Ice formation on bridