'Deja tu huella' is an innovative online platform that encourages, in a personalized way, users to travel kilometers by sustainable transportation through a program of challenges and rewards. Users earn points for each kilometer traveled by registering their trips on the platform. Then they can redeem these points for rewards and be eligible to win prizes.
Deja Tu Huella, sustainable mobility is making headway

- Challenges
- CO2
- Madrid
- Spain
Digital twins, the virtual water revolution
Gemelo Digital
From Sacyr, in collaboration with the startup Talent Swarm, we are creating digital twins to improve the management of our water plants. It is an exact digital copy of the real installation that targets the remote management of the plant. These digital twins represent the integration and convergence of multiple digital technologies, such as virtual reality, augmented reality, Internet of Things, advanced analytics or Machine Learning.
Digital twins make it possible to optimize the remote management of industrial plants. The implementation of these solutions maximizes eficiency, optimizes performance, and improves safety. They also make it possible to reduce maintenance and operating costs, predict breakdowns, and minimize costs associated with the travel of expert personnel.
- Water
- Plants
- Industrials
Our innovation ecosystem
Innovation does not understand physical barriers or sectors of activity. Therefore, we are strongly committed to promote and bring innovation to all areas and markets where we are present, collaborating and exchanging synergies with the innovative community.
We are members of benchmark organizations in the field of innovation, we actively participate in dialogue forums dedicated to fostering the development of innovation and we promote major projects with different innovative agents.
- Spain
Technology Forecasting and Scouting

