At HERIT4AGES, we develop and validate different technical and socially innovative solutions to improve cultural heritage in all relevant aspects: inclusivity, accessibility, resilience, sustainability, and energy efficiency.

At MORFEO, we create new functional mortars and concretes from alkali-activated steel slag, using advanced tools such as Artificial Intelligence to optimize formulations and predict properties, accelerating the development of solutions adapted to different construction applications.

Decarbonizing the construction sector requires a twofold transformation. On the one hand, we must develop innovative materials that are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. On the other hand, we must improve existing buildings by implementing circular economy models and relying on new technologies for their renovation. In this context, at CETIM we have been working for years on several R&D projects that bring together these two aspects with the common goal of promoting more circular, efficient construction that addresses current climate challenges.

HERIT4AGES: Innovative heritage conservation

HERIT4AGES, Funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe call for proposals, it addresses one of the major challenges facing the sector: how to renovate historic buildings without compromising their cultural and architectural value. To this end, the consortium comprising CETIM, Tesela, and 10 other European entities is working to develop innovative solutions for the preservation and modernization of built cultural heritage, improving its accessibility, energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience.

HERIT4AGES integrates a co-creation methodology to involve society in heritage rehabilitation, together with digital tools such as the Digital Twin Ecosystem (DTE) platform for monitoring and preventive conservation. It will also develop biodegradable environmental sensors to measure humidity and pollutants, as well as a Smart Energy Router with non-intrusive monitoring, optimizing energy management and the integration of renewables.

The rehabilitation solutions being created in the project are reversible and non-intrusive, using recycled materials with low environmental impact. They are also being validated in three physical pilots located in Spain, Italy, and Estonia, as well as in two virtual demonstrations in Portugal and Spain, which allow for analysis of replicability and scalability.

At CETIM, we are leading the development of three types of complex materials and composites from various local waste streams, with the aim of achieving removable construction solutions for the renovation of heritage buildings in technical floors, cladding panels, and technical ceilings. In addition, we are conducting Life Cycle Analysis and Life Cycle Cost Analysis to assess their environmental and economic impact.

MORFEO: Beyond steel slag

MORFEO is the result of a partnership between CETIM, Tesela, Extraco, and CELSA OPCO. It is a project that seeks to establish a circular model in construction and reinforce its commitment to sustainable development by addressing one of the major global challenges: researching more sustainable construction materials that can be used in industrial-scale applications.

Our main objective at MORFEO is to develop functional mortars and concretes from alkali-activated steel slag, using advanced tools such as Artificial Intelligence to optimize formulations and predict properties, accelerating the development of solutions adapted to different construction applications.

The initiative aims to go further in researching black and white slag from electric arc furnaces, evaluating their potential for use as a single precursor and as aggregate in the formulation of alkali-activated mortars and concretes. To this end, the technical and environmental feasibility will be analyzed through the design, execution, monitoring, and life cycle analysis of proof-of-concept tests in real environments that demonstrate the viability of the solutions generated.

HERIT4AGES guarantees innovative heritage conservation, balancing tradition and sustainability with advanced technologies, while MORFEO is an example of the circular economy and digitalization for the creation of more sustainable and competitive materials. Both projects seek new advanced materials and promote the use of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twins in order to reduce the environmental impact of construction while increasing its efficiency and competitiveness.

HERIT4AGES is funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No. 101123175. However, the opinions expressed in this text are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

 

 

MORFEO: Mortars and functional concretes based on the alkaline activation of electric arc slag (Reference: CPP2024-011388) has been funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ ERDF, EU.