La puesta en marcha de infraestructuras y servicios en países en desarrollo no suele ser especialmente fácil para empresas o instituciones de fuera del país. Y su mantenimiento, tampoco.

Existen varios factores importantes a tener en cuenta a la hora de trabajar por el desarrollo económico, social y sanitario en un territorio determinado. 

El primero, que exista estructura de cohesión social. “Debe existir una mínima estructura social y política con una jerarquía y códigos de conducta. La estructura política debe organizar los recursos, distribuirlos e impulsar una estrategia de desarrollo, estabilidad y visión de futuro”, explica Ignacio Calatayud, presidente de HumanCoop, una ONG que trabaja en la cooperación para el desarrollo en África. Su filosofía de trabajo aborda la salud comunitaria desde una estrategia One Health, según la cual busca equilibrar y optimizar de manera sostenible la salud de las personas, los animales y los ecosistemas a través de la formación del personal local y de la construcción de infraestructuras.

“La inestabilidad política, la corrupción y la inseguridad generan obstáculos que hacen difícil operar en un país”, explica Calatayud.

Por otro lado, debe existir una red de comunicaciones e infraestructura energética en torno a lugares donde hay reservas de agua y ciertos recursos fácilmente explotables. “La colaboración entre estados para que haya desarrollo en este sentido es un factor importante. También la colaboración entre diferentes instituciones, desde el más pequeño ayuntamiento hasta el Banco Mundial deben colaborar para favorecer la conservación de estas estructuras que atraigan la inversión en su país”, afirma el presidente de HumanCoop.

El tercer factor importante, la adaptación a la cultura local. ONGs como UPlanet sirven de conexión entre el conocimiento técnico, en este caso, ingeniería, y las autoridades locales y empresas de financiación. “Tenemos que adaptar nuestro conocimiento a la cultura local. Cuando una estructura occidental llega tiene que haber alguien con conocimiento local para saber si se puede establecer o no esa tecnología”, explica José Matías Fernández, presidente de UPlanet.

Los voluntarios que ayudan a organizaciones como HumanCoop o UPlanet son fundamentales para apoyar los proyectos de mantenimiento de plantas potabilizadoras de aguas, sistemas agrícolas autosostenibles, edificación de centros de salud, de colegios, etc. Pero, sin un capital humano cualificado local, esas infraestructuras o servicios entrarán en decadencia. 

Recientemente, voluntarios de la Fundación Sacyr, principalmente ingenieros, han acudido a un proyecto de cooperación en Bir Mogrein (Mauritania, África) con el objetivo de ayudar a reparar la desaladora de esta población, fuente del agua potable de la comunidad, que se encontraba fuera de servicio, mejorar las instalaciones eléctricas de infraestructuras sanitarias e hídricas, desarrollar proyecto de saneamiento en uno de los centros educativos y poner en marcha una prueba piloto de riego por goteo con agua desalada, preparando así el futuro proyecto agrícola de la región.

Hospital Oncológico en construcción perteneciente a la Asociación Ithar en Nouackchott (Mauritania).

En este sentido, existe un hándicap importante a la hora de decidirse a trabajar por la prosperidad de infraestructuras en un país en desarrollo: la falta de recursos humanos que sepan manejar las tecnologías, materiales o técnicas de construcción o conservación. Por ello, es tan importante la formación del capital humano local de manera continua, y favorecer condiciones para que no exista fuga de cerebros.

La falta de cohesión de gobiernos en Occidente suele hacer de freno para la cooperación para el desarrollo en áreas básicas para la población como la salud, la alimentación o la industria en países subdesarrollados. “La globalización de ideas occidentales está en decadencia. Los Gobiernos están más cerrados a colaborar. La cooperación para el desarrollo y la ayuda humanitaria son dos caras de la misma moneda, pero no es lo mismo”, explica el presidente de HumanCoop. “Debemos ayudar a estos países, pero al mismo tiempo, sembrar. Si no siembras, el trabajo que has aportado en el presente, no servirá para el futuro. Será pan para hoy y hambre para mañana”, explica Calatayud.

Esta iniciativa nace con el objetivo de inspirar, compartir y sensibilizar sobre la innovación en todas sus formas. En cada episodio, abordaremos temas clave en el ámbito de nuestras áreas de negocio, con un enfoque divulgativo, riguroso y dinámico. 

En los dos primeros episodios, Marta Gil, Directora General de Estrategia, Innovación y Sostenibilidad de Sacyr charla con Ignacio Hernández, Director del Área de Instalaciones de la Dirección Técnica de Sacyr Concesiones. Juntos analizan como la innovación puede transformar las infraestructuras hospitalarias.

“Todo lo que es infraestructura sanitaria es un gran activo para la sociedad, pero consume muchos recursos. Por eso hay que hacerla más eficiente, algo que podemos lograr gracias a la innovación” explica Ignacio.

En esta charla, Ignacio explica la complejidad de los hospitales, unas infraestructuras muy diversas, en las que la interconexión de los diferentes sistemas puede mejorar su rendimiento global. 

Uno de los grandes protagonistas de estos episodios es el Hospital Cognitivo, un innovador proyecto impulsado por un consorcio liderado por Sacyr y aprobado por la Comunidad de Madrid. Este apasionante proyecto, en el que llevamos trabajando desde hace un año, tiene como objetivo desarrollar una plataforma de gestión integral de infraestructuras hospitalarias.

Entre los hitos más importantes alcanzados hasta ahora, destaca la creación del gemelo digital del Hospital del Henares (Madrid), donde se implantarán los avances conseguidos en este proyecto. “Gracias al gemelo digital, tendremos el edificio modelizado, de forma que podemos hacer actuaciones en un entorno virtual, evitando interrupciones en el funcionamiento del hospital. Podemos anticipar acciones, optimizar recursos y tomar decisiones basadas en datos, sin afectar la operatividad del hospital”, subraya Ignacio.

With Sacyrian accent

Lucía Cecilia Mercado

When you tell people that you’re going to Mauritania—“Where is that?”—to volunteer in a cooperation project, you get all kinds of reactions: disbelief, admiration, confusion. You take all these reactions, mix them with your own feelings, and create your own cocktail of emotions.

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And so, I find myself wondering: What drove me to take part in this project that made the collaboration between the Sacyr Foundation, HumanCoop, and UPlanet in Mauritania possible?

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In the photo, from left to right: Lucía, Matías, Natalia, Rodrigo and Iván. 

It’s a mix of many things, and here, I’ll try to explain the most important ones for me.

Curiosity. Everything I do in my daily life is guided by a desire to discover what lies beyond my own experiences, knowledge, and immediate surroundings. Exploring different ways of life, other countries, and new cultures has always motivated me to step outside my comfort zone, study philosophies far from the Western perspective, and try to understand other approaches to life.