The ultimate goal of our technology surveillance activity is the early identification of scientific and technological innovations that could create opportunities or threats in our field of action.
At Sacyr, we explore new paths and study our environment with the aim of learning about new opportunities or needs that may affect the sustainable performance of our company.
We believe in observation, curiosity, and analysis as valuable tools to anticipate potential changes that may occur in the markets in which we operate, as well as to reduce risk in decision-making and anticipate any changes. All of this connected to the same objective: to continue to be a benchmark in the sector.”
- Spain
Sacyr Ingenium
We empower creativity and give credit to all those who dare to think differently. Therefore, we promote the talent and innovative spirit of our employees through collective intelligence campaigns aimed at generating new ideas that respond to our challenges.
Ingenium is our collective intelligence platform. This tool seeks new ideas on how to achieve, within the company, more profitable and sustainable businesses using new technologies and, in this way, improving the quality of life of citizens.
- Spain
Deseacrop: Desalination of seawater for agriculture
Deseacrop: Desalination of seawater for agriculture
Wastewater from agricultural irrigation has a high nutrient content that seeps into aquifers and can cause problems of contamination of water bodies.
At Sacyr, we have launched a project for the reuse of agricultural drainage water, the Deseacrop project (Desalinated seawater for alternative and sustainable soilless crop production).
Thanks to the development of this European Life project, we have demonstrated that desalinated water is not only be better when mixed with groundwater, but also increases crop yields and crop quality. In addition, as a novelty, we have treated the irrigation drainage water (approximately 30% of the initial irrigation) by reverse osmosis desalination so that it can be reused for irrigation. In addition, drainage treatment at the desalination plant is carried out 100% with photovoltaic solar energy.
- Water
- Crops
- Sea rise
- Farming
Anticipation of the geotechnical behaviour of the ground
This initiative aims to respond to the challenge launched in Sacyr iChallenges 2020 to find solutions to anticipate the behavior of the terrain in our infrastructure projects.
The analysis of the materials and parameters that affect the behavior of the ground is a complex task; the difficult access to the areas of interest or the large extension of these areas makes it even more complicated to obtain quality information that allows us to anticipate geotechnical behavior.
The project seeks to understand which variables are key to ground movement, how millimetric changes can be detected using satellite technology, and combine both learnings into a set of maps and predictive models of the infrastructure area that allow us to anticipate and set up warnings. Early detection of a potential problem can allow us to make a better decision and anticipate the necessary actions or resources.
This project, which puts AI at the service of infrastructure control, offers advantages such as:
- Greater security and reduction of incidents through the improvement of early warning systems.
- Efficiency in operation and preventive maintenance
- Increased cost-effectiveness due to reduced on-site control instrumentation costs
- Improved information available on ground behavior in the design and construction stages.
- Geothermal
- Engineering
Carbon Tracker: measuring and reporting carbon footprints
The Carbon Tracker project uses the technology provided by Emitwise (Big Data, Machine Learning, AI) to monitor and manage Scope 3 carbon emissions in real time through its cloud platform. Scope 3 includes all indirect emissions that occur in Sacyr's value chain.
London-based startup Emitwise aims to accelerate the rapid decarbonization of the economy and become the standard for carbon emissions management processes.
In the context of growing awareness of the importance of reducing carbon emissions and incorporating greener, more sustainable practices into business approaches, Emitwise, launched in 2019, provides an AI-powered digital carbon management platform that enables businesses to automatically measure, report and reduce their carbon footprint across their operations and supply chain in a fast and visual way.
The main objectives of Emitwise are:
- Measure and report the carbon footprint associated with Sacyr's main activities.
- Analyze the data transmitted by suppliers to validate the source, reliability and consistency of the data.
- Manage the data in a secure and standardized way in order to present evidence to/at each audit.
- Present results visually through interactive dashboards.
- Detect the activities with the greatest environmental impact.
- Artificial intelligence
- Carbon footprint
Sacyr Inroad: Big Data for predictive road maintenance
Sacyr Inroad
This initiative consists of the deployment of different sensors in a maintenance vehicle that allow the system to capture information from the environment and create models that predict the deviation of infrastructure condition indicators. The implementation of this system allows us to improve service quality, increase revenue and reduce costs.
Sacyr Inroad is an exclusive project in the market that represents our commitment to innovation and a different way of doing things. It is an initiative of which we are very proud, as it arises from collaboration with the innovative ecosystem, a fundamental value in the new digital era.
- Big data
Sacyr Prediction Tool: artificial intelligence for safer roads
This innovative tool uses machine learning and big data to predict with high accuracy the long-term deterioration of road pavement. We developed this project in collaboration with Tyris AI, the winning startup of the 2018 Sacyr Innovation Awards. The system is based on a machine learning module. Through a massive intake of data and sources on asphalt imperfections, this module modifies equations and calculations of pavement deterioration on roads.
- Big data
- Machine learning
- Roads
Aurora, smart lighting for a unique experience
Aurora is an immersive light and sound experience based on an intelligent system of sensors, cameras, and external variables processed in real-time on Las Setas de Sevilla, the largest wooden structure in the world.
This project, jointly developed by Sacyr and startup Skandal Technologies, uses the most innovative technologies, like IoT, advanced LED design, or image recognition software to create a new immersive lighting concept that makes a unique place out of this space. Aurora is managed through software that allows to remotely generate real-time configurations that combine design, data, lighting, sound, and the information captured by the sensors.
We have created one of the greatest immersive shows in the world with this project. With Aurora, visitors can submerge in an everchanging landscape of light and sound that reinterprets contextual triggers and the parametric geometry of this striking building. All of it right at this site framed by the historical landscape of the center of Sevilla.
Aurora is a living experience that stands out for its sustainability, and the fact that it changes with temperature, wind, by displaying natural patterns, as it interacts with the visitors in real-time, creating a unique experience.
- Sustainability
- Solar Energy
- Renewable energy
Sacyr Explorer: machine learning for new business opportunities
Artabro Tech, the winning startup of the 9th edition of the Sacyr Innovation Awards
At Sacyr, we believe that teamwork is one of the keys to the success of any company. The Sacyr Explorer project represents this essential collective effort to carry out innovative projects that contribute to the improvement of our activities.
Sacyr Explorer arises from one of the challenges launched to the innovative ecosystem through our open innovation program, Sacyr iChallenges 2019. The challenge focused on the search for technological solutions based on machine learning and artificial intelligence that helps to identify new business opportunities early on.
- IA
- Machine learning
Battery-Less Sensor: a sustainable approach to the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing how companies in every sector operate, manage and produce. We advance towards a more intelligent industry where all machinery is connected, and organizations can detect possible irregularities in real-time while measuring process performance.
Battery-Less Sensor is funded by the Ministry for Industry, Commerce, and Tourism’s line of Innovative Business Groups. Projects like this focus on making progress towards the so-called connected industry. Battery-Less sensor is an IoT initiative developed by Valoriza Medioambiente, a Sacyr company, in collaboration with startup Alternative Energy Innovations (AEInnova) and coordinated by the Cluster de l’Energia Eficient de Catalunya (CEEC).
Battery-Less Sensor is a project that consists of using residual heat present in processes as a power source for new-generation wireless sensors with no need for batteries. This way, these devices measure temperature and vibration levels in industrial processes or monitor rotative machines to facilitate predictive maintenance, avoiding stopping production and creating early alerts of potential machine failures in industrial processes. The project encompasses power generation, obtaining, analyzing, and visualizing data: creating alarms to help prevent unforeseen events that might lead to an unexpected stoppage.
Currently, we monitor machines through solutions that work by wired sensors or require batteries. These methods demand a serious investment. Besides the economic cost, batteries present a massive environmental issue, as they are mostly produced with cobalt and lithium, which are scarce materials. Batteries also contain environmentally harmful heavy metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium. By the end of their life cycle, batteries are hazardous waste due to their high toxicity, inflammability, and reactivity levels.
Solutions like “Battery-Less Sensor” are the alternative; devices powered by energy harvesting from industrial residual heat. Around 21% of residual heat power is wasted every year in the European industry. Likewise, research shows that we could retrieve around 336.9TWh of energy.
Battery-Less Sensor is in total alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and it contributes to improving the sector, sustainability, economy, and society in general.
As of today, we have carried out pilot projects based on this solution to demonstrate the devices functioning in low-temperature conditions and isolated machines. However, these pilots face some technical challenges.
- Energy
- Sustainability
- IOT
Aurora, energy to infinity and beyond
In the 21st century, there are still corners of the world that have neither running water nor electricity. At Sacyr, we work to bring these basic services to places that are difficult to access.
The Aurora project, developed by Sacyr in collaboration with Kemtecnia and Ariema, is capable of bringing electricity supply to almost any place. In this way, we take advantage of resources provided by nature, such as the sun and the wind, to generate sustainable and personalized electricity.
The system initially has an installed power of 30 kilowatts peak (kWp), although it can reach 100 kWp. To produce energy, Aurora has a wind turbine and photovoltaic solar panels. In addition, it is equipped with a battery system to store energy that is not consumed and that provides extra electricity when wind and photovoltaic are not able to cover all needs.
- Sustainability
- Solar Energy
- Renewable energy
Sacyr IOHNIC, the tunnel lighting system of the future
SACYR IOHNIC
At Sacyr, through our subsidiary Sacyr Concesiones, we have developed a patent for tunnel lighting using continuous LED strips to improve lighting in road tunnels and ensure the safety and comfort of road users. Thanks to the implementation of this technology, we can reduce electricity consumption by 66%, which means a reduction of 153 tons of CO2 per year, obtain 100% lighting homogeneity and regulate the equipment freely.
This project presents an innovative tunnel lighting system based on LED technologies that has its field of application on the user and tends to respond not only to environmental issues, but also has a positive effect on citizens, ensuring their safety and improving their quality of life.
The implementation of this pioneering solution has great advantages for the user in terms of safety and comfort. Thus, the system facilitates the adaptation to the pupil dilation rhythm, eliminates the flickering effect inside and allows to increase the light intensity.
- Innovation
- Tunnels
- Security
- illumination
- Environment
- Hydraulic infrastructures
Expansion works of the Panama Canal: the largest engineering piece of work in the 21st century

