We glimpse a new stage after a long period of pandemic that we are beginning to overcome thanks to the effort, resilience and exemplary behaviour that we have shown as a society, expressing our special thanks to all those who form part of Ineco.

In this context of a gradual return to normality, we are continuing our roadmap with the aim of making an effective contribution to improving people’s quality of life. Against this background, in this new edition we take an in-depth look at four recent works carried out in our country that are firmly committed to making further progress towards this goal. The new maritime station of Ceuta, designed by our architectural and engineering teams, is an efficient technical and architectural solution that significantly improves the comfort and functionality of the building, organises traffic flows and reinforces its security. This is clearly a major benefit for the more than two million people who use these facilities every year.

In the aerospace field, we learn about the main developments at ENAIRE from its General Director, Ángel Luis Arias, who provides us with highly relevant information on the company’s new strategy, in which social, environmental, safety and technological aspects are becoming increasingly important.

We glimpse a new stage after a long period of pandemic that we are beginning to overcome thanks to the effort, resilience and exemplary behaviour that we have shown as a society

From a transport and land mobility perspective, Josep Vicent Boira, Government Commissioner for the Mediterranean Corridor, provides interesting data on the development of the Cartographic Viewer of the Mediterranean Corridor, a cutting-edge tool that is extremely useful for monitoring the progress of this infrastructure, a key connection with Europe. We also report on the work to adapt the tunnels of the Directorate-General for Roads of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and the Urban Agenda to European regulations.

On the international front, we focus on Africa, Europe, Latin America and Oceania. Aeronautical solutions on two Cape Verde islands, field work for our client Rail Baltica in Latvia, the latest studies carried out for Aerocivil de Colombia at El Dorado airport, as well as the ongoing railway signalling work in Australia, highlight the important role played by Ineco equipment throughout the world.

The commitment to Spanish engineering talent, through the promotion and transmission of knowledge provided by the company’s training programmes; the promotion of social and innovative action with tools such as the TEAcompaño  mobile application –which improves accessibility to air transport for children with ASD– and the commitment to environmental sustainability, led by our team specialising in noise pollution, round up the contents of this edition, which we share with all our readers.

Rail Baltica is a rail transport infrastructure project, the largest in the region during the last century, which will integrate the Baltic States into the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) by means of an 870-kilometre conventional and electrified, international gauge, high-speed line. The EU-funded project will connect Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia with the rest of Europe via Poland and, through an indirect connection by ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki, also with Finland, at a maximum speed of 249 km/h for passengers and 120 km/h for freight.

Since 2019, Ineco has entered into four contracts for the line, in consortium with two Spanish engineering companies: the first, with Ardanuy, for the study of the energy subsystem of the entire line. Another contract, in consortium with the same firm, is for the study of the location and development of the maintenance depots and Railheads for the construction of the entire railway line, along with maintenance strategies. The third, in consortium with Idom, is the design of the 56-kilometre stretch through the Latvian capital, known as the Riga Ring.

The fourth, led by Ineco and in consortium with Ardanuy, was signed in April 2020 and comprises the design and design supervision during the execution of works on the 94-kilometre section known as Latvia North, which runs in a north-south direction from the Latvian-Estonian border to the city of Vangazi, northwest of Riga. The scope of the works is divided into two phases: the design stage, with an expected duration of 30 months, and the construction supervision phase, with an estimated duration of five years. The contract includes the development of the entire railway, the complete design of the roads and all geotechnical works, which started in March 2020 and will last until the end of 2022. The works are divided into three phases, the first of which was completed in July 2021.

The analysis of the geological characteristics and the load-bearing capacity of the ground is essential for the proper design of the foundations of the future railway line’s platform, embankments and all bridges, viaducts and drainage works, as well as roads.

The ground investigation work, both subsoil and surface, includes the geotechnical campaign, the location of deposits for the supply of construction materials, the BIM integration of the geological model into the project, the creation of an inventory of buildings for the design of acoustic barriers, the investigation of unique construction features and the coordination and obtaining of construction permits. The company currently has an office in the central district of Riga with a team of railway, road and geotechnical engineers and a geologist to carry out the work.