Empathy for those in need. I try to put myself in the shoes of people who lack the things we take for granted—running water at home, hot water from the tap, a variety of food, a mobile connection, a bed to sleep in. So many things—never mind going to the movies, having a beer, or dining out—that we take for granted about until we travel to places where they are not guaranteed.

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A desire to help create a better world. Life feels empty if we don’t contribute, even in small ways, to improving the lives of others. Taking part in projects like this by HumanCoop and UPlanet gives me purpose, fulfillment, and the chance to become a better person.

Love. Love for others, love for myself by honoring the values that drive my actions, love for different cultures, love for other landscapes like the desert that captivate me.

Admiration.

For people who make projects like HumanCoop a reality. From the first moment I heard Ignacio speak, I admired him. We have so much to learn from people like him, who dedicate their time to helping others—it would take a lifetime to put their lessons into practice. Ignacio’s commitment to the Sahrawi people is contagious to everyone around him. The same goes for his collaborators: Gema, Esteban, and Oscar, whom I deeply respect and admire.
 

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The same admiration extends to José Matías, a former Sacyr colleague through whom I first learned about this project and the NGO he founded, UPlanet. His drive, hard work, and determination to support social and humanitarian causes inspire everyone lucky enough to work alongside him.

And admiration for my engineer colleagues who shared this experience with me, as well as for the healthcare workers of the mission. Their dedication, working late into the night until their lanterns could no longer pierce the darkness, was truly inspiring. I deeply respect the healthcare workers who spent long hours performing surgeries and providing medical care, asking for nothing in return but the satisfaction of helping others. Seeing their exhaustion at the end of the day filled me with respect and admiration. Standing beside them, sharing this experience, is what makes you grow as a person.
 

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Experiences like this don’t just inspire—you become hooked. They make you a better person, help you appreciate what you have, and allow you to contribute, even in a small way, to a humanitarian cause.

When I think of Bir Mogrein, the village in northern Mauritania where five Sacyr volunteers (Rodrigo, Matías, Iván, Natalia, and I, along with my dear Eli from UPlanet) , I feel a constant pull to return. Despite the two days it takes to get there, cold-water showers, sleeping on the floor, in the end it's very minor

To keep working with incredible people like Belali, Fátima, Abba, M. Salem, the supervisors of the desalination plant, the community garden, the health center, the cooks, the drivers, the women of the village, the children…

I want to give a special mention to Belali, who paid really close attention to all our needs while we were working, no matter what. Thank you for being so attentive! 

Lardi, Belali, Lucía, Rodrigo, Iván, Matías y Natalia.

I think of them, and my heart fills with admiration, love, and respect.

I want to see them again.

The extension of the L8 is already underway. This project will deliver three new stations—Gràcia, Clínic, and Francesc Macià—and will upgrade the existing Espanya station to accommodate the new alignment and increased passenger flow.

Toni Julià Ventura, Project Manager for the joint venture—comprising Sacyr (27.5%), Ferrovial (27.5%), Copcisa (22.5%), and Copisa (22.5%)—describes the initiative, promoted by the Generalitat de Catalunya, as a key milestone for sustainable mobility in Barcelona.
“With 19 million annual users, it is one of the most socially and economically impactful projects included in the Generalitat’s Infrastructure Master Plan,” explains Julià.

 

The works are divided into two main lots: Lot 1 involves conventional excavation techniques, due to the complex web of existing infrastructure in the area—such as Metro Lines 1 and 3—which makes the use of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) unfeasible. The extension will run from the current terminus, beneath Plaça Espanya and its central fountain, through a sequence of shafts and mined galleries.

Lot 2 begins in the logistics zone of Gran Vía, which hosts the TBM launch shaft. From this point, a 3.7-kilometer tunnel will be driven to connect the new stations at Hospital Clínic, Francesc Macià, and Gràcia. Emergency exits will be constructed at Consell de Cent and Muntaner.

The project is currently in its early stages, with approximately 10% overall progress. To date, most of the utility diversions have been completed, and hydromill (hydrofresa) retaining walls for the Consell de Cent emergency exit have been executed. Construction of the TBM launch shaft walls is ongoing.

In the coming weeks, excavation of the deep retaining walls at Hospital Clínic and Francesc Macià stations—each exceeding 80 meters in depth—will begin. Meanwhile, the TBM components are undergoing detailed inspection before assembly within the shaft. An acoustic enclosure will be installed over the shaft to mitigate noise and environmental impact during tunneling.

Once the main tunnel is completed, cavern excavation will commence. As the TBM bore accommodates only the twin tracks, the cross-section will be expanded through sequential mined phases to form the platform waiting areas and emergency access routes.

Key Figures

•    CO₂ Emissions Reduction: The extension between Plaça Espanya and Gràcia is expected to significantly reduce private vehicle use, saving CO₂ annually.
•    Tunneling Scope: Includes 3,728 meters of TBM-driven tunnel, 378 meters of cavern excavation, and 260 meters of mined tunnel.
•    Minimized Environmental Impact: The originally planned site footprint in Joan Miró Park has been reduced by 40%.
•    Stations and Infrastructure: The project comprises three new stations (Gràcia, Clínic, Francesc Macià), the adaptation of Espanya station, modified interconnection corridors, and two emergency shafts.
•    Contract Duration: The overall contract spans 58 months, divided into two main construction lots.

ISABEL RUBIO ARROYO | Tungsteno

What if nature could save us? What if we rethought how we spend money, consume energy or design greener cities? These are some of the questions posed by the American architect and artist Maya Lin in What is Missing?, a project that highlights the extinction of species and the environmental crisis. We explore Lin's work and how her dedication to nature seeks to foster a greener planet and halt the extinction of species.

Lin rose to fame when still a student

Lin studied at Yale and gained national recognition in her final year when her design won the national competition for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. Completed in 1982, the memorial consists of two black granite walls engraved with the names of fallen soldiers—a striking and unconventional tribute that initially sparked controversy, with critics calling it a monument to shame and defeat.

Beyond memorials, Lin's art explores the relationship between humans and the landscape, aiming to deepen the awareness of the spaces we inhabit. "I see myself existing between boundaries, a place where opposites meet; science and art, art and architecture, East and West. My work originates from a simple desire to make people aware of their surroundings," she writes in her book Boundaries.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial catapulted Lin to fame. Credit: Maya Lin Studio

A slowly dying forest

Her most recent projects include Mapping Our Place in the World... (2023) at Georgetown University; Ghost Forest (2021) in Madison Square Park, New York; and the renovation of Neilson Library (2021) at Smith College, Massachusetts. However, if there is one defining feature of her work, it is her unwavering commitment to sustainability.

