ENCORD
ENCORD
DRAGADOS is a member of the ENCORD council, a forum that brings together the main industrial players in the construction sector in Europe to share knowledge and establish priorities for innovation.
Innovation
Innovation
Innovation as a pillar for the future
Innovation as a pillar for the future
Innovation is a fundamental pillar in the development of civil engineering infrastructure and buildings. DRAGADOS fosters a corporate culture that promotes the adoption of advanced technologies, processes, products, services, and materials. This culture drives higher profitability for shareholders, increases customer satisfaction, and enhances safety, productivity, and work quality across all operations.
DRAGADOS shares its knowledge and experience to support the advancement of the construction sector, investing in training on cutting-edge techniques and maintaining partnerships with research centers, technology hubs, universities, and other institutions linked to innovation. The company's Innovation Management System is certified under the most demanding standards, ensuring structured innovation development and continuous improvement.
Commitment to innovation
Commitment to innovation
The commitment to innovation is reflected in DRAGADOS’ innovation policy, which defines the principles guiding efforts to enhance productivity, quality, and sustainability. This vision is supported by a clearly defined innovation strategy aimed at optimizing processes, increasing worker safety, improving work quality, and reducing environmental impact.
Innovation strategy
Innovation strategy
DRAGADOS’ innovation strategy is built on three key pillars:
Business-Centered innovation
Innovation projects generate tangible results that can be directly applied to operations, providing competitive advantages. These initiatives integrate technological advancements, improve processes, promote sustainability, enhance service quality, and accelerate digital transformation.
Strategic innovation areas
Strategic innovation areas
DRAGADOS is investing in several strategic areas to transform the construction industry, with a focus on advanced technologies and sustainable practices. Some of the key areas include:
Innovation in construction process control through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data management is a critical focus for DRAGADOS.
By implementing advanced technologies, the company optimizes processes, improves operational efficiency, and reduces costs.
AI predictive models also help mitigate risks, ensuring safety, improving work quality, and enhancing overall performance. These innovations strengthen DRAGADOS' competitive position while promoting sustainability and advancing the construction sector.
AUR-AI Project: Automatic Unattended Response Artificial Intelligence for TBMs.
Automatically collect and store data generated by active tunnel boring machines (TBMs) across DRAGADOS projects. .
The data is processed using physical modeling and AI techniques to predict and enhance TBM performance, reducing costs and risks in underground works. .
Funding: DRAGADOS.
Innovation in construction processes is essential for DRAGADOS to increase efficiency and improve project execution.
By integrating new technologies and methodologies, DRAGADOS optimizes resource use, reduces construction time and cost, and improves the quality and durability of infrastructures.
Innovation also enables the company to adapt to market demands and environmental challenges, fostering responsible, sustainable practices.
SOGUN Project: Geometric Control System for Shotcrete Robots
Objective Design a system capable of measuring the geometry of underground works, detecting deviations from previous or theoretical surfaces, and projecting the results directly onto the internal tunnel surfaces through an intuitive coding system using color-coded areas and numerical data. The device has been successfully applied in several projects such as the REM project in Montreal and Line 7 of the Santiago de Chile Metro, optimizing the execution of shotcrete works.
Awards: DRAGADOS received four international awards and one national innovation award for the SOGUN device.
Funding: DRAGADOS.
Sustainability and climate change adaptation are critical areas of focus for DRAGADOS.
The company develops technologies and methodologies that enhance infrastructure's safety and efficiency, minimize environmental impact, and promote clean energy solutions.
These innovations not only strengthen DRAGADOS’ position in the market but also contribute to the sustainable development of the construction sector, helping to ensure a more responsible and environmentally respectful future.
CLIMPORT Project: Modeling System for the Design and Construction of Port Infrastructure Adapted to Climate Change
Objective: To develop an innovative modular system, together with new professional methodologies for the design and construction of port infrastructures adapted to climate change, developed within a context of uncertainty. The system integrates databases and mathematical, numerical, and statistical design tools, as well as regulations, recommendations, methodologies, and reference manuals representing the international state of the art. It also establishes their interrelation with next-generation construction procedures within a framework of standardization, normalization, and full process traceability.
Funding: DRAGADOS – AEI (State Research Agency, Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities).
Innovation in transport infrastructure enables DRAGADOS to tackle present and future mobility challenges. The integration of smart systems optimizes traffic flow, improves safety, and reduces environmental impact by promoting the use of renewable energy sources.
The company focuses on developing durable, resilient infrastructures, adapting to changing conditions and mitigating the effects of climate change.
DIGITUN Project: Digitalized Fire Safety for Resilient Underground Critical Transport Infrastructures
Objective: Digitize fire safety management in tunnels with wireless sensors and structural reliability models, improving the assessment of tunnels after a fire event and optimizing the repair strategy in terms of environmental and economic sustainability.
Funding: DRAGADOS – AEI (State Research Agency, Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities).
Road Construction in Emergency Situations with Extreme Temperatures – La Palma Road
Between September and December 2021, the volcanic eruption on the island of La Palma destroyed part of the island’s transport infrastructure, interrupting north–south connectivity. To restore mobility, DRAGADOS was commissioned by the Ministry of Transport to carry out emergency works involving the construction of a road section partially built over lava flows.
The main challenge was executing the works just six months after the eruption, in an environment with surface temperatures reaching up to 350 °C (662°F) and exceeding 450 °C (842°F) at a depth of 10 ft. To address this, specific thermal and geophysical studies were developed, using thermocouples, infrared camera flights, and ground-penetrating radar to analyze lava behavior and identify unstable areas.
