Ferrovial designs digital participation solutions

A garbage truck waits parked in front of a dumpster while a casually dressed man works with his tablet collecting data.

Ferrovial collects and processes waste generated by more than 27 million citizens each year. Its sophisticated management systems allow the company to continuously optimize its services. However, the final results by which the company is evaluated do not depend solely on its capabilities - they are also tied to the awareness levels of its beneficiaries: the citizens. The socio-demographic and cultural characteristics of a city significantly influence the success or failure of cleaning projects. That is why Ferrovial chose to rely on Kuorum to create a new service that considers the real needs and interests of citizens from the earliest stages of design.

Our client

Kuorum provides technology that enables companies and governments to involve citizens in the design of public services and policies. Our clients in six countries launch surveys, debates, consultations and other participatory processes that not only gauge public opinion but also empower citizens to play a leading role in city-building. By combining online data collection with street-level surveys, focus groups, and other quantitative and qualitative methods, we create detailed maps of citizens' habits and motivations. This approach allows us to propose innovative solutions to everyday problems that might otherwise become entrenched once the service is implemented.

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"We wanted to listen citizens’ proposals."

A young woman with glasses participates with her laptop on her lap in a survey for Ferrovial.

One illustrative case is the management of the organic fraction of household waste. Municipalities are required by regulations to increase the proportion of biowaste that is managed separately. Some service companies simply distribute brown containers across the municipality. But this effort is futile if citizens do not separate this type of waste in their kitchens. Thanks to our studies, Ferrovial identifies cities where there is potential for creating ecosystems conducive to composting. In urban areas with large green spaces, farmers, gardeners, and residents collaborate to combine pruning waste with food scraps, producing compost to enrich agricultural soil. The sense of ownership fostered within these circular economy ecosystems is so strong that some residents even become "composting masters," dedicating their free time to monitoring and maintaining composting facilities.

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In short, thanks to Kuorum's technology and expertise in user-centered design techniques, Ferrovial can develop more efficient street cleaning and waste collection projects. Unlike other companies, Ferrovial designs services that are tailored to the idiosyncrasies of each community, ensuring higher recycling rates. And, as a result, local governments that rely on Ferrovial can meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and those set by the European Union's circular economy regulatory package, approved in 2018. If you want to know more, do not hesitate to contact us.

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