A striking example of this is "Ghost Forest", an installation in Manhattan’s Madison Square Park that highlighted the devastating impact of climate change. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a “ghost forest” is a once verdant woodland now ravaged by the effects of sea level rise and saltwater encroachment. Lin's project represents "a majestic forest of cut trees that will slowly turn grayer and more ghostly as the park's grand living trees go through all seasons". After six months of exposure, the 49 Atlantic white cedars were brought down in 2021 and donated to the Bronx-based educational organisation Rocking the Boat, to be used by students to build boats.

The work Ghost Forest consisted of 49 Atlantic white cedars. Credit: Maya Lin Studio

What if the solution lies in nature?

Ghost Forest is part of What is Missing?, a project driven by experts in art, science, conservation, and communication that aims to raise awareness of biodiversity loss and the impact of climate change on ecosystems. "Nature-based solutions can reduce emissions by 45-90%, feed two billion more people, and protect and restore species throughout the world," says Lin, who leads the project.

The experts behind the project say that reforming agriculture and livestock farming could reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 20-40%, while protecting and restoring forests could cut emissions by 15-30%. Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture would contribute a reduction of 5-15%, and protecting resilient coastlines and wetlands would reduce emissions by 2-5%.

Maya Lin explains her relationship with the natural world. Credit: WSJ Style

For Lin and the other key figures involved in the project, transitioning to renewable energy like solar and wind power, fostering more sustainable cities and industries, and expanding protected land and marine areas are essential. As 19 authors stated in a 2019 article in Science Advances: "Complex life has existed on Earth for about 550 million years, and it is now threatened with the sixth mass extinction. If we fail to change course, it will take millions of years for the Earth to recover an equivalent spectrum of biodiversity. Future generations of people will live in a biologically impoverished world."

Tungsten is a journalistic laboratory that explores the essence of innovation.

Sacyr has extensive experience in port and harbor construction that has now been transferred to the second phase of the Central Breakwater in the Expansion of the Port of Bilbao. With this project, Sacyr provides agile and sustainable construction solutions to culminate three decades of works in Bilbao's port area. 

Miguel Tejeda, Project manager, explains that the initiative stems from the growing demand for freight traffic at the port and the need to expand port facilities in the Pass due to the rezoning of port areas located upstream of the estuary for urban development purposes.

The Central Breakwater represents the final stage in the Expansion of the Port of Bilbao in the Outer Pass.

In the Summer of 2024, the Bilbao Port Authority awarded a joint venture, led by Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructure, the contract for this second phase. This phase encompasses a 310,000 sqm area and is scheduled to be completed within two years.

The project applies construction methods such as the use of reinforced concrete caissons and the development of a mass concrete superstructure, with an optimized design aimed at minimizing disruptions to existing port operations and maximizing the efficiency of the new quay. 
 

The floating dock is made of four towers that have been brought by ship from Lisbon.

Additionally, the project includes the construction of 1,011 as an meters of new berthing docks: 664 meters for the new A3 Quay and 347 meters for the existing A4 Quay.

The caissons will be manufactured on-site using the Sacyr Uno floating dock.

The dock measures 56 meters in length, 36 meters in beam, and 15.9 meters in depth. During the process, the designed prop will be adjusted afloat, utilizing the naval stability of the caisson to optimize the slab construction for the subsequent caisson. 

The floating dock comprises four towers and 16 ballast tanks, enabling the platform to be submerged to the desired depth. This allows for smooth formwork sliding and ensures the stability of the entire assembly.

The main construction works include the fabrication of new concrete caissons and their subsequent filling with sand dredged from maritime deposits. Additional activities include constructing the breakwater, creating pier backs with land-based placement of riprap, executing the seaside and landside superstructures, extending the rainwater drainage network and installing port equipment.

The second phase will focus exclusively on building the vertical quay using reinforced concrete caissons topped with a mass concrete superstructure. 18 concrete caissons in total will be constructed using a floating platform or caisson-builder that facilitates continuous production.

Once completed, the caissons will be floated to their designated positions at the quay. They will be anchored by filling their cells with water until they sink to rest on the prepared foundation. Afterward, the cells will be filled with material, the joints will be sealed using concrete piping, and the gaps between the caissons will be filled with gravel.

Environmentally Friendly Construction

The project has undergone an Environmental Impact Assessment and has received the corresponding Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). It incorporates measures to mitigate turbidity during construction, such as the use of containment barriers and anti-turbidity curtains. Air quality and noise levels will also be closely monitored.

Furthermore, the filling material for the esplanade will be sourced from excavation surpluses from nearby projects.

The materials to fill the caissons will be extracted from a marine area parallel to the Petronor dike, located two miles off the coast to the north, spanning approximately 7.9 square kilometers.

Extensive Port Construction Experience

Sacyr has considerable expertise in port infrastructure projects, such as the extension of the Punta Sollana dock in the Port of Bilbao, the jetty at the Port of Langosteira in A Coruña, the protective works and Cruise Ship Dock at the North Extension of the Port of Valencia, the expansion of the Port of Garrucha (Almería), the fishing port of Blanes (Girona), and the Port of Marín.

Sacyr's maritime bases have allowed the company to develop many projects in the Azores Islands.

ISABEL RUBIO ARROYO | Tungsteno

Nearly two-thirds of the world's population experiences severe water shortages for at least one month each year. UNICEF estimates that half of humanity will be living in regions affected by this crisis in 2025. In recognition of World Water Day (22 March 2025), we explore cutting-edge technologies that are revolutionising water management and quality, offering vital solutions to this global challenge.

A crucial filter for hurricanes and floods

The LifeStraw Max is a powerful water filtration device that purifies contaminated water in seconds. According to its creators, it removes nearly all viruses, bacteria and other pathogens, while also reducing sediment, industrial chemicals, and dissolved metals. This filter is crucial for areas lacking access to safe drinking water, or during emergencies like hurricanes and floods, when water supplies may become unsafe. It was even tested in 2022 during the Jackson, Mississippi water crisis, where over 150,000 people had to boil their water after the municipal system failed.

A device that pulls water from the air

"By next year, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world's population could be living under water stressed conditions," warns Genesis Systems. To help address this crisis, the company has developed devices that extract fresh water directly from the air using renewable energy like solar power or conventional electricity.

"It tasted better than the water from my hotel room tap," said a CNET journalist who sampled the water produced by one of these devices. Systems that capture water from atmospheric moisture could become a vital source of supply in the aftermath of natural disasters. In fact, they have already been deployed at a Florida children's hospital impacted by Hurricane Milton.

Genesis Systems device for extracting drinking water from the air. Credit: Genesis Systems

The sensor that monitors your water usage in real time

Droplet is an innovative ultrasonic sensor installed in household pipes to track water consumption in real time. It detects leaks, analyses usage patterns, and helps optimise water efficiency. Through a mobile app, Droplet provides detailed reports of daily, weekly, and monthly consumption, and also sends alerts for leaks or excessive use. One of its standout features is its ability to identify inefficiencies in household water use—for example, detecting if an old toilet is using more water than necessary. This information could help reduce water consumption and save money.

