Obtaining LEED certification for the new passenger terminal at Kuwait International Airport (KIA) was a project requirement proposed by the Kuwait Ministry of Public Works and designers Foster + Partners. This LEED certification is promoted by the US non-governmental organisation USGBC (United States Green Building Council), which awards the final certificate to the building upon completion of the independent review of the entire project documentation. The London-based architectural firm was commissioned to design the project in accordance with these sustainability strategies. Subsequently, the Turkish construction company Limak, winner of the construction competition, is executing the design in accordance with the best construction practices required by the certification.

The project aims to generate at least 10% of the energy consumed inside, and reduces overall consumption by 27% compared to a reference building

Ineco is providing project management services for the three work packages into which the project has been divided, aimed at significantly increasing the country’s passenger transit capacity, and establishing a new hub in the Persian Gulf. The project consists of a state-of-the-art infrastructure, which will set a new environmental benchmark for airport buildings. Its design responds to the local climate, one of the warmest inhabited environments on earth, and is inspired by local building shapes and materials.

The passenger terminal has a floor plan with three symmetrical wings, where each façade is 1.2 kilometres long, all extending from a spectacular 25-metre-high central space. The project aims to achieve LEED Gold certification for environmental design, and to being one of the largest passenger terminals in the world to do this.

Energy consumption is optimised through efficient mechanical systems, from lighting to air conditioning. Pictured here is a detail of the 8,000 skylights on the roof that maximise natural light. / PHOTO_MPW (MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS)

LEED certification, which stands for Leader in Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Design, means that the building or project to which it refers is built according to eco-efficiency standards and meets sustainability requirements. This certification is voluntary and rewards the use of sustainable strategies in all the building’s construction processes, through a design aimed at maximising energy efficiency, water savings, waste reduction and the use of sustainable materials, as well as optimising the health and well-being of the terminal’s occupants and visitors.

INTEGRATED WATER CYCLE. In Terminal 2, potable water consumption will be reduced by 45% through the use of low-flow taps and the reuse of grey water.

Total potable water consumption will be reduced by 45% through the use of low-flow taps and the reuse of grey water.

The project has been designed to reduce its impact on the environment by minimising the ‘heat island effect’, which is a rise in temperature in cities caused by an increase in impermeable and heat-absorbing surfaces such as concrete and asphalt. This effect can be reduced by providing a green roof over the parking building and an oasis at the entrance to the terminal that welcomes passengers with a microclimate several degrees below the surrounding environment. All landscaped areas have been designed with native species and/or those adapted to Kuwait’s desert climate, incorporating light, heat-rejecting materials in the exterior cladding and canopies.

The building’s thermal envelope includes a roof structure with an air gap with high thermal inertia and a glazed façade that is shaded by a 60-metre cantilever. This reduces the thermal gains that must be abated by the air conditioning system, reducing energy consumption while improving the thermal comfort inside the terminal.

Natural light is maximised through the 8,000 skylights incorporated into the roof design, and energy consumption is optimised through efficient mechanical systems, from lighting to air conditioning.

The roof incorporates 81,444 photovoltaic panels with an installed peak power of 29.4 MWp that will generate 49.98 GWh annually, representing 10% of the total energy consumed by the building. This is the largest photovoltaic installation in an airport terminal.

Thanks to this and other energy efficiency measures, the project manages to reduce overall energy consumption by 27% compared to a reference building designed under the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 standard, according to energy calculations made by the US consultancy firm The Spinnaker Group.

Total potable water consumption will be reduced by 45% through the use of low-flow taps and the reuse of grey water collected from sinks for toilet flushing. Water from the toilets is treated and reused to irrigate the landscaped areas, thus completing the integral water cycle and reducing by 100% the potable water needed for irrigation. Materials in Terminal 2 have been specifically selected so that a significant proportion of them contain recycled or rapidly renewable materials from regional suppliers, aiming to reduce the use of finite resources by 20% and minimising transport distances. To ensure a healthy indoor environment, building materials such as paints, sealants and adhesives have been specifically selected with a low level of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), while air conditioning systems have been designed to increase outdoor air ventilation rates by 30%.

