Geocontrol, S.A is a civil engineering company which was established in 1982. Initially specialized in Applied Rock Mechanics, since 1987 the company has been oriented towards project design of tunnels. Since the 90s, Geocontrol, S.A. has developed an intense activity of technical assistance during the construction of all kind of tunnels.
>GEOCONTROL CHILE AT THE 10TH EDITION OF EXPOMIN (CHILE).
From 14th to 18th April Geocontrol Chile was present at the 10th edition of EXPOMIN, the world mining encounter, opened by the Vice-President of the Republic of Chile in front of over 600 guests.
At the fair there were over 900 exhibitors and 3000 companies from more than 25 different countries, and it had over 60,000 visitors from all over the world. Our booth served to present the activities of Geocontrol Chile emphasising Mining Engineering and Hydroelectric Engineering activities.
>LOMA DE BAS TUNNEL, DESIGNED BY GEOCONTROL, CONSIDERED ONE OF THE SAFEST TUNNELS ACCORDING TO THE 10TH EUROTAP PROGRAMME EDITION.
Last 22nd April EUROTAP published the 10th edition of EuroTAP programme (European Tunnel Assessment Programme) that measured the safety of 31 tunnels from 11 European countries. The results have it that Loma de Bas Tunnel, in the region of Murcia, on AP-7 road, between Cartagena and Vera, is one of the best-rated in Spain
Between 2004 and 2005 Geocontrol designed the tunnel installations project for PLODER-FCC, which is 1.797 metres long and which, ever since it started working, has never recorded any breakdowns or accidents.
The study assesses very positively the passive safety elements which the tunnel has, such as cross passages every 360 metres that reduce considerably evacuation time in case of accident, as well as the specific safety systems that allow to know at all times the exploitation conditions of the tunnel, such as the TV closed circuit and the systems of ventilation and traffic control. EuroTAP also took into consideration the exceptional means this infrastructure has in order to facilitate, in case of emergency, realizing a safe evacuation in the first place, thanks to the evacuation galleries every 320 metres perfectly signalled and lit and to the communication media, through radio and SOS signs. All this means the rescue services can access the tunnel in optimum conditions in order to solve the emergency. Loma de Bas Tunnel is a pioneer in the alarm systems since, in case of fire, and thanks to linear detectors, the ventilation system gets activated automatically permitting to maintain an atmosphere free of smoke in the area where vehicles are, and facilitating works of extinguishing fire.
> OPENING OF GEOCONTROL, S. A. CHILE.
Geocontrol S.A., created Geocontrol S.A. Chile spreading its sphere of action to hydroelectric engineering. Actually, this year Geocontrol was awarded La Confluencia hydroelectric project, and it is pre-selected for Chacayes project.
The official opening of Geocontrol, S.A. Chile took place in January 2008 in a Seminar called “Present and future of underground works in Chilean mining and infrastructure, held in the Intercontinental Hotel in Santiago de Chile, in which almost one hundred experts got together to attend lectures given by Hugo Delucchi, Guillermo Ibarra, José Miguel Galera y Benjamín Celada, among others. The lectures covered subject such as the use of tunnel-boring machine in rock masses, the role of geotechnics in studies and mining developments, as well as a brief outline of road tunnel construction in Chile and its relation with geological and geotechnical aspect.
The activities of Geocontrol in Chile date back to 1997 with the execution of a dilatometric tests campaign in the Chuquicamata Mine for Codelco. In 1998 the presence of Geocontrol grew as the construction company ACS-Sacyr Chile awarded it the detail engineering of the tunnels la Ruta 68, Lo Prado II (2.823 m) y Zapata II (1.210 m). Subsequently, the concessionaire, Rutas del Pacífico, commissioned Geocontrol to inspect the state of the tunnels Lo Prado I and Zapata I, as well as to elaborate a monitoring and maintenance programme of the above-mentioned tunnels. In 2003 Sacyr commissioned Geocontrol the detail engineering of the section between Enlace de El Llano and Enlace Centenario, which means the project of tunnels in Montegordo, Manquehue II and Manquehue I whose opening is scheduled for the beginning of 2009.
After that, Dragados-Hochtieff (Construction Company Vespucio Norte) commissioned Geocontrol the basic and detail engineering as well as the construction control of the emblematic project of San Cristóbal Tunnels.
> Latest Awardings
> In October, the Navarre Government awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with TRN, the contract for the project design of the section Campanas-Esquiroz wich belongs to the Cantabric-Mediterranean Corridor. The total of the contract amounts to 684.000 € and the Project time-frame is 14 months.
> This October, Consorcio Túnel Bielsa Aragnouet awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with SGS, the contract for technical assistance on safety equipment improvement works of the Bielsa-Aragnouet Tunnel. The total of the contract amounts to 1.004.863 € and the Project time-frame is 30 months.