The technology that turns seawater into drinking water

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 97% of the world's water is found in the oceans and seas. That is why desalination plants have become a key technological solution to combat water scarcity. These facilities use reverse osmosis to remove salt from seawater, transforming it into high-quality drinking water. "Desalinated water has extraordinary quality and purity, as the membranes prevent any type of contaminant from entering it," explains Domingo Zarzo Martínez, president of the Spanish Association of Desalination and Reuse (AEDyR) and director of innovation and strategic projects at Sacyr Agua.

Desalination plants use a process to remove salt from seawater. Credit: Sacyr Concessions

The software that optimises water use for businesses

Waterplan is a software platform that helps companies manage water use more efficiently and sustainably. It combines public data on water sources—such as rivers and aquifers—with internal company consumption data to assess risks like droughts and water shortages in the regions where they operate. This allows businesses to understand how these challenges could impact their production.

Waterplan currently works with more than 30 clients, including Coca-Cola, Amazon, and Anheuser-Busch InBev, helping them visualise the effects of drought and overexploitation on their production. As co-founder José Galindo explains, "water is cheap and plentiful today, but it won't always be; there’s going to be a 30% gap in 2030 between supply and demand. We think that pressure will appear over the next 10 years."

Tungsten is a journalistic laboratory that explores the essence of innovation.

By implementing several initiatives to optimize resource use and minimize environmental impact, this project serves as a prime example of our commitment to circularity.

Walter Díaz, Head of Quality, Environment, and Energy for the project, explains that 2.3 km of polyethylene pipes from the project's bypass system—temporary infrastructure ensuring brine transport during pipe replacement—have been repurposed for recycling. This initiative promotes the circular economy and reduces waste generation.

Reusing Milled Pavement

The milled pavement from the project has also found a second life. The Sallent City Council will reuse 657 m³ of asphalt from Section VII for future works. Meanwhile, the company Deumal will use 70 m³ of asphalt from the Sant Benet road section to produce new bituminous mixtures.

Additionally, 40 certified PEFC wooden units have been acquired for the project, guaranteeing their origin from responsibly managed forests.

Environmental Improvements

This new infrastructure brings significant environmental benefits: it reduces the salinity of the Llobregat and Cardener rivers, replaces an outdated system with a modern, safer, and more efficient one, and promotes the use of reclaimed water in mining operations, freeing up potable water for other purposes.

The Quality, Environment, and Energy Department ensures compliance with the project’s environmental requirements by reporting relevant data and verifying its accuracy. Furthermore, the circular economy measures implemented are closely monitored to share best practices and replicate them in other projects.

Sacyr Circular Transformation

Sacyr Circular Transformation is our monthly series highlighting circular economy initiatives across our global projects, all aligned with our Zero Waste Plan.

Revisit the first edition of this series, where we explain how we close the water cycle in Langosteira.

The construction and maintenance of dams require on-site work, which entails additional time and costs. For this reason, Sacyr Maintenance, in collaboration with Sacyr Holding, is working on 3D dam modeling using Pix4D software, which generates digital twins from drone imagery.

"We designate the area for the drone to fly over, and it captures overhead images along the entire path, scanning the dam's entire surface. This enables the creation of digital models with precise distance measurements," explains Gabriel Palacios, Prevention officer and Director of Drone Operations at Sacyr.

"For example, deteriorated walls with cracks can be dangerous to inspect up close. The drone follows the wall and captures a composite photograph, similar to an orthophoto but aligned with the wall, providing high-definition imagery to identify structural deficiencies. The drone can fly very close to the dam, and the closer it gets, the more detail it captures," Gabriel adds.

The digital model allows for the mapping of terrain topography and structural features, volume calculations, measurements of all visible elements, and comparative studies of different digital models taken at various times.

"Having a digital model provides a 3D-scale representation of the dam, similar to a physical model, where we can visualize, measure, and plan necessary work. This approach offers a wide range of possibilities while reducing time and costs compared to traditional methods," explain José Luis Barragán and Sergio Maestre, Head of dams O&M at Sacyr Maintenance.

Multiple Advantages

The key benefits include time savings, cost reduction, and improved safety. Often, small measurements are needed to determine an element's dimensions. Without an accurate digital model, this would require an on-site visit to the dam, which is often located in remote or difficult-to-access areas.

This technique is currently being used for dam modeling, although similar methods have long been employed in topography for land measurement and stockpile assessment.

3D modeling has already been implemented at the Linares del Arroyo (Segovia), Cazalegas (Toledo), and Estremera (Community of Madrid) dams. The goal is to extend this initiative to all dams under our maintenance program.

ISABEL RUBIO ARROYO | Tungsteno

The Salt Cathedral is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable places in Colombia. True to its name, it is constructed entirely from salt, but that’s only part of its allure. Situated 180 metres below the surface, it features a labyrinth of tunnels and massive salt-carved crosses.

In this piece, we explore the process behind its construction and uncover the secrets hidden within one of Colombia's greatest works of engineering, celebrated as the country's first wonder.

The spiritual refuge of miners

The Salt Cathedral is located in Zipaquirá, a picturesque mining town near the capital, Bogotá. To access the site, visitors pass through a long tunnel lined with eucalyptus logs and illuminated by green lights, adding to the mysterious atmosphere of the place. As you proceed, you enter a series of caverns and chambers adorned with majestic crosses carved in salt and illuminated by coloured lights that lend the space a mystical touch. The cathedral features three central naves symbolising the birth, life, and death and resurrection of Christ, along with an enormous basilica dome.

The indigenous Muisca people were the first to discover these salt deposits more than six centuries ago. Later, Spanish conquistadors arrived in search of El Dorado. "Instead of a city of gold, they discovered a city of salt," Luis Alfonso Rodríguez Valbuena, former mayor of Zipaquirá, told The Washington Post. In its early days, this cathedral was much more modest. Miners initially prayed in a small sanctuary built in the 1930s.

In this humble sanctuary, they prayed to the Virgin of the Rosary of Guasá, the patron saint of miners, seeking protection from toxic fumes, explosions, and the many dangers they faced daily while extracting tonnes of salt. “The work was very dangerous,” Juan Pablo García, the cathedral's administrator, told US broadcaster NPR, referring to the hazardous conditions in Zipaquirá’s salt mines, where commercial mining began in 1815. “Every day that they came out of the mine alive was a reason for giving thanks,” he added.

Access to the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral is through a long tunnel lined with eucalyptus logs. Credit: Zipaquirá Salt Park

The underground reconstruction of a Colombian symbol

The first sanctuary was eventually closed due to instability, and the cathedral itself was shut down in 1992 after years of blasting, hammering and drilling caused structural problems. A public competition was held to replace it, and several proposals were received. The winning design came from Colombian architect Roswell Garabito Pearl, who designed a new church.