View of the floor plan of the new terminal divided into three packages.

Finally, construction sites often produce large amounts of solid waste, increasing the burden on dwindling landfills and causing soil, water and air pollution. In the construction of Terminal 2, the aim is to recycle, reuse or donate at least 75% of the waste produced on site.

Ineco will form part of the team responsible for the airport planning tasks associated with the construction of the future third runway at Taoyuan International Airport, the largest and most important airport in Taiwan.

Among the works to be carried out will be the definition of low visibility procedures in the area and an estimate of the capacity in such conditions, the definition of new stop bars and taxi routes and other aeronautical safety studies. An analysis of the construction method of the current end-of-runway access taxiway (05L/23R) will also be carried out and the safety of operations will be assessed so that they are not compromised during the execution of the work.

Since the beginning of its aeronautical activity in the mid-1990s, Ineco has participated in the enlargements of major Spanish airports (Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Málaga, etc.), before making use of this experience in other countries such as Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Peru, Colombia, the USA, the Netherlands and the Ukraine, among others.

The deployment of Ineco’s integrated project management team to take operational readiness activation and transfer (ORAT) for the expansion of Kuwait International Airport (KIA) has begun. In the picture, from left to right, the first arrivals in October, engineers Ángel Toro, Stephen Manjai and Samuel Machín.

The expansion includes a new 700,000 m² terminal building, extensions to both runways and a new control tower.

Aeronautical information publication  (AIP) is the package of data originating from multiple sources that makes air navigation possible. For example, pilots can know which part of the air space they can use (the airway, similar to a road on the ground), what obstacles there are, whether they are following the correct route (radio aids), whether they are going to encounter fog or wind (meteorological information), if there are other aircraft and where they are, etc. The Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) in each country gather, verify and disseminate all of this information.

AIXM is a digital model that is being implemented at airports worldwide. It establishes a common language and system among the different Aeronautical Information Services in each country. Not just to codify aeronautical information but also to manage, distribute and verify the information and provide traceability from source to publication.

Ineco and ADAC teams after the project kick-off meeting in February 2018. / PHOTO_ADAC

In 2018, the government airport manager, ADAC (Abu Dhabi Airports Company) commissioned Ineco to research the process to implement AIXM services at its airports and the impact on its existing systems. The analysis also identified what would need to be done under ATM (air traffic management) requirements and to address the ADAC environment, but also to identify the gaps in its existing systems.

Ineco had worked previously in the emirate: from 2014 to 2019 it worked with Aena Internacional on operational readiness and transition (ORAT) for the new MTC (Mildfield Terminal Complex) at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Similarly, from 2015 to 2019 Ineco worked in collaboration with PMDC as project manager on the expansion of Fujairha Airport, also for ADAC.

AIXM is a file format for modelling and exchange of aeronautical information in digital format for global use

The Ineco study

To assess the implementation of AIXM in Abu Dhabi’s airports, we started by reviewing data management based on the current situation. We identified the different sources of information and determined what process was being used for the communication with the Emirates civil aviation authority (GCAA) for each AIRAC (Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control) cycle, (an aeronautical information system that shows operational changes to facilities, services and procedures, published every 28 days) for permanent changes; and notification of temporary changes or NOTAM.

Various processes were also reviewed, such as the preflight information service, flight planning, management of NOTAM information, the collection and publication of aeronautical information from Abu Dhabi’s airports, etc.

Controllers at Abu Dhabi International Airport. PHOTO_ADAC

The next task was to test the implementation of AIXM, which incorporates a definition of the data chain, including data originators and aeronautical information itself, commercial providers and end users. That definition introduced two key concepts for aeronautical information: timeliness and quality, on which the efficiency of the process depends to a large extent. Key performance indicators (KPI) were also set, measured at the time and projected following implementation of the model.