> Last September, Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF) awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with TRN, the contract for the project design of the section Armiñon-La Puebla de Arganzón which belongs to the high speed railway line from Madrid to the French Frontier.
The length of this tram is 6.650 m which includes a 2.520 m tunnel and has a realization time-frame of 12 months.
> In march 2009, Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF) awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with URCI CONSULTORES and IDEAM, the contract for the coordination and specialised advisors for the platform works of the high speed railway line Murcia-Almería. The contract budget amounts to 3.985.092 € and has realization time-frame of 60 months.
The lenght of this tram is 13.205 m which includes 13.205 m of viaducts and 10.475 m of tunnels.
> In June Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF) awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with SGS TECNOS, the contract for the execution of consulting, auditing and quality control works during the execution of the platform works for the high-speed-train line Madrid-Extremadura, section Navalmoral de la Mata-Badajoz. The contract budget amounts to €2.635.163 and has realization time-frame of 60 months.
>In June 2008 Dirección General de Ferrocarriles awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with Certum, the contract for the technical assistance during the construction of Figueras railroad bypass, within the line Barcelona-Portbou. .
This bypass will permit to eliminate the current layout and to replace it with a new one towards the west of the city, following the corridor of A7 Motorway and the high-speed line. Within the bypass there will be a new station, in Vilafant, where both lines join, and which will be situated near the motorway, which will favour intermodality with other means of transport and accessibility. This first stage is 4500 m long, and as the most important works it includes a 672 metre viaduct, passing over the riverbed of Alguema and the river Manol, 2 overpasses and 5 underpasses. The award budget is €1.096.095 and the project time-frame is 22 months.
> In June 2008 Agencia Andaluza del Agua awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with VS INGENIERÍA, the contract for the extension project of San Silvestre Tunnel, situated in of Villanueva de los Castillejos and Sanlúcar de Guadiana (Huelva). The works consist basically of extending the current San Silvestre Tunnel, with 7.6-metre length, in order to increase the hydraulic capacity of the general exploitation of the Chanza-Piedras system. The award budget is €659.626 and the project time-frame is 14 months.
> In June 2008 Consellería de Política Territorial, Obras Públicas y Transportes, de la Xunta de Galicia awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with Tecpro, the contract for the layout and construction project of the Motorway Curro-Baión. The award budget is €769.040 and the project time-frame is 10 months.
In July Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF) awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with Incosa and Lacoex, the contract for the geological-geotechnical study of the subsection Plasencia Station /Fuentidueña-Casas de Millán, in the section: Talayuela-Cáceres, within the High Speed Railway Line Madrid-Extremadura, which will permit documenting the referred aspects in Constructive Project. The section is 19.6 km long and, as an outstanding work unit, it includes a 3900-metre tunnel. The award budget is €684.767 and the project time-frame is 8 months.
>In April 2008 Dirección General de Carreteras del Ministerio de Fomento awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with Tecpro Ingeniería Civil, the contract technical assistance on safety equipment improvement works in the exploitation of both Folgoso tunnels.
The Folgoso tunnels, built in 1998, have two unidirectional pipes, approximately 2,550 m long; situated between pp.kk. 278,500 and 282,000 of the A-52 road, Pontevedra. The works to be carried out consist of safety equipment upgrading in order to meet the minimum safety requirements established by the Royal Decree 635/2006.
The total of the contract amounts to € 654,964.31 and the project time-frame is 15 months.
> In February 2008 Gestió d’Infraestructures, S.A (GISA) awarded Geocontrol the contract for elaborating the Study on smoke propagation and evacuation in the Roc del Dui Tunnel of the Catalonian Railway Service.
The aim of this contract is the elaboration of the study on smoke propagation and evacuation of the future Roc del Dui Tunnel (1,350 m long) that will replace the current section counting on three tunnels, Navarro, Fenech and small Fontalba tunnel. The total of the contract amounts to € 57,000.00 and the project time-frame is 3 months.
> In February 2008 Xunta de Galicia awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with Tecpro Ingeniería Civil, the contract for elaboration of the layout and construction preliminary design of the extension of the Beiramar Tunnel in Vigo.
This preliminary design will thoroughly define the characteristics of this work and will connect the area of Berbés with the Rúa da Coruña, regenerating the surface of this port area by burying the city traffic in front of Vigo’s Auditorium..
The total of the contract amounts to € 180,694.36 and the project time-frame is 8 months.
