic agent to the water stream so that it binds with microplastics and forms larger aggregates that can then be removed. 

Thanks to the magnetic properties of the agent, the aggregates can be easily separated and removed from the water stream. The process can handle large volumes of water efficiently. The captured microplastics can be recycled, making this a zero-waste technology that is environmentally friendly throughout its entire cycle.

Technology, Sustainability, and Health: The Impact of the Cognitive Hospital Project

This smart hospital initiative has been in development for a year. During this time, we've created an intelligent software platform to facilitate its digitalization.

In early 2024, the Community of Madrid approved the Cognitive Hospital project, a comprehensive management platform for hospital infrastructure. 
The project is based at the Hospital del Henares (Madrid) and is being developed by a consortium led by Sacyr, with participation from companies like Sener, Cuatro Digital, Aptica, Fracttal, and Open Ingenius. It is a three-year project with a €6.1 million budget, funded by the Community of Madrid through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

As a result of this project, the hospital will benefit from continuous connectivity, sensors measuring air quality with virus-capturing nanofibers, devices improving energy efficiency, virtual reality technologies simulating evacuations, geolocation of equipment, and modules measuring the hospital's overall environmental impact.

After a year of work, Sacyr has developed the core of the cognitive platform. This platform will connect all existing management software systems at the Hospital del Henares, alongside the innovative solutions, technologies, and sensors developed and implemented within the project.

The platform developed by Sacyr integrates all innovative elements of the Cognitive Hospital project by creating an intelligent software platform that facilitates the digitalization of the hospital. This improves the experience for both patients and staff while promoting the sustainability of the facility's operations.

This is creating a smart hospital capable of autonomously managing its operations more efficiently, using real-time data generated during the infrastructure's operation.

"The new software platform is already operational and already receiving data from systems currently in place at the Hospital del Henares, as well as from the new sensors, LiDAR systems, and other devices being installed," explains Alba Rocío Pérez, Innovation Manager with Sacyr's Strategy, Innovation and Sustainability Department.

During the project's first year, the partners conducted an in-depth study of the hospital's physical and digital structure, using the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) methodology to objectively assess the building's "intelligence" level. This helped identify potential improvements and address deficiencies more efficiently than current methods allow.


 

 
 

Furthermore, Sacyr has advanced the implementation of a space management system using LiDAR technology. Its primary function is to identify and prevent overcrowding or queuing in customer service areas. "We aim to enhance patient comfort and reduce waiting times through innovative data collection," Alba Rocío explains.

Through the creation of a point cloud with LiDAR technology, Sacyr has also successfully obtained a BIM (Building Information Modeling) model of the hospital building. Thanks to the technology developed within the Cognitive Platform and the BIM model, a digital twin of the Hospital del Henares has been created, providing updated information on the building, systems, and equipment.

Sacyr Engineering contributed to the project in its first year by streamlining the BIM model. This allows for more efficient work with the building model, both during the construction and maintenance phases.

The second year will focus on completing a comprehensive analysis of the hospital, including impacts related to the use and maintenance of its facilities (consumption, waste generation, and maintenance activities).

PTEC Award

The Cognitive Hospital project recently received the Spanish Construction Technology Platform (PTEC) Award for the Best R&D&I Project in the construction sector.

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