Subsequently, a number of scenarios for AIXM implementation within ADAC were defined and a transition plan was developed. For the scenarios, various lines of communication were reviewed and analysed: between ADAC/AIS and Civil Aviation, between the airports and ADAC, between ADAC and air traffic control, and others. Having determined that continuity of the client’s business during the change was essential, functionality, maintainability and safety indicators were established, based on the ISO/IEC 25000 standard.

The control tower, 110 metres tall and opened in 2011. / PHOTO_GERT MEWES (FLICKR)

With the aim of selecting the best option for each line of communication, Ineco prepared a questionnaire for stakeholders. Based on the answers to the questionnaire, we fine-tuned and selected a final scenario for each line of communication. The final step consisted in drawing up the technical and operational specifications for ADAC to launch a bidding process for the installation and commissioning of a fully AIXM-compatible system. We also drew up a human resources plan and listed the suppliers of the tools in the model.

The expansion includes, among other works, the construction of a new 700,000 m² terminal building (the main purpose of this contract, and whose construction began in 2017), the extension of the two runways, the construction of a new third runway, a new control tower, and the construction of the associated infrastructure on the land and air sides of the airport. This award will enable Ineco to participate in one of the most emblematic airport projects in the Middle East. Ineco, the leader of the consortium, together with its local partners, the Kuwaiti firms KUD (Kuwait United Development) specialising in project management, and the engineering and architecture firm Dar al Jazera Consultants, will coordinate the work of the many consultants and contractors from various countries involved in the works, which will increase the airport’s capacity to 25 million passengers, which in a second phase that is being considered would raise capacity to 50 million in its final stage.

For Ignacio Alejandre, ORAT project manager, “the contract is a major challenge for Ineco. Its complexity and scope will demand the best of the team on the ground and support from all areas of the company.” Ineco previously worked at this airport between 2011 and 2016, carrying out project management tasks and updating the 2010 Master Plan for the Kuwait Civil Aviation Authority.

Project head Angel Toro stresses that “in terms of airports, this is one of the most ambitious projects underway in the world today. It will be a highly motivating challenge for a team of between 40 and 50 people, and will enable Ineco to be a key player in the development of this airport.”

Division of the works into three main packages

Due to the large number and magnitude of the planned works, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Public Works has divided the works into three main packages, which will be tendered separately: the first package includes the new main terminal building, a central plant building for power and chilled water, another for the water supply and an utility tunnel that will connect the terminal building with the future cargo area of the airport. The second is a car park with 5,200 spaces (a total area 325,000 m²), landscaping, an underground sewage treatment plant, the new access roads and four storm water storage tanks. The third package includes the main apron, new taxiways, several tunnels that will connect the new terminal with the rest of the facilities and a consolidation centre between the landside and airside, which will include waste management facilities, storage dedicated for the retail shops and facilities for the Ministry of the Interior and Custom Control.

The expansion includes, among other works, the construction of a new 700,000 m² terminal building, the extension of the two runways and a new control tower, which will increase the capacity to 25 million passengers

Under this contract, with a completion time of 50 months, Ineco will also provide ORAT (Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer) services for the last two years, which include the planning, validation and execution of live exams called ‘trials’ of all the systems and procedures for the terminal prior to its commissioning, as well as personnel training, to ensure that the opening of the new facilities goes smoothly. The company has extensive experience in ORAT in major airports in Spain – Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Valencia, Alicante, etc. – and other countries – Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Newark (USA), etc.

Signing of the contract by the Spanish commercial attaché in Kuwait, Francisco J. Medina, on behalf of Ineco.

Kuwait International Airport, which went into operation in 1961, is located in Farwaniyah, 16 kilometres south of the capital, Kuwait City. It has two parallel runways of 3,400 and 3,500 metres in length and 11 aircraft parking aprons and two control towers: a main tower, located between the two runways, and an apron movement control tower. The main passenger terminal shaped like an airplane was designed in 1979 by the famous Japanese architect Kenzo Tange. The airport also has other terminal buildings serving Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways. The airport also houses a military base, a general aviation terminal opened in 2008 and a restricted access terminal reserved for the Head of State, the Emir of Kuwait.