A team of more than 100 miners and sculptors was assembled to construct the new cathedral, which is located 200 feet (about 60 metres) below the original. One of the greatest challenges was moving the imposing rock salt altar from the old sanctuary to the new site, according to retired mining engineer Jorge Castelblanco, who was involved in the reconstruction. The altar weighed 16 tonnes and workers had to cut it into three pieces to transport it.

The Salt Cathedral is one of Colombia's most popular tourist destinations. Credit: Travel Life Experiences

Zipaquirá's underground jewel

The Salt Cathedral opened its doors in 1995. Guides often emphasise that everything inside is hand-carved, making it a true masterpiece of engineering and craftsmanship. Since 2024, it has also housed the Monumental Underground Museum 180. Nestled in the depths of this Colombian architectural marvel, the museum showcases 22 marble and stone sculptures crafted by national and international artists.

The crosses of the Salt Cathedral are hand-carved. Credit: Zipaquirá Salt Park

Over the years, the Salt Cathedral has become one of Colombia's most popular destinations for tourists and pilgrims alike, drawing more than 600,000 visitors annually. Although it is not part of the Seven Wonders of the World, it earned a place as one of the Seven Wonders of Colombia in 2007, receiving the highest number of votes in a national competition. Furthermore, in 2024, the Andean Parliament recognised it as a landmark of cultural, natural, and historical heritage within the Andean region.

Tungsten is a journalistic laboratory that explores the essence of innovation.

Our colleagues from Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructures are building an intermodal logistics terminal in La Llagosta (Barcelona) that will transform the region into a strategic node for international freight transport. The project is an example of commitment to the circular economy and sustainability.

One of the most outstanding initiatives is the reuse of materials from the work. In total, 16,000 m³ of asphalt pavement have been collected, of which more than 90% has been reused for the crowning of embankments. In addition, 100% of the ballast (15,000 m³) has been used as a base in the road pavement layer.

"These measures, in addition to promoting circularity and having a positive environmental impact, allow cost savings, reducing the purchase of materials and avoiding their management as waste," explains Arnau Jaumandreu Sellares, Head of Quality, Environment and Energy Project.

Sacyr Circular Transformation

Sacyr Circular Transformation is our monthly series that aims to showcase the circular economy actions we carry out in our projects around the world. All of them are framed in our Zero Waste Plan.
 
Take a look at the first installments of Sacyr Circular Transformation
 
We built a brine collector that extends the lifespan of materials

We wrap up the water cycle in Langosteira

Sacyr Circular Transformation is a new monthly series aimed at showcasing the circular economy initiatives we implement in our projects around the world, all within the framework of our Zero Waste Plan.  

Our Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructure team, in partnership with Obras Taboada Ramos, is carrying out the expansion works of the Outer Port of A Coruña in Punta Langosteira (Spain). These works will provide the infrastructure with railway connectivity, ensuring its full operational capacity. The project is being executed under high environmental standards, safeguarding water quality and respecting its circularity.  

In this first edition, we delve into the treatment of water used in the excavation of the tunnels at the Port of A Coruña, its monitoring, and its subsequent discharge or reuse for industrial purposes. The goal is to minimize environmental impact and maximize water reuse.  

Purification and Reuse Process 

The excavation of tunnels and galleries requires water for machinery to drill through the rock. Once used, this water contains a high concentration of suspended solids, which we remove through decantation. Finally, we adjust the water’s pH by adding CO₂.  

To ensure the quality of the resulting water, we conduct **thorough, continuous, and transparent monitoring** of the project's water quality.  

Once treated, the water is discharged into *atural watercourses such as streams or the sea. It is also reused for industrial purposes by transferring it to the Meicende reservoir.  

At Sacyr, we are committed to promoting circular practices in our projects, in line with the principles of the Zero Waste Plan which fosters synergies across the different projects we execute.  

At the moment, all sludge generated from Sacyr’s wastewater treatment plants in Chile is transported to a sanitary landfill. 

“Sacyr Water in Chile has turned this challenge into a solution that aims to boost the value of this waste 100% by developing a nutritionally and biologically enriched product through the incorporation of phosphate-solubilising microorganisms, struvite, and other mineral sources that serve as fertiliser for agriculture”, explains Ricardo Herrera, Technical Manager of Sacyr Water in Chile and LodoVerde Project Head. 

Laboratory trials are currently underway at the Curauma Biotech Core (Núcleo Biotecnología Curauma, “NBC”), a branch of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, wherein the sludge passes through a laboratory-scale anaerobic digester and a fluidised bed reactor for the production of  struvite. 

“The project will last roughly two years, beginning with an initial phase in the lab, where actual conditions are simulated, and concluding with the implementation of the results obtained. Partner entities will provide support throughout the process, allowing us to take all the sludge generated at our plants to market as agricultural fertiliser. To achieve this, we rely on collaboration from the supplier Abonos San Francisco”, says Etienne Valdés, R&D Analyst for Sacyr Chile’s Innovation Department.  

The idea is to treat as much as 8,000 tonnes of enriched sludge annually and bring it to market by the end of December 2026, which will increase crop productivity by 20% and promote environmental sustainability through more sustainable waste management practices.  

Road infrastructure needs to adapt to the changes made by vehicle manufacturers, both for private and professional use.

According to Marta Gil, Sacyr's Chief Strategy, Innovation and Sustainability Officer, in the future, innovations in connected vehicles and roads will go hand in hand, and "that future consists of providing cars with more technology and on-the-road connectivity, with the incorporation of technology to make these infrastructures smarter and safer, not only for drivers and road users, but also to improve the occupational safety of employees."

Currently, the most booming mobility market trends are autonomous mobility, connected vehicles, and generative artificial intelligence.
A driverless car or bus requires systems that increase road safety, hence Sacyr's interest in learning what the needs of both public customers and the manufacturers of these vehicles are in order to adapt our works and maintenance work, as well as the roads we operate towards more connected mobility.

The second edition of InnoVision, held on November 27 at Sacyr, addressed the challenges and opportunities of connected mobility, paying special attention to regulation in the sector and to learn about real cases of how the most cutting-edge technologies on the market are being implemented.

Right now, we are working on the Sustainable Mobility Law, which aims to guarantee governance and coordination at all levels and thus guarantee mobility as a right. Mobility has to be accessible, inclusive and universal.

In addition, the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility is working on a technological platform to learn driving speeds, their origin and destination on the national road network, the road surface, etc., also with the aim of digitizing processes and avoiding the problem of road safety.

As for Spain’s Directorate General of Traffic, work is being done on a new regulatory framework on vehicles through the modification of the general vehicle regulations.