Geotechnical SITE INVESTIGATIONS

The project area is located on glacial, subglacial, fluvial and coastal lands of Quaternary origin and geomorphology. A detailed study is required between every 100 and 300 metres with different types of follow-up investigations to study the geotechnical behaviour of the ground and the existing hydrogeological model. For this reason, during the two-year duration of the project, about 1,500 geotechnical investigations will be carried out, completing more than 350 investigations that have already been done, as well as other historical investigations by the Latvian Geological Institute. In total, nine geotechnical campaigns will be done almost simultaneously.

Due to the peculiarities of the region and its accessibility characteristics, the following types of research are being carried out:

• A survey of old unexploded ordnance (UXO Analysis, UneXploded Ordnance): before beginning any geotechnical investigation, a preliminary geophysical investigation with magnetometric methods is required to detect possible unexploded ordnance, remnants of World War II. This research is carried out by military experts approved by the Latvian Ministry of Defence.
• Core drilling boreholes with core recovery: oriented towards the analysis of the foundations of structures, these are boreholes 25 to 50 metres depth that analyse the substratum, taking lithological samples of soils and rocks and analysing their geomechanical behaviour in the laboratory.
• Small diameter percussion gouge drilling: this is a technique commonly used in the Baltic countries, which is not common in Spain. This consists of ‘mini-drilling’ at a maximum depth of 6 to 10 metres, which allows a quick, versatile, convenient and economical study of the influence area on the ground for the foundations of embankments. The big advantage is that these drills can be transported almost anywhere, due to their small size.
• Mechanical trial pits: the collection of soil samples using trial pits makes it possible to study its behaviour with a view to reusing it for embankment fills, given the high demand for such material.
• Dynamic Penetration Tests: although in Spain the use of DPSH (Dynamic Probing Super Heavy) and SPT (Standard Penetration Test) in boreholes are widely used as in situ tests to measure soil strength and bearing capacity, in the Baltic countries, and specifically in Latvia, where there is a large amount of soft soils and peat areas, it is necessary to resort to lighter methods, such as DPL. This type of test requires equipment that is easier to transport and is suitable for areas that are difficult to access.
• Other alternative methods: sometimes it is necessary to resort to alternative surface sampling such as auger drilling or Shelby tubes, mainly for taking undisturbed samples from areas of peat and thixotropic soils (soils with a gel-like consistency), in order to analyse their special characteristics and geomechanical behaviour under stress.

The ground conditions pose significant challenges for the implementation of the campaign: a natural environment that is difficult to access, with dense forests and numerous rivers and wetlands; the presence of wildlife such as bears, deer and reindeer; and the cold and wet climate, which affects machinery. In terms of soil type, there are large flooded areas and an abundance of soft and peaty soils, which need to be analysed in detail to avoid differential settlement and embankment failure in the future.

Other works

The Ineco team is also working to locate deposits for the supply of materials. The Latvia North section will be built almost entirely on embankments with an average height of 4 to 5 metres along its 94-kilometre length. This amounts to some 8 million m³ of material. Therefore, all active quarries in a 60-kilometre radius surrounding the route, some 100 in total, are being inventoried.

In addition, nearly 1,000 affected buildings have been visited, studied and inventoried in order to design measures to minimise the acoustic impact of the future railway line, one of the fundamental aspects of the project from an environmental point of view.

Meanwhile, drainage works, viaducts, canals or unique features of the terrain are being routinely visited to take measurements and gather detailed information on the construction elements for the rest of the team.

Ineco’s local team is also in charge of coordinating and obtaining construction permits, which requires coordinating all those involved: administrations, municipalities, public companies and owners.

It should also be noted that all the geotechnical investigations carried out are integrated into the project’s BIM environment, using specialised software. This provides a 3D geological model, which enables the interaction of structures and construction elements with the local geology to be observed, facilitates a more detailed, accurate and efficient design, and improves the planning of works.

In extraordinary times like these, properly harnessing our potential is also yielding extraordinary results. With our vocation for innovation and the solid capacity to adapt that we have demonstrated since the very beginning, the current situation has allowed us to consolidate the strengths that set us apart, design new services that respond to emerging needs, and offer the best from our primary asset, the team that makes up Ineco. In short, we are moving forward, growing together.