Saudi Arabia, like other countries in the region, is rethinking its future as an economy less dependent on its main natural resource, oil, of which it is a world leader in production and export. Consequently, starting in 2016, the Government has been implementing social and economic reforms such as those contained in the National Transformation Plan and in ‘Vision 2030’, a national strategy in which sustainable development, understood in the broader sense –to include social, economic and environmental development– is one of the pillars. This is the context of the Sustainability Plan for the country’s third airport, King Fahd of Dammam, which Ineco developed in 2019 for the Dammam Airports Company (DACO).

The work consisted of carrying out an environmental assessment, identifying the objectives and proposing the actions and measures to achieve them, in addition to monitoring implementation and supervising the actions. This is Ineco’s second project for Dammam airport, following the Master Plan completed at the end of 2018, and it is currently working on an automated baggage-management system. Ineco has extensive experience gained over more than 15 years working in Spanish airports.

In order to develop the Sustainability Plan, Ineco’s team’s first step was to gather information, which included visits to the facilities and meetings with both airport staff and other stakeholders involved: airlines, handling companies, cleaning and service companies, etc.

The information collected was used to draw up an assessment of the environmental situation at the airport and to define the key aspects to be studied and the level of risk presented by each one: water and energy consumption, soil contamination, noise and air quality, impact on cultural heritage and the landscape, waste management, biodiversity, etc.

Once all of these elements had been analysed, the five key topics were outlined and the sustainability objectives to be achieved for each of them were defined, with a time horizon of 2030, the same target year as the national strategy ‘Vision 2030’. After the objectives of the plan had been defined, the most appropriate actions to achieve them were proposed and planned.

Lastly, the implementation, tracking and monitoring of the plan, which is vital to its success, were planned. The proposed tools to achieve this include a website developed by Ineco and hosted on DACO’s systems, which covers the different monitoring indicators of each of the actions, and the creation of several monitoring groups, made up of both technical and management staff.

Environmental analysis of King Fahd Airport

The following elements, ranked in decreasing order of environmental risk, were analysed:

1. Key points: soil, waste and water 

• Soil

  Goal: to preserve soil resources and prevent pollution and degradation of the subsoil and groundwater.
  Situation and proposed actions: the King Fahd airport is constructed on ground that is made up of sandy limestone, marl, gypsum and beachrock (a type of sedimentary rock), porous materials that allow pollutants to pass through in the event of a spill. It is therefore recommended that all fuel storage tanks be checked and monitored to prevent any leaks or potential spills.

• waste

  Goal: to reduce waste generation and improve management.
  Situation and proposed actions: for solid waste, increasing the efficiency of storage, collection and separation is recommended, in addition to encouraging waste reduction and recycling. With regard to hazardous waste, the execution of an appropriate inventory of the type, storage, flow and quantity of waste is recommended in order to control and improve the disposal process.

• water

  Goal: to improve water management and control to reduce consumption.
  Situation and proposed actions: the airport is supplied by five wells, each with a capacity of 8,200 m3 per day, one of which is used exclusively for irrigation, drawing directly from the groundwater. The water from the four main wells passes through the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and is then distributed to all of the facilities via the central pumping station (UBB). According to data provided by DACO, the total consumption of the airport in 2018 was 4.3 million m3, of which almost 3 million m3 was previously treated. With regard to the wastewater, the airport manages this very well through its sewage net which ends at a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to treat wastewater for subsequent reuse for irrigation.
  One of the airport facilities with the highest water consumption is a large plant nursery covering more than 215,000 m2, where all of the plants used for the landscaping of the airport are grown. This nursery is supplied mainly from the STP.
  management of groundwater in arid countries is an important factor in sustainable development and, to this end, recommends monitoring consumption as much divided as possible to control over the use of this resource. DACO is currently working on a new water meter installation project for each facility (phase one has already been completed and phase two is planned and underway).