This entity launched the DGT 3.0 project, in which Sacyr participates, which seeks to find greater safety in employees who work on the roads, with digitized connected cones to show where the works are, also with IoT vests to detect workers on the construction sites, with the aim of giving the citizen as much information as possible.

Likewise, the Madrid City Council is also working on tools that allow drivers to group data to learn driving patterns and thus be able to plan a more controlled mobility. Through big data, it has estimated that 14 million trips occur every day, taking all forms of mobility into account. According to data from the City Council, sustainable mobility has increased, especially in public transport. In addition, 4 million people walk every day. AI allows to see how people move.

Technologies that make a difference

On the same day, specific examples were presented of how progress is being made in the deployment of technological solutions that will allow connected roads to develop their full potential.

This is precisely the objective of the MOVINN innovation ecosystem promoted by Sacyr together with such relevant players in the sector as Renault Group, CTAG, CIDAUT, ITENE, Sernauto, ITS Spain and Pons Mobility, to strengthen collaboration between the entire value chain and promote the development and adoption of these innovations. Among them, some such as: 

-Frontier Project (Factual): It has developed the Smart Roat Index, with a collection of 56 technical attributes classified into three blocks to define technical indicators that allow characterizing an infrastructure rating for autonomous cars: physical, digital and connectivity infrastructure. Its purpose is to preserve the safety of mobility with the aim of studying how autonomous cars are mixed with normal vehicles in infrastructures in a safe way.

-Tecnalia: Connects cameras with drones to capture information on possible risks for workers. It also works with the teleoperation of machinery or vehicles in tedious and repetitive operations within the sector. 

-Valerann: He works to increase road safety through data with the help of artificial intelligence, so that it is understandable and actionable by the operator. How to add value to a road so that autonomous cars go in a safe way so that the car user goes without executing any driving-related actions. 

-Renault, its main objective is safety. They have the Human First program, a system for the driver to identify how they have driven through a score they receive, with the safety code, to improve driving at the moment, or what the braking system is like, measured with the Safety Guard. In its transformation from a company that manufactures cars to a service and technology company, the Renault group is clearly committed to collaboration and open innovation, underlining the importance of coordinating the information currently collected by vehicles with that which companies such as Sacyr recover from the infrastructures they operate.

Plug & Play: The world's largest investor in startups has supported the development of the German technology company Klimator, which makes forecasts on current and future road weather for the entire road network. The company's forecasts allow drivers to connect to roadside weather sensors for real-time information and the winter service industry to make decisions about snow removal and snowmelt. The ability to integrate this technology into the car to increase road safety is being studied.

ISABEL RUBIO ARROYO | Tungsteno

Animal overpasses that keep wildlife safe, rail projects that use advanced hydroseeding and surplus soil management techniques to restore and enhance the landscape, and hospitals designed with natural materials that respect protected species are just a few examples of infrastructure projects that go beyond meeting human needs. These initiatives demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability and integration with the natural environment.

A hospital that prioritises biodiversity

An example of environmentally conscious infrastructure is the Velindre Cancer Centre, developed by the Acorn consortium, made up of Sacyr, Kajima Partnerships and Aberdeen. The design of this cancer hospital, located in south-east Wales, prioritises sustainability by incorporating natural materials to reduce its carbon footprint and preserving least 60% of the surrounding land in its natural state. Efforts to protect local biodiversity include initiatives such as monitoring protected species. The facility will also feature solar and geothermal energy systems, and was honoured in the "Future Healthcare Design" category at the 2023 European Healthcare Design Awards.

This hospital is designed to minimise its carbon footprint and preserve biodiversity. Credit: Sacyr

Bridges that save lives

The Wildlife Crossing Project in Banff National Park, Canada, began in 1978 with the goal of reducing animal-vehicle collisions and restoring migratory routes disrupted by the Trans-Canada Highway. The first two animal overpasses were built in 1996 at a cost of $1.5 million each. The project now includes 38 underpasses and six overpasses that span the entire section of highway within the park.

These structures are designed to allow animals to cross the highway safely. In fact, they have reduced animal-vehicle collisions in the area by more than 80%—and by more than 96% for elk and deer, according to the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). Species such as grizzly bears, wolves, elk, moose and deer tend to favour overpasses, while cougars and black bears prefer the seclusion of underpasses. From a driver’s perspective, the overpasses look like typical highway bridges. However, as APEGA notes, "catch a glimpse of the top, and it’s clear they cater to a different crowd—the forest stretches from one side to the other, uninterrupted by the highway below."

This animal crossing aims to restore migratory routes and reduce collisions with vehicles. Credit: Parks Canada.

A railway project with a focus on the natural environment

Integrating infrastructure into the natural environment is becoming increasingly important in the development of sustainable projects. The Elorrio-Elorrio railway project in the Basque Country in northern Spain is an example of this approach. Developed by Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructures and Cavosa, in collaboration with Mariezcurrena, this 2.8 kilometre section of double-track platform is a key link in the high-speed railway line connecting three major cities in the region.

The project uses innovative techniques such as hydroseeding, which involves spraying seeds onto slopes and embankments to restore degraded landscapes while minimising the environmental impact. In addition, 850,000 cubic metres of surplus soil were relocated and used to create new embankments, improving the integration of the railway into the natural environment.

The project focuses on the development of the Elorrio-Elorrio high-speed rail section, which is part of the Vitoria-Bilbao-San Sebastián line. Credit: Sacyr

A dam that blends into the landscape

The Úzquiza dam, located in the Arlanzón river basin and managed by Sacyr Conservation, is one of the most modern pieces of infrastructure in the Duero region of Spain. The dam provides drinking water to the city of Burgos and nearby towns and was constructed using loose materials, with a minimum of concrete. According to Sacyr, this technique does not compromise the safety of the dam, while allowing vegetation to naturally integrate the dam into the environment: "The reservoir is so well integrated into the landscape that it could be mistaken for a mountain lake."

The Úzquiza dam was constructed using selected soils. Credit: Sacyr

It is vital that infrastructure is integrated into the environment to minimise its ecological impact and promote long-term sustainability. This helps to preserve biodiversity, reduce the fragmentation of natural habitats and avoid the destruction of local ecosystems, as these initiatives demonstrate. Environmental integration also reduces carbon footprints through the use of renewable energy and sustainable materials. This approach not only benefits the environment, but also promotes public acceptance by creating infrastructure that is in harmony with the natural landscape.

· — —
Tungsteno es un laboratorio periodístico que explora la esencia de la innovación.

The top five best cities in responsible mobility in 2024 are Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia, according to PONS Mobility, a consultancy firm specializing in strategic public and private management in responsible mobility and Meep, a digital platform that integrates and connects different transport services by creating sustainable connected mobility ecosystems.

These organizations have published the first ranking of the top 20 most sustainable and safest cities among the main Spanish cities by population, according to data from the INE.

