Innovation Challenge in Services: Energy efficiency in service delivery

The Zuritanken awards are an innovation-centric initiative where employees contribute new ideas aimed at improving the way Ferrovial operates. Below we highlight two of the finalists in the Services challenge.

Ferrovial Services announced a challenge: “Find new ways (processes, technologies, activities, behaviours, etc. to introduce, change or eliminate) to achieve energy efficiency in service delivery”; these Zuritankener finalists presented two innovative solutions in response.

Drones for road upkeep and operation

Manuel and Ignacio suggested using drones (unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs) to perform inspection routes in the area of road maintenance and operation and send videos and photos back to the control or communications centre.

The objective of this project is to save costs and reduce risks in road construction, maintenance and operation contracts. Unmanned aerial vehicles can provide information about temperature, humidity and other actual road conditions remotely, which can facilitate decision-making and the delivery of upkeep contracts.

Additionally, a rapid overview of an accident or incident on the road using drones makes it possible to deploy the appropriate resources, avoiding unnecessary trips and greatly enhancing resolution times.

“Being zuritankeners is a source of pride for us, as well as a responsibility and a stimulus to drive innovation within Ferrovial. We are thrilled that our idea has reached the final and that we can work on implementing it,” said these two finalists.

Generation of Electricity utilizing flow of traffic

This idea, developed by Michael Cottyn, consists of installing pistons under a road. Vehicles passing on the road would depress the pistons, driving a generator that would produce clean electricity to power the streetlights.

“I’m very proud that my idea has been chosen as a finalist, and it encourages me to continue innovating within the company. I hope many other people discover, as I did, that there is a place for all our ideas”, he said.

The project seeks to produce renewable energy in roads that can be used to power the lights along the road and in nearby towns, which would improve energy efficiency and reduce the impact on the environment at the same time.