2. Medium risk: air quality, fauna, energy, climate change and mobility

• air quality

  Goal: to comply with the air quality limits established in air-pollution legislation.
  Situation and proposed actions: the main sources of emissions at the airport are aircraft, auxiliary power units (APUs), followed by ground support vehicles, as well as private cars for employees and passengers. All of these emissions are generated by third parties. Activities carried out by DACO that generate emissions are mainly the emergency power units (which run on fossil fuels), the vehicles used by its staff, and fire training activities. The readings collected by the monitoring stations are verified for the air quality assessment. In the case of King Fahd airport the closest stations are more than 30 kilometres away, so the Plan proposes an air quality monitoring station located closer that would make it possible to collect information that is more representative of the airport.

• Fauna

  Goal: to minimise the impact on natural areas and protected species.
  Situation and proposed actions: due to its location in a desert area, the main terrestrial species that live around the airport are camels, birds, reptiles, snakes and lizards. The most recent records provided by DACO, from 2018, regarding the presence of animals within the airport premises include cats and foxes. Since there is a wetland within the airport limits that attracts animals, including migratory birds, the Plan recommends the implementation of a wildlife control service to avoid potential incidents with aircrafts.

• energy

  Goal: to increase energy savings and efficiency.
  Situation and proposed actions: the approximate electricity consumption of the airport in recent years is 230,000 MWh/year, according to DACO data, with 30% attributed to the cost of the air-conditioning plant. In terms of fuel, the main consumers are the vehicles owned by DACO, power units and fire exercises. The main recommendation of the Sustainability Plan is metering and controlling energy consumption with the installation of individual meters, at least for the largest consumers.

• Climate change

  Goal: to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  Situation and proposed actions: in order to combat climate change, it is essential to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by the airport’s installations and activities. The Plan recommends measuring energy consumption and monitoring possible refrigerant leaks in air conditioning systems.

• Transport and mobility

  Goal: expand the mobility options to connect the airport to the city.
  Situation and proposed actions: since King Fahd airport can only be reached by private transport or private vehicles, the implementation of some form of collective transport system is recommended, providing significant advantages for passengers and airport staff, as well as generating environmental benefits in terms of air quality and climate change.

3. Low-impact: noise, biodiversity, land use, landscape and cultural heritage

• Noise, flora and protected areas

  Goal: to prevent and reduce damage to human health and ecosystems caused by noise pollution and to preserve flora and protected areas.
  Situation and proposed actions: in all three aspects, the environmental risk is considered low since there are no residential areas around the airport; the natural vegetation cover is less than 10% of the surface area and the nearest protected areas (the Jubail marine area and the Bay of Kalij) are located 35 and 96 kilometres away, respectively.

• Land use

  Goal: to ensure the compatibility of the airport development with urban planning.
  Situation and proposed actions: all of the land belonging to the airport is classified as an airport/sea port, so no environmental improvement measures are required.

• landscape

  Goal: to minimise the impact on the landscape.
  Situation and proposed actions: the airport buildings and facilities are well integrated into the environment.

• Cultural heritage

  Goal: to ensure the preservation of cultural heritage.
  Situation and proposed actions: there are no places of cultural interest near the airport, so the airport activity is therefore considered to have no effect on such places. The closest UNESCO cultural heritage property is the Al-Ahsa Oasis, which is located 124 kilometres far from the airport.

The Dammam Airports Company (DACO) has awarded Ineco the consultancy contract for the integral management of the implementation of the automatic baggage handling system at Dammam King Fahd International Airport, in Saudi Arabia. The project aims to improve and renovate this system and the security inspection equipment, so that the airport can meet growing demand with high standards of quality.