To distinguish whether a city has responsible mobility, this ranking considers governance, modal shift, electrification, and safe mobility.

The report by Meep and PONS Mobility has analyzed up to thirteen key indicators to generate an accurate assessment of each city in relation to its situation, divided into four subgroups to group the set of indicators obtained: governance of Low Emission Zones (LEZs), electrification of the car fleet, modal shift and safe mobility. 

The success of the best-ranked cities has been based on three key pillars identified:

• The coordinated implementation of infrastructures and services, evidenced by the correlation between the density of bike lanes and the use of public transport.
• The efficient use of available aid, with an average execution of 85% of the Recovery Plan funds in the three main categories.
• Digitalization as an integrating element, which has made it possible to reduce waiting times by 24% and increase public transport travel time accuracy to 92%.

Data shows a direct correlation between high scores in this ranking and three fundamental factors: the implementation of low emission zones, transport electrification and the degree of digitalization of mobility services. 

These are the main measures that the best-positioned cities have implemented:

• Barcelona has taken risky decisions in the regulatory field. It has the largest area with low emissions, with complete electrification in its public transport fleet and leadership in terms of charging infrastructures.
• L'Hospitalet stands out for having the lowest percentage of vehicles without an environmental label, only 19%, and a public transport network that serves 82% of its population. 
• Bilbao has managed to transform its urban core with more than 4 kilometers of pedestrian streets per 100,000 inhabitants, the highest ratio among the cities studied, creating an environment that prioritizes pedestrians and significantly reduces emissions in the city center.
• Madrid has managed to electrify 63% of its public transport fleet, one of the highest percentages in the study and has implemented a digital traffic management system that has reduced waiting times by 24%.
• Valencia leads the modal shift, encouraging citizens to seek more sustainable transport options instead of private vehicles.

Future trends

• The modal shift involves infrastructure.

• Pedestrianization of streets towards the 15-minute city concept.

• Electrification of transport fleets with enough charging points.

• Urban toll and digitalization, as is the case in London, Paris, Los Angeles, Paris, cities where parking is charged or access through an access control system according to its volume.

• Speed reduction in urban traffic.

• Reduction of surface parking:  it could be for bicycles and pedestrians.

• Integration of certain means of payment in transport through the implementation of the digital economy. Promotion of sustainable and safe transport.

• More electrification posts, there are already 40,000 charging stations in Madrid.

ISABEL RUBIO ARROYO | Tungsteno

Rem Koolhaas worked as a journalist before becoming an architect. Known for his provocative style, he went on to become one of the world's most influential architects. So much so that he was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2000. His most famous works include the headquarters of China Central Television in Beijing and the Prada Foundation in Milan. But he is most famous for his book Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan, which outlines his perspective on the chaos and vitality of this city.

The book that catapulted Koolhaas to fame

Koolhaas' writings made him famous in the field of architecture before he had completed a single building, as the organisers of the Pritzker Prize note. The Rotterdam-born architect, who spent four years of his youth in Indonesia, was a journalist in the 1960s. After graduating from the London School of Architecture Association in 1972, he received a scholarship to travel and research in the United States. It was there that he wrote Delirious New York, hailed by critics as a classic text on modern architecture and society.

In this book, Koolhaas examines New York as a metaphor for the diversity of human behaviour. In the late 19th century, the explosion of population, technology and information transformed Manhattan into a laboratory for the invention and testing of a new way of life: the culture of congestion. This culture, he says, is reflected in the city's architecture. "Manhattan," writes Koolhass, "is the 20th century’s Rosetta Stone… occupied by architectural mutations (Central Park, the Skyscraper), utopian fragments (Rockefeller Center, the UN Building) and irrational phenomena (Radio City Music Hall)…"

New York City today is a metropolis full of contrasts. Credit: Pxhere

The Chrysler Building sleeps with the Empire State Building

The iconic cover image of the first edition of this book shows the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building lying in the same bed. This symbolic image captures the essence of the architect's approach to New York City, presenting a provocative and playful vision of architecture and urbanism. When Koolhaas wrote it, the city was in a spiral of violence and decay. But he saw it as a potential urban paradise. "It was geared against this idea of New York as a hopeless case," Koolhaas told Smithsonian magazine. "The more implausible it seemed to be defending it, the more exciting it was to write about."

The book explores in depth the chaos and complexity of New York as a constantly evolving metropolis. Although the first skyscrapers were built in Chicago, Koolhaas argues that New York became the true epicentre of urban modernity. Some critics have accused the architect of celebrating Manhattan’s congestion and lack of urban planning. His defenders argue that his analysis seeks to highlight the complexity and vitality of urban life. Today, Koolhaas' view of New York has changed. "I no longer see New York as a physical reality, but as the epicentre of certain values that I don't feel at all close to," he told Icon Design in 2023.

The architect's legacy

In 1975, Koolhaas founded the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in London, a practice that focused on contemporary design. The firm won a competition to expand the parliament building in The Hague and a major commission to develop a master plan for a residential district in Amsterdam. Years later, the architect was commissioned to design and build the Netherlands Dance Theatre.

His most iconic works include the Austrian House, the Taipei Performing Arts Centre, the Qatar National Library and Qatar Foundation Headquarters, the Galeries Lafayette Foundation in Paris, the Prada Foundation in Milan, the China Central Television Headquarters in Beijing and the Seattle Central Library. He also published the mammoth book S, M, L, XL in 1995. In it, he summarised OMA's work in what he called a "novel about architecture," which includes thoughts, plans, photographs, essays and writings of fiction.

The headquarters of China Central Television in Beijing is the work of architects Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Despite the success of Delirious New York and his long career as an architect, Koolhass, 79, says he has never had it easy: "We have never been able to turn clients away. We've never had that moment of guaranteed peace of mind. And I think it's because, as well as bringing an interest in architecture, we were at the same time imparting criticism, which made our approach less attractive to many clients. We probably scared off as many as we attracted," he says.

Tungsteno is a journalism laboratory to scan the essence of innovation.

In January of this year, the Community of Madrid approved the Cognitive Hospital project, a platform designed for the comprehensive management of hospital infrastructure. 

Sacyr leads the consortium developing this project, which includes participation from Sener Mobility, Fracttal, Cuatro Digital, Open Ingenius, Áptica, and the technology centers of Tecnalia, UPM, and CSIC.

We are already working on developing innovative pilot projects utilizing new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), IoT, advanced algorithms, 7D BIM, Big Data, and more to transform hospital management. 

Sacyr has developed a smart platform that optimizes the building's operation and maintenance processes. Its implementation enhances energy efficiency and improves the air quality within the hospital.

Additionally, a digital twin based on the hospital's BIM model has been developed and will be integrated with the cognitive platform, enabling predictive maintenance.

