“Decarbonisation is the glue that holds everything together,” says David Garcia Sanchez, Principal Investigator at Tecnalia and coordinator of the LIAISON project. “But decarbonisation is not just a concept – it has to be translated into practical, technical solutions that infrastructure managers can really use.”
In this in-depth interview, David shares how LIAISON is driving innovation in European transport infrastructure – from new circular concrete slabs and smart beams, to digital twins that optimise tunnel operations.
Watch also the video interview with David Garcia Sanchez
From Concrete Slabs to Smart Beams: Building for Circularity
One of LIAISON’s guiding principles is circularity. “It’s not just about how you assemble something, but also how you disassemble it,” David explains. This thinking is applied across the project’s pilot solutions.
Take the new type of concrete slab being developed with project partners Acciona and Rina. It uses recycled materials and polymers, while its design allows for quick and easy replacement at the end of its service life. “The first step,” David says, “is to design for disassembly – then we can reuse or recycle materials and guarantee circularity.”
Other solutions, like smart beams that use less material or asphalt with bio-binders that eliminate the need for high-temperature heating, are also directly targeting emissions. “For every solution, we ask: where can we cut the carbon footprint? That focus is built into our work from the start.”
The Digital Toolbox and Tunnel Twins
Alongside physical components, LIAISON is also building a digital toolbox. It combines tools developed within the project with results from earlier research to help infrastructure managers collect, analyse, and act on data.
“The idea is simple: if we want to improve, we need to measure,” David explains. “That means turning data into useful information that can support decision-making.”
One highlight is the development of a digital twin for tunnels. These models monitor lighting, ventilation, and structural conditions, optimising energy use and reducing emissions. “Tunnels are critical for safety and comfort,” David notes, “but they’re also energy-hungry. With a digital twin, we can cut energy use and carbon emissions while improving operations.”
The same architecture, he adds, could later be applied to railways and other infrastructure assets.
Bridging Innovation and Reality
But even the best innovations face hurdles. “The hardest part,” David admits, “is implementing solutions in real operational environments. Infrastructure is a sector with huge inertia. Administrations and operators need to be fully convinced – and that takes time.”
This is why LIAISON works closely with Spain’s Ministry of Transport, Italian operators, and other key players. “We spend a lot of time in dialogue with them, listening to what is needed, improving our solutions, and finding opportunities to test in the field,” David explains.
The project also looks beyond technology to address procurement frameworks. “If the rules don’t allow it, even the best solution won’t get implemented,” David says. LIAISON is therefore promoting methodologies that make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to take part in innovation and for authorities to launch tenders that welcome new solutions.
Listening to Stakeholders
Engagement is another cornerstone of the project. LIAISON has established a Stakeholder Reference Group, which brings together authorities, operators, industry, and researchers to share feedback.
“At our last workshop, we had more than 90 participants,” David says with pride. “But it’s not just about showing our solutions. It’s about listening. We use surveys, interactive methods – whatever helps us get real feedback. That feedback is gold, because in the end, it’s the market we want to reach.”
Aligning with the Green Deal
David stresses that the European Green Deal serves as “the Bible” for LIAISON. “Circularity is crucial if we want the transport sector to contribute to the Green Deal,” he says. “It’s about reducing, recycling, and creating added value across the entire value chain.”
Each LIAISON solution addresses carbon reduction differently, for example: Smart beams minimise material use and incorporate recycled concrete, Asphalt with bio-binders reduces the energy needed during production and Concrete slabs are designed for easy replacement and eventual reuse.
“Decarbonisation may be a general concept,” David reflects, “but in practice, every solution has its own pathway to achieving it.”
Infrastructure as Energy Producers
Looking to the future, David sees transport infrastructure evolving into something more dynamic. “Traditionally, infrastructure was just there to provide mobility. But in the future, it can also be an energy provider,” he says.
The concept of “prosumer infrastructure” is already being explored in LIAISON. For example, in Italy photovoltaic technology is already being integrated into road guardrails, while other energy harvesting technology is being applied to pavements in Slovenia. “Infrastructure should not be static,” David insists. “It should be dynamic, smart, and able to contribute to Europe’s energy transition.”
So what does David see when he imagines Europe’s transport network two decades from now? “A connected network, built with new materials, designed with new procedures, and integrated with digital systems. Infrastructure that is not only more sustainable, but also smarter and more flexible.”