The work includes a design review; a structural analysis of the building to accommodate the new equipment and project management and supervision tasks. In addition, DACO will provide assistance in the testing and commissioning process of the entire system, support in the training of DACO staff and advice during the Operational Trial Period (OTP).

Since 2009, Dammam Airport, Saudi Arabia’s third largest airport in terms of passengers, has increased by 10.5% to 10.8 million passengers in 2018.

Ineco has carried out various radio equipment and navigation easement studies for the Oman Aviation Academy at Sohar Airport in the Sultanate of Oman. The aim is to ensure that the new infrastructure of the flight school (academic building, student residence, hangars, aircraft apron, etc.) does not interfere with the safety and regularity of operations. The work carried out included a study of possible violation of the BRA (Building Restricted Areas) of the CNS installations, as well as detailed studies and simulation of the signals of the ILS/DME, DVOR/DME equipment. The company is also carrying out other similar studies at the same airport in Sohar and at the airport in the capital, Muscat.

Apps that predict the location of traffic jams; optimised street lighting and irrigation for green spaces; train stations that communicate with taxi and bike operators; smart airports that recognise passengers; and digitalised ports that connect ships to the power grid to reduce their engine emissions… The functionalities provided by artificial intelligence, Big Data and robotics are already a reality that is transforming the mobility of our cities, which, according to the UN, are home to 55% of the world’s population. The goal is to exploit all of our technological resources to make them more efficient and, above all, more sustainable and environmentally-friendly.

With this in mind, the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) convened the tenth session of the World Urban Forum, which was hosted by the emirate of Abu Dhabi from the 8 to 13 February 2020. A group of businesses backed by the Ministry for Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda together operated a 100m² stand at the event: Adif, Aena, Puertos del Estado, Renfe and Ineco were among those in attendance to present their proposals for more sustainable, inclusive, safe and resilient cities.

The forum, under the motto of Cities of Opportunities: Connecting Culture and Innovation, is the principal international stage for debating and sharing experiences related to urban issues

At the forum, the Spanish government also presented Spain’s Urban Agenda, the result of its commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The Agenda, approved in 2019, is a roadmap that aims to guide all of Spain’s towns and cities, regardless of their size, towards a more economically, socially and environmentally equitable, integrated and sustainable future by the year 2030. The Agenda offers a Decalogue of Strategic Goals, which, in turn, feature a total of 30 specific goals and 291 lines of action.

The forum, under the motto of ‘Cities of Opportunities: Connecting Culture and Innovation’, is the principal international stage for debating and sharing experiences related to urban issues The event was attended by more than 18,000 delegates from approximately 170 countries, representing mostly institutions, ranging from national and local governments, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and the academic world.

One of the organisations in attendance was Spanish railway operator Renfe. The rail operator, which presented the Haramain project at the stand, is working on its new ‘mobility as a service’, ‘Renfe as a Service (RaaS)’ platform back in Spain. The platform aims to integrate different modes of both public and private transport into one single application.

In addition, Puertos del Estado, which comprises and coordinates the 28 port authorities in charge of Spain’s 46 ports, presented its Ports 4.0 project. The Ports 4.0 project establishes an equity fund to finance innovative projects in new technologies and business models based on the 4.0 economy, via a public requests for tenders.

In the aviation sector, Spanish airport operator Aena is focusing on the concept of smart airports: its lines of action include a pilot project for biometric technology and digital identity (facial recognition) at its Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport and its airport in Menorca, as well as testing drones for different uses within the airport environment.

Adif, Spain’s railway infrastructure administrator, has activated a plan to digitalise its network of long-distance and AVE train stations, aiming to convert them into ‘intelligent stations’ that will connect to other transport systems and different city services. 

