Research & Development
Innovating to protect the environment, and make infrastructures safe and sustainable
Eurovia's Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) program is based on innovation linked to sustainable development. 70% of Eurovia's resources are earmarked for the design of technologies and solutions that promote the protection of the natural environment, and infrastructure safety and longevity.
In the field of environmental protection research, Eurovia develops material recycling techniques, waste reclamation, energy consumption and greenhouse gas reduction, noise abatement solutions and anti-pollution road surfaces. When it comes to safety, Eurovia focuses on improving road surface adherence lifecycles, optimizing road visibility, and using special processes for accident-prone zones. We achieve our goal of promoting the sustainability of infrastructures by designing long-lasting road surfaces.
Eurovia designs its range of products and processes to be a competitive asset. We meet the particular, innovative demands of our clients, which adheres to the objective of the GAIA.BE® ecocomparative standard, a decision-making control system that measures the environmental impact of future sites.
The technical resources division, which includes the materials management group, the technical department and the R&D centre, assists in the smooth transition of industrial advancement and helps to promote innovation. In 2009, this approach took advantage of Sequoia® vegetable-based asphalts and second-generation Tempera® warm asphalts or the Recyvia® range, on-site recycling or at the original road central. Eurovia also shares its solutions and technology advances with the entire VINCI family.
The Mérignac research centre (France) creates and validates products and processes. This centre also participates in European research programs and collaborates with the key stakeholders in the industrial, university and institutional sectors. Eurovia's technical network has more than 400 collaborators and benefits from the services of 7 laboratories in France and nearly 15 around the globe. The latest facility to take the stand is the Centre technique nord-américain (CTNA) in Québec, just south of Montréal.
Key figures for the Mérignac research centre
Inaugurated in 2003, the Mérignac research centre, near Bordeaux, is the most recently launched research institution in Europe specializing in the roadwork sector. The centre covers a total surface area of 4,000 m2, including 1,900 m2 dedicated to laboratories. It is endowed with an exceptional set of high-technology devices and equipment, including 150 machines that can perform 250 different tests, generating 4,500 tests were year - in addition, half the testing procedures were devised at the centre.
The Mérignac research centre has earned ISO 9001, Laboroute, and ISO 17025 certification.
NOxer® uses light to eliminate polluting gases
Road pollution remains a serious problem in confined areas or in proximity to major thoroughfares. In an effort to reduce road pollution and help to preserve the environment, Eurovia teams have developed NOxer®. This paving solution uses photocatalysis to cut down gas emissions by 10 to 40%. Residue is evacuated by rainwater in concentrations well below allowable thresholds in mineral water. NOxer® requires no maintenance and always remains effective....
NOxer® can be applied to noise-attenuation barriers - as in Paris, Manchester or Lannion - walls at car parks, tunnels, surface pavement (high-traffic roads, conventional city streets, and fast food drive-throughs). To date, Eurovia teams have implemented NOxer® on more than 45,000 m2 of road surfaces, including recently at theA86 toll areas, in Paris, and in Madrid.
Tempera® family of warm-mix solutions: a cooler process
Tempera® consists of a range of technologies (products and methods) that significantly reduce asphalt mix production and application temperatures. These paving solutions share the same properties as conventional hot mixes. Depending on the type of production facility, the petrographic characteristics of the aggregate materials, and the type of coating used, the production temperature can drop by as much as 50°C (Evotherm® DAT).
GAÏA.BE®: the eco-gauging tool
Gaïa.BE®, which was developed by researchers and operations personnel using product lifecycle analysis, models the environmental impact of each phase in the implementation of worksites, including all the stages of roadwork, quarry extraction, and road surface compaction.
It provides results that take local characteristics and constraints into consideration.
Relevant criteria are selected from the worksite's environmental profile included in Gaïa.BE's environmental indicators: natural resource and energy consumption, polluting emissions, waste production, and preserving the quality of life of residents. Its reference system was established using recognized and public data produced by the roadwork industry in line with current international standards. With this tool, Eurovia promotes environmentally friendly solutions that contribute to the preservation of natural resources, help mitigate climate change, and protect people.
Gradius® calculates optimal paving temperature
Calculating the optimal temperature settings for asphalt paving - which is in opposition to the "the hotter, the better" mindset - helps ensure an optimal amount of paving material and prevent unnecessary heating, thereby reducing atmospheric emissions.
Thanks to its ease of access and use, Gradius® allows roadwork companies to adapt to specific worksite conditions (weather, transport, etc.
) to achieve the best quality/environmental protection trade-off. The design of Gradius® is based on pavement-cooling calculations; as a result, it also provides traffic-worthiness time estimates - valuable information required for optimal scheduling at worksites in urban settings.
