Sorigué is taking part in the Bitsdrain innovation project which is researching the behaviour of porous asphalt mixtures as sustainable drainage components in urban environments in partnership with the FLUMEN and MATCAR research groups at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). 
 
The project is funded on a public-private basis by the Ministry of Science and Innovation through the National Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research 2021-2023. It has a total budget standing at €801,000 and a 36-month term. 
This research comes under new materials for cities and water management and is a step forward in the quest for innovative and sustainable solutions to water challenges in cities.  
 
Its primary goal is to examine the behaviour of porous bituminous mixtures as sustainable drainage components in cities while also developing a simulation tool embedded in a two-dimensional modelling environment which is free to use. 
 
As a first step, Bitsdrain is looking to characterise bituminous mixtures in terms of permeability and water-carrying capacity. It will then analyse their storage capacity in relation to the terrain and the hydrological characteristics of the rainfall.  
 
The data gathered will be used to craft a numerical model to describe the infiltration laws of the mixtures and simulate various drainage techniques. 
 
Sustainable development 

The project is aligned with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and specifically with SDG 6 “Clean water and sanitation”. 

as it lessens urban runoff and enhances water quality while minimising pollution and eliminating spills and discharges.

Innovation in materials

Innovation in sustainability is a cross-cutting issue for Sorigué which encompasses several business areas. The group has historically been a leader in product quality, especially in the asphalt and aggregates sector.

Since 2010, it has had a research laboratory and a highly specialised team that enables it to further its knowledge of materials and build on the experience it has gained while also equipping the company with an internal control centre for materials manufactured at its own facilities.

It additionally partners with domestic and international public and private organisations to spearhead the sector’s transformation towards a more resilient model and deliver advanced solutions to the challenges of today’s cities.

The R&D and innovation projects undertaken by Sorigué’s laboratory include Tubotex for manufacturing pipes with new materials to replace concrete; AUTL-PLUS, a new system for laying ultra-thin mixes which optimises the features of a wearing course, and Neoballast, a new long-lasting, high-performance and eco-friendly ballast.