Smart projects from Ineco

Cityneco: LAUNCHED IN GRANADA

The Director of Ineco, José Ángel Higueras, (first from the right) presents the Cityneco model to the Ministry of Transport’s Deputy Director of Urban Policy, Ángela de la Cruz (centre). / PHOTO_INECO + LUMIERE ADVERTISERS

Ineco demonstrated its Cityneco Mobility model at the stand. The model city, constructed from Lego pieces, allowed delegates to observe the functions of its Cityneco platform through its augmented reality application. The company developed the technology platform for the smart management of different urban services in 2016, as part of an innovation project in which it partnered with the Granada City Council to pilot the platform in the city. The platform has since been updated to a new version 2.0.

Specifically designed to facilitate mobility, the model’s modular architecture and layered structure make it easily scalable and interoperable. A Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) version makes Cityneco available to medium-sized cities without their own infrastructure.

A visitor tests virtual reality glasses. / PHOTO_INECO + LUMIERE ADVERTISERS

The platform features several vertical modules, one for each of a local council or organisation’s management areas. Its modular architecture facilitates the incorporation of new vertical levels to adapt to new requirements. Its IoT functionality (the Internet of Things), allows it to connect to sensors located throughout the city while simultaneously integrating and processing multiple sources of information, from social networks to video feed.

The information is displayed simply and intuitively through dashboards, based on both real-time data and management indicators, and in the case of mobility, with a GIS viewer (Geographical Information System).

A connected campus for the University of Almería

The University of Almería (UAL), founded in 1993, is not the first Spanish university to introduce smart-management projects for its services and infrastructure, but it is the first to have a Master Plan for their implementation, which it asked Ineco to design. With a few methodological adjustments, the document incorporates smart-management proposals similar to those that would be applied to a small city.

The work, which was carried out over the course of 2019, includes a model for a smart campus, a diagnosis of the University’s current state of technological or smart development, the objective to be achieved and a roadmap of necessary actions.

View of the UAL campus. / PHOTO_UAL

At just over five kilometres east of the city of Almería and a few meters from the sea, the UAL is a small to medium-sized public university situated very close to the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata-Níjar. Despite being located in a water-deficient province, the university benefits from abundant sunshine and regular winds that it can use to obtain clean energy. The plan, therefore, concentrates on environmental initiatives to create a green smart-campus with particular emphasis placed on optimising its water and energy consumption. Given its location outside of the city centre, which makes access on foot difficult and generates high levels of private vehicle use, another priority is to improve the university’s mobility framework.

The UAL is the first Spanish university to have a Master Plan for the implementation of SMART-MANAGEMENT initiatives thanks to Ineco

In total, the plan covers 21 services, grouped in nine sub-areas: urban environment (maintenance and irrigation of gardens, air quality, noise and light pollution), waste management (cleaning roads and buildings, and waste collection), energy (electricity and gas consumption in buildings, public lighting, clean energy generation), water (water consumption and quality, sanitation and sewage network management), parking (car park management), traffic control (vehicle influx, internal bicycle and scooter traffic, charging points for electric vehicles, information on modes of transport), accessibility, public infrastructure and urban equipment, (management and maintenance, incident detection) and an innovation ecosystem.

Below: bicycles parked in front of lecture theatre IV; promoting sustainable mobility is a cornerstone of the plan. / PHOTO_UAL

In order to establish the current technological advancement of the services, six levels were defined: basic, initiation (UAL’s current level) intermediate, advanced, very advanced and connected. The objective is to reach the ‘connected’ level, which specifies that at least 80% of the services must be interconnected.

The Master Plan includes indicators to measure UAL’s smart progress and establishes a Steering and Coordination Committee and a Monitoring Committee, as well as suggesting a two-yearly revision of the document to keep it up to date.

Ineco participated in the Spanish pavilion at the 26th edition of the World Road Congress held in Abu Dhabi from 6 to 10 October. With the participation of more than 1,200 international experts, the Spanish pavilion hosted a presentation of Ineco’s RONIN project –a tool for comprehensive road safety management– and its A-76 motorway project, in which Ineco has, for the first time in Spain, integrated BIM methodology with the GIS system on a road infrastructure.