The expansion works on the Panama Canal have posed an engineering challenge for a long time. At Sacyr, we are passionate about challenges, and in 2016 we successfully finished building the third set of locks, a new maritime transit route that runs parallel to the pre-existing locks.
Watch all our videos on the Stories of the Canal and the Panama Canal
KILOMETERS
Two two-kilometer platforms on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
MILLION EUROS
Of total investment
PEOPLE
Involved in the project


"The Panama Canal is one of the most emblematic civil construction works in history. To lead its expansion has been a great satisfaction to Sacyr”

Manuel Manrique, President and CEO of Sacyr
Rescue and relocation of local flora and fauna species
- 4,500 rescued and relocated specimens
- 200 protected species
- 2800 ha of reforested surface
- 5,8 million trees planted
- Canal de Panamá
- Sacyr Infrastructures
- Tercer Juego de Esclusas
- Panamá
Desaldron, the latest underwater explorer
Desaldron
This underwater drone is intended for research, environmental impact studies, inspection, and maintenance in aquatic areas. The desaldron is equipped with a 1080p camera optimized for the underwater environment, side scan sonar, multiparameter probe, sampler, and GPS positioner.
The main advantages of this drone are speed, efficiency, and safety. The desaldron can perform inspection and surveillance tasks, sampling, water parameter mapping, environmental studies, bathymetry, and other marine surveys. In addition, it can perform underwater work, preventing people (divers) from descending manually to outfalls, immisaries, or the seabed.
- Drones
- Sea rise
- Security
- Environment
- Energy efficiency
- Spain
Lifesure, sustainable urban roads
Lifesure project
The production of hot mix asphalt (HMC) requires significant energy consumption and generates a large volume of greenhouse gases. Similarly, the maintenance and rehabilitation of road pavements and other roads produces an enormous amount of waste from the milling of bituminous mix layers.
LIFESURE provides an answer to all these problems. This project uses new technologies to efficiently manufacture 100% recycled mixes at low temperature so that they can be reused on urban roads.
- New technologies
- Environment
- Energy saving
- Spain
BOCALT, heat for a more sustainable energy

One of the lines of action for reducing CO2 emissions is the decrease in the consumption of fossil fuels and the increase in the production of energy from renewable sources.
In this context, the recovery of residual heats, which are currently not being used, and the use of various types of renewable energies, which can be captured at medium temperature, such as solar thermal energy or medium enthalpy geothermal energy, would be important advantages both environmental and energy consumption reductions. In the same way, it would allow the increase of the use of renewable energies.
- Energy
- CO2
- Environment
Repair 2.0, sustainable technology for road rehabilitation
The Repair 2.0 project aims to develop new technologies and methodologies that support infrastructure management and allow the rehabilitation and conservation of any type of road at a lower economic and environmental cost, improving their adaptation to climate change.
The implementation of this project has allowed us to develop new recycled asphalt mixtures at rates of up to 100%, which are more sustainable and resilient, mechanical performance similar to hot mixes, suitable for high capacity roads, obtained with low energy consumption and low emissions and manufactured at room temperature, (cold technologies), which is a world first.
- Big data
- Sustainable
- New technologies
- Climate change
- Transport infrastructure