The role and talent of Spanish engineering has meant that, for the first time in the more than 50 years of our history, we are now operating on all five continents. We have made our entry into Australia as part of the technical team that is promoting the modernisation of Sydney’s commuter network, drawing on Ineco’s extensive experience in the railway sector. In addition to this project, which is a symbolic milestone for all of us, Ineco was also awarded contracts with Rail Baltica and the works for Vilnius airport, both in Europe, the sustainability study for Dammam airport and the integral management of the plan for the Kuwait international airport expansion, in Asia, and the project recently signed in Costa Rica, on the American continent.

In Spain, we continue to focus our work on continuing to grow together with our clients and shareholders, contributing to the maintenance of essential services that seek to guarantee sustainable development, such as the services provided in Spain for Aena related to its carbon footprint and the fight against climate change,the work for ENAIRE, which for the first time successfully tested remote operation of SACTA, and the works and installations for Adif that will enable it to improve the quality of the service and advance in the efforts to bring high-speed rail to Extremadura.

In extraordinary times like these, properly harnessing our potential is also yielding extraordinary results

Ineco’s commitment to developing its talent has enabled it to continue to grow its position as a ground-breaking transport engineering and consultancy firm in the design of innovative and cutting-edge projects. One clear example of this is the international Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award given by Esri, a world leader in software for Geographic Information Systems, which recognises Ineco’s ground-breaking work in Spain using the BIM methodology in a GIS environment when designing a new stretch of highway. Accordingly, this edition includes an article on linear infrastructure projects in several countries where we are applying the BIM methodology. We also cover the Innova Award awarded to Ineco for the EOS project, a software product with unique features previously unavailable on the market.

Lastly, within the framework of our Agenda 2030 Plan, we highlight the importance of Ineco’s compliance programme, an example of our firm commitment to ethics that forms part of our Atenea Strategic Plan, guaranteeing respect for the law and trust amongst our stakeholders. Compliance is a culture that enables us to continue growing together to continuously improve our company, avoiding risks and producing legal security.

Rail Baltica is northeastern Europe’s most important project, a high-performance railway line that will extend over 870 kilometres across the three republics, thanks to an investment of 5.8 billion euros and will create nearly 36,000 jobs. The project involves five European Union countries: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and, indirectly, Finland. It will connect Helsinki, Tallinn, Pärnu, Riga, Panevéžys, Kaunas, Vilnius and Warsaw. Described by the Transport Ministers of the Baltic Republics as the great economic recovery project, the truth is that the implementation of Rail Baltica involves a large part of the European railway engineering and construction sector, including Ineco, which to date has been involved in four projects that, in accordance with EU indications, are aimed at achieving technical compatibility of infrastructure, rolling stock, signalling systems and other systems and procedures for their full integration into the European railway network.

A SUSTAINABLE CORRIDOR. The new railway line will bring not only economic benefits, but also significant environmental and social improvements.

The Riga Ring, the most complicated urban stretch

The technical design of the 56-kilometres high-speed section through the city of Riga, the capital of Latvia, is the most complex stretch of the line since it passes through several densely populated municipalities and runs parallel to the rail corridor of the Latvian railways. Ineco and Idom were awarded this contract in July 2019.

The route is divided into three subsections (Design Priority Sections, DPS): Upeslejas-Riga Central (DPS 2); Tornakalns-Imanta (DPS 1) and Riga-Misa International Airport (DPS 3). Each of these has its own identity and completely different characteristics. DPS 1 is the most urban of the three sections, since it passes through the entire municipality of Riga, as well as areas with great heritage value. The route’s only tunnel is located here in DPS 1. DPS 2 passes through Riga and Stopini, which is less urban than the previous stretch. In this DPS, a major railway viaduct will be built over the Latvian railway circuit. Lastly, section DPS 3, the least urban of all, is characterised by intersections with various motorways generating multiple structures at these junctions. The project includes several improvements, including track alignment in order to achieve the highest possible speed in the different sections, as well as improved permeability and safety in the city of Riga by generating more than a dozen pedestrian crossings (in the form of walkways or underpasses) that are suitable for pedestrians, cyclists and people with disabilities. Road traffic in Riga will also be improved, thanks to the design of bridges and road junctions with a higher capacity. The project has a completion time of 24 months and is adjacent to the work recently awarded to Ineco in Northern Latvia.