Furthermore, through augmented reality, it will be possible to obtain information from any hospital facility and system, facilitating building maintenance tasks. 

Additionally, through the use of LiDAR sensors and AI algorithms, alerts will be generated to detect queue formation, aiming to reduce waiting times and improve patient care.

Sener, using artificial intelligence, processes different types of data to predict thermal behavior and the risk of disease transmission through air and water. The system will automatically adjust equipment operation to improve the quality of life for patients and healthcare workers while minimizing energy consumption. 

Fracttal geolocates the strategic assets of hospitals in real time, significantly reducing the search times for healthcare personnel. Its technology enables detailed control over the status, maintenance, and availability of each asset.
Open Ingenius, using virtual reality, creates environments for continuous staff training on occupational risks and emergencies, without disrupting hospital operations or compromising user care quality. 

Cuatro Digital leverages blockchain technology to ensure circularity by certifying the accuracy, accessibility, and transparency of data. It will collect data on construction materials, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions.

Aptica is deploying a new multi-technology communications network throughout the hospital to support all use cases. The result will be a robust and stable network that allows comprehensive connectivity across sensors, systems, and equipment, facilitating daily hospital operations.

European Funding

The Cognitive Hospital project (file no. 59/178676.9/23) is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund as part of the ERDF operational program of the Community of Madrid for the period 2021-2027. Implementation will take place at Hospital del Henares (Coslada, Madrid), managed by Sacyr, over a period of three years (2024-2027).

This ambitious project has a budget of €6.1 million, including a €2.9 million grant from the Community of Madrid. These funds are part of the 2023 grant call to enhance public-private cooperation in R&D&I through projects with a significant "tractor" effect.

Concrete is the most durable, versatile, and accessible material for construction, but it is also one of the most polluting, as its manufacturing process generates significant CO₂ emissions.

For this reason, Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructure is seeking innovative solutions to mitigate these environmental impacts, a goal achieved with the B-LOW2 project: “Eco-sustainable Cement-Based Materials that Reduce Our Carbon Footprint.” This initiative eliminates one of the most polluting components in concrete production: clinker.

This project is funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, through the State Research Agency under the call for “Public-Private Collaboration Projects.”

Clinker is responsible for 65% of CO₂ emissions in concrete production. This project explores how to eliminate it and replace it with other sustainable materials that meet the performance standards required by current regulations.

The European Commission has set the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, positioning the Spanish cement industry as a key player in this ecological transition. B-LOW2 project aligns with the policies of the “European Green Deal” and the “2030 Agenda,” promoting circular economy principles and the use of recycled materials.

In this project, sustainable resources derived from waste will be used to reduce clinker and conventional aggregates, enabling the development of both structural and non-structural concretes as well as special mortars. This approach aims not only to cut CO₂ emissions but also to limit the consumption of natural resources.

The materials selected to replace clinker include construction and demolition waste (C&D waste), biomass, stainless steel slag, and kaolinite.
This initiative is driven by the Innovation and Operations Departments at Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructure, in collaboration with Grupo Puma and the Universities of Córdoba and Granada.

Additionally, Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructure is researching other types of sustainable concretes, currently under development in pilot projects.

Other Developments in Sustainable Concrete

This is not Sacyr’s first venture into sustainable concretes. In collaboration with Flexofibers, Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructure developed new concrete reinforcement fibers that replace traditional steel reinforcements with materials derived from end-of-life tires (ELTs). The first application was for a slope outside the Zumelegi tunnel in Elorrio (Vizcaya). These concretes, certified by the Torroja Institute of Construction Science, foster circular economy practices within the sector.

In addition, Sacyr Chile has developed a new type of concrete using recovered glass waste sourced from major cities such as Santiago and Valparaíso to reduce the proportion of cement content in the material.
Glass contributes an average of 13.4% increased mechanical strength in concrete after 28 days, enhancing durability.

Thanks to its fire-resistant, inert, pozzolanic properties and amorphous atomic structure, glass has various industrial applications, such as urban furniture, 3D printing, and radiation shielding in nuclear facilities.

This innovative concrete contains reduced cement content, water, aggregates, and powdered glass. Currently, the glass powder—provisionally named WG-X—is prepared through various processes including selection, control, crushing, and measurement.

Understanding road-surface conditions is essential to performing proper maintenance that improves highway safety.  

Sacyr InRoad is an innovative initiative from Sacyr Conservation based on artificial intelligence. This award-winning technology continuously assesses the main markers and indices that gauge roadway conservation.  

With this project Sacyr Conservation won the AXA Award for Innovation and Development in Road Safety at the 14th annual “Ponle Freno” Awards, organised by Atresmedia.

Continuing the success of the prototype, Sacyr now unveils InRoad Evo. With help from the Plan to Support Sustainable and Digital Transport (Plan de Apoyo al Transporte Sostenible y Digital) to promote industrialisation processes, the project has been scaled up through the manufacture of 11 devices that include improvements to new inclination and temperature sensors to help optimise the algorithm and yield more precise results.  

“The project features two technologies: one that analyses the road surface and another that assists in interpreting the results”, explains  Alejandro Otero, Innovation Project Manager for Sacyr’s Innovation Division.
Sacyr InRoad measures the force exerted by vehicles, ground temperature, etc. 

With regard to concession assets, it is essential to know the condition of the road surface in order to maintain a level of service and anticipate future deterioration, invariably with a focus on user safety.

To that end, Sacyr Conservation and Sacyr Concessions, together with the company’s Innovation areas, are currently collaborating to implement one of these devices on the Eresma highway (A-601 between Cuéllar and Segovia).
 

In addition, Sacyr Concessions will be able to feed the Prediction Tools, which will use the data collected by InRoad to predict how road surfaces behave in the long term, based on real data. The data obtained also helps the decision-making process when building new roads.  

Cost savings and increased road safety

Regularly attending to minor road damage not only improves safety, but is up to 3x cheaper than waiting to carry out major repairs. 

Sacyr InRoad was developed in conjunction with the Instituto Tecnológico de Castilla y León to boost service quality and fulfil Sacyr’s commitment to the environment and safety for both users and workers.  

Through artificial intelligence and other innovative technologies, the use of InRoad helps prevent accidents and reduce CO₂ emissions. 

According to a report by the Spanish Roadway Association (Asociación Española de la Carretera), a well-maintained system of roads could cut CO₂ emissions from lightweight and heavy vehicles by 9% and 6%, respectively. Moreover, flat surfaces with sufficient rolling capacity reduce fuel consumption by 3%-6%. 

According to data from the Highway Safety Department of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Fiscalía de Seguridad Vial del Ministerio Fiscal), 30% of traffic accidents occur as a result of poor road conditions.  

This project is the successful consequence of the synergies derived from the various divisions that make up Sacyr, with the ultimate goal of circulating these devices worldwide to improve road conditions on an ongoing basis.