> In March 2008 Ferrocarriles de la Junta de Andalucía awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with VS Ingeniería y Urbanismo, the contract for the Direction of works of the Alcalá de Guadaira Tram in the sections Parque Tecnológico – Adufe and Adufe – Montecarmelo. The aim of this contract is to control the work of the section Adufe-Montecarmelo, 3,284 meters long surface layout and international double gauge track. This route has five stops: Cabeza Hermosa, Nuevo Zacatín, Avenida Constitución, La Paz, Pablo VI and Montecarmelo.
The total of the contract amounts to € 2,104,978.86 and the project time-frame is 30 months.
> In November 2007 Geocontrol was present at the Technical Exhibition and the International Tunnel Congress organized by the Spanish Tunnel and Underground Works Association (AETOS), “The tunnels as a factor of transformation”.
During three days, over 80 exhibitors were present at the Technical Exhibition. Geocontrol, through a permanent booth, presented the latest investigations related to RME, and also spread the areas of the company’s activity, among which underground works design and their safety installations stand out.
On the other hand, Geocontrol was a part of 480 participants at the International Congress, presenting lectures on subjects such as the extension of the Line 3 of Barcelona Subway between Canyelles and Trinitat Nova stations, and the project and construction of Telleda and Sant Celoni Tunnels.
> In November 2007 Dirección General de Ferrocarriles awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with Ardanuy Ingeniería, the contract to design the Caníbal Variant on the new high-quality service line Orense-Monforte-Lugo.
The aim of the project is to define the works for the construction of this alternative, which includes a 725 m tunnel.
The total of the contract amounts to € 406,211.69 and the project time frame is 4 months.
> In November 2007 Dirección General de Ferrocarriles awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with Getinsa, the contract to elaborate the Complementary Studies in the section Requejo - Padornelo of the High Speed Railway Line Madrid – Galicia.
The aim of these works is to choose an alternative that can permit to set out a platform for a second track from Requejo to the exit from Padornelo Tunnel (2405 m), in order to guarantee the characteristics of a high-quality service line. The works will be carried out in coordination with the studies and projects that are already elaborated and those currently in process of being written (Lubián-Vilavella).
The total of the contract amounts to € 1,531,346.74 and the project time frame is 24 months.
> In October 2007 Gestió d’Infraestructures, S.A (GISA) awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with Auding, the contract for the Works Management of the complementary project nº 2 of tunnel ventilation in the section of the Barcelona Metro Line 3 between Canyelles and Trinitat Nova Stations. The total of the contract amounts to € 228,506 € and the project time frame is 4 months.
> In October 2007 the Canary Islands Government awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with Sistema, the contract for the Technical Assistance for the works on the new GC-1 Motorway. Section: Puerto Rico-Mogán. The section includes a set of tunnels such as Lechugal Tunnel, La Candelaria Tunnel, Platero Tunnel. Tauro Tunnel, Cura Tunnel and Mogán Tunnel that amount a total of 2,454 m. Taurito Tunnel represents the most singular and important work in this section, with 1300 m length.
The total of the contract amounts to € 3,269,866.21 and the project time frame is 52 months.
> In October 2007 Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF) awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with VS Ingeniería y Urbanismo, the contract for the control of platform works on the High Speed Line from Bobadilla to Granada. Section: Archidona - Arroyo de la Negra.
The section is 3.260 m long and double-tracked, and, as a unique work unit, it includes the construction of the Archidona Tunnel, 1,880 m long, which, together with the false tunnels, goes up to 2,170 m.
The total of the contract amounts to € 3,704,670.86 and the project time frame is 36 months.
> In June La Dirección General de Ferrocarriles at the Ministry of Public Works awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with Getinsa, the contract to elaborate the Informative study of the project of urban integration and adaptation to high-quality performance of the railway network in Lorca (Murcia). The aim of this study consists of choosing a technical alternative in order to improve the integration of the high-quality performance railway in the town of Lorca, by analyzing a series of options in different scenarios, which will be compared according to the economic, functional, urban planning and environmental criteria, among others. It will also have to reflect the removal of the level crossings existing currently at the crossing, and to include a functional analysis for both existing station.
The total of the contract amounts to € 1,064.70 and the project time frame is 24 months.
>In June Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF) awarded Geocontrol, in joint venture with Incosa, the contract for elaborating the Geological-Geotechnical Study of the North-Northwest Corridor. The section subject of the study is the one from Valladolid to Burgos, subsection: Valladolid-S. Martín Valveni.
The aim of this contract is to offer consulting and technical assistance services in order to carry out field Works, laboratory tests and geological-geotechnical studies that will be used as a basis for the future construction projects. The study is developed in a route that goes through the municipalities of Santoveña de Pisuerga, Cabezón de Pisuerga and San Martín de Valvení. The route to be studied is approximately 8,65 km long and, as a unique work unit, it includes a 2400 m long tunnel.
The total of the contract amounts to € 340,010 and the project time frame is 6 months.