With more than 600,000 inhabitants, Riga is the most populated city in the Baltic States, and its geographical location makes it a strategic enclave for passenger and freight transport. Located at the mouth of the great Daugava River, a few metres above sea level, the city is one of the most important economic and financial centres in the Baltic region. As a result, in addition to the fact that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this city and its surroundings are a major attraction for the population, and the improvement of its railway network is vital for its economic and social development.

North Latvia, a long route through forests and wetlands

Ineco, in consortium with Ardanuy, will lead the design and supervision of the design during the construction of a 94-kilometre European-gauge stretch, which connects the city of Vangaži, northwest of Riga, and the border between Latvia and Estonia, in a contract worth almost 14 million euros.

The recently-signed North Latvia contract is one of Rail Baltica’s major railway projects and Ineco’s fourth for this ambitious new infrastructure in northeastern Europe, which will integrate the Baltic States into the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-t).

The preliminary estimates for this section include, in addition to three stations, large and complex new infrastructure such as 36 road viaducts, 3 ecoducts and 16 railway bridges, including the viaduct over the Gauja River, the largest of all of the lines, with a total length of approximately 1.5 kilometres and more than 150 metres wide, for which the consortium will be joined by the firm Carlos Fernández-Casado SL, which is renowned for the design and supervision of large bridges and specialises in structures, some of which are among the longest in the world.

All the work that Ineco is carrying out for Rail Baltica is being
done with BIM technology

The scope of the work is divided into two phases, the design stage, with an estimated duration of 30 months, and the construction supervision stage, with an estimated duration of five years. Ineco will lead the project with the development of the entire railway section, in addition to the complete design of roads and geotechnical works. The entire project will be carried out with BIM, from the initial phases to study solutions and optimise the route, to the detailed design phases that will facilitate the execution of the civil engineering project.

Optimal electrification solutions

The planned substations are similar to this one located in Tábara (Zamora), Spain. / PHOTO_INECO

The study of the energy subsystem for the entire line was Ineco’s first contract with Rail Baltica. Awarded in consortium with Ardanuy, this is an in-depth analysis to assess the best available technologies and a design aimed at reducing life cycle costs.

The purpose of the study was to choose the optimal technological solutions for the different areas of the energy subsystem (traction, catenary and remote control substations), define how to tender the design and construction and specify the implementation strategy. This work gave Rail Baltica basic knowledge that will make it easier for it to deal with the upcoming design and technical assistance tenders.

Energy, step by step:

• Energy demand studies.
• Electricity power analysis and estimate for distribution networks.
• Traction substations, overhead contact line and energy control systems.
• Implementation and procurement plan.

The joint venture that is executing the Rail Baltica project –a rail network for passengers and freight that will connect Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with Finland and Poland and the rest of Europe– has awarded the Spanish engineering firms IDOM and Ineco the technical design contract for a 56-kilometre high-speed section in the city of Riga, consisting of three subsections: Upeslejas central station-Riga (in the image); Tonsakalns-Imanta and Riga International Airport-Misa River. The project, which was awarded in May, has a 24-month deadline.

Ineco is already working on two other contracts for Rail Baltica, in this case in consortium with the Spanish company Ardanuy: the implementation of energy systems and definition of maintenance facilities on the entire 870-kilometre line.

The company has been awarded two contracts that are part of the Rail Baltica project, a modern high-speed rail corridor that will link the Baltic Republics to the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The new infrastructure will connect Poland to Finland via Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with an 870-kilometre double-track railway line (213 km in Estonia, 265 in Latvia and 392 in Lithuania).

One of the contracts involves the definition of a strategy to implement the energy system and, the other, the definition of maintenance facilities along the entire line. Both projects will be carried out in consortium with the Spanish company Ardanuy.