The POCRISC, PIXIL, MOMPA and PYRMOVE projects join forces to promote the mitigation of geological risks and boost the exploration of energy resources in the Pyrenees

The Pyrenees Territorial Support Centre (CSTP) in Tremp hosted this Thursday the event organised by four projects that are part of the POCTEFA 2014-2020 programme: POCRISC, PIXIL, MOMPA and PYRMOVE. Moreover, the PHUSICOS project has also participated in this event.

Antoni Roca, Deputy Director-General of Regional Geology and Geophysics of the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia, welcomed all participants and Sara Figueras, head of the Geophysics Department of the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia, coordinator of the POCRISC project, gave the technical presentation and moderation of the whole event.

Under the title “Safer and more sustainable communities. Experiences of cross-border projects in the Pyrenees”, the aim of the event was to present the tools implemented in the framework of the four cross-border projects (Spain, France, Andorra) and to debate different aspects related to the integration of the results, both from the technical point of view and in terms of management, dissemination and coordination with end users.

Representatives of services, companies and institutions involved in the assessment and management of geological risks in the Pyrenees, and in the development of geothermal energy in the region were among the attendees. Several media also attended.

Members of the four main projects have participated: Pilar Queralt, Professor of Earth Physics at the University of Barcelona, partner of the PIXIL project; Janira Irizarry, Senior Technician at the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia and technical coordinator of the POCRISC project; Michele Crosetto, Head of the Geomatics Division of the Telecommunications Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTTC) and coordinator of the MOMPA project; and José Moya, Professor at the School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB) of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and executive secretary of the PYRMOVE project; who presented the different projects as well as the developments and advances they have made in their areas.

This part was followed by a round table moderated by Josep de la Puente, Geosciences Applications Group Manager in the CASE Department of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center and coordinator of the PIXIL project. The discussion spined around topics related to geological risks and their cross-border management, the interaction between climate change and geological risks, the contribution of the geothermal system to climate change mitigation. As well as the coordination with the end users of these projects and the adaptation of the results to their needs. The round table was attended by Rosa Mata, Head of the Logistics and Territorial Operational Service of the Directorate General of Civil Protection; Marta González, Head of the Geological Risk Information System (SIRG) of the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia; Albert Pujadas, Manager of QUALI Geotermia; Salvador Samitier, Head of the Catalan Office of Climate Change; and Eva Garcia, Coordinator of the Pyrenean Observatory of Climate Change (OPCC), partner of the PHUSICOS project.

Finally, the conclusions and the closing of the event were given by Sara Figueras (ICGC) and Rosa Amorós, Secretary of the Working Community of the Pyrenees.

At the end of the event, there was a poster session of the different projects, in which the attendees were able to learn more about them and exchange reflections with their members.

More information about the four cross-border POCTEFA 2014-2020 projects

POCRISC (For a Common Seismic Risk Culture): Seismic risk prevention and support tools for seismic emergency management. Led by the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC) Link to the POCRISC project website
PIXIL (Pyrénées Imaging eXperience: an international network): State-of-the-art multidisciplinary tools (geophysics-geology-supercomputing) for subsurface analysis for geothermal exploration. Led by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) Link to the PIXIL project website
MOMPA (MOnitoring of Ground Movements and Action Protocols): Monitoring of ground deformations related to geological hazards. Led by the Telecommunications Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTTC) Link to the MOMPA project website
PYRMOVE (Prevention and cross-border management of landslide risk): Prevention and management of landslide risk. Led by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) Link to the PYRMOVE project website

The projects have been co-financed 65% by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg V-A Spain-France-Andorra Programme (POCTEFA 2014-2020). The aim of POCTEFA is to strengthen the economic and social integration of the Spain-France-Andorra border area. Its support focuses on the development of cross-border economic, social and environmental activities through joint strategies for sustainable territorial development.