The project incorporated innovative construction solutions, including the use of materials sourced from the lava flow itself and the design of a special pavement structure capable of isolating and dissipating heat; ensuring the safety, durability, and operational viability of the infrastructure.
Funding: DRAGADOS.
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Modular and industrialized construction, together with energy efficiency, represent strategic innovation areas for DRAGADOS, aligned with current and future market demands.
Modular and industrialized construction enables faster and more efficient building processes, reducing construction times while ensuring high-quality finishes. This construction model also has a lower environmental impact, as it optimizes material use and reduces waste generation—an increasingly valued aspect in a global context that is progressively more focused on sustainability.
Energy efficiency in buildings and infrastructure is also a key priority in the current context of climate change and rising energy costs. By integrating technologies and solutions that improve the energy performance of construction projects, DRAGADOS not only complies with increasingly demanding sustainability regulations but also delivers solutions that significantly reduce operational costs for clients.
The integration of advanced energy management systems, together with the use of innovative materials that enhance thermal insulation and facilitate the incorporation of renewable energy, contributes to the development of buildings that are more sustainable, comfortable, and efficient.
DRAGADOS’ approach to modular construction, industrialization, and energy efficiency represents a strategic and proactive response to market trends, ensuring the company continues to meet clients’ needs effectively and sustainably.
The organization has participated in numerous projects related to industrialization and energy efficiency, co-financed at European level by the European Commission through its framework programs, as well as at national level by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities.
Among the projects developed, the following stand out:
CARACOLA
Development of a modular building system based on energy efficiency criteria.
Funding: DRAGADOS
SIRAE
Augmented Reality System for the Self-Inspection of Energy Efficient Buildings.
Funding: DRAGADO - AEI.S
INSISTER
Intuitive Self-Inspection Techniques using Augmented Reality for construction, renovation and maintenance of energy-efficient buildings made of prefabricated components.
Funding: DRAGADOS - European Commission.
PERFORMER
Cost-effective and sustainable Bio-Renewable Indoor Materials with high potential for customization and creative design in Energy Efficient buildings.
Funding: DRAGADOS – European Commission.
BRIMEE
Cost-effective and sustainable Bio-Renewable Indoor Materials with high potential for customization and creative design in Energy Efficient buildings.
Funding: DRAGADOS – European Commission.
RETROKIT
Toolboxes for systemic retrofitting.
Funding: DRAGADOS – European Commission.
Material innovation allows DRAGADOS to create more durable, safe, and sustainable infrastructures. By developing new materials, the company increases the efficiency of construction processes, reduces long-term costs, and minimizes environmental impact. These advanced materials improve resilience against natural phenomena such as climate change, ensuring greater protection for communities and better compliance with international standards.
MADAME Project: High Durability Materials Applied to Maritime Structures and Breakwaters.
Objective: To develop a new concept for vertical dikes, combining the use of advanced construction materials, optimized structural design, and efficient construction processes to deliver elements with high structural integrity and long-term durability against environmental agents.
The project also includes the development of a robust instrumentation system to monitor the structural and functional performance of dikes throughout their entire service life, thereby enhancing the resilience of port infrastructure to the effects of climate change.
Funding: DRAGADOS – AEI (State Research Agency)
Innovation in renewable energy and offshore wind infrastructure positions DRAGADOS at the forefront of sustainable development. These innovations improve the efficiency and safety of infrastructure and contribute to the transition to clean energy sources by reducing environmental impact. DRAGADOS' leadership in this field strengthens its position in the construction sector, highlighting its commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability.
MENHIR Project: Floating concrete platform for deep-water wind power exploitation
Objective: Develop a semi-submersible platform for offshore wind energy at great depths, constructed entirely from concrete with competitive costs and manufactured in a floating dock, with competitive costs compared to conventional methods.
Funding: DRAGADOS – AEI.
CAPEMA Project: Self-sinking concrete caissons for offshore wind farms
Objective: To design a self-sinking reinforced concrete caisson for gravity foundations for offshore wind turbines in deep waters, as well as to define and optimize its entire construction, transport, anchoring, and filling process.
Funding: DRAGADOS – CDTI (Center for Technological Development and Innovation, Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities).
Knowledge protection
Knowledge protection
DRAGADOS protects the intellectual property generated through innovation, maintaining a competitive advantage and ensuring that the resources invested in research and development are fully capitalized on. Over 35 developments have been protected by DRAGADOS through patents, trademarks, and utility models, both nationally and internationally.
Certified engineering excellence
Certified engineering excellence
Participation in innovation-focused associations
Participation in innovation-focused associations
DRAGADOS actively participates in international and Spanish associations that promote innovation in the construction sector. These associations facilitate knowledge sharing, discussion of best practices, and the establishment of strategic priorities for the sector, facilitating technology transfer and the development of new innovative solutions. This active interaction with the global construction ecosystem allows DRAGADOS to stay at the forefront of technological advances and strengthen its competitiveness.
ENCORD
ENCORD
ECTP
ECTP
PTEC
PTEC
SEOPAN
SEOPAN
MWCC
MWCC
Collaboration with universities and research centers
Collaboration with universities and research centers
DRAGADOS collaborates on projects with universities and technological and research centers, both nationally and internationally, as well as companies in the sector, across all stages of the value chain. The company also works closely with local, regional, and national public entities. This collaboration is framed within the concept of Open Innovation, fostering the exchange of knowledge and cooperation among different actors to develop innovative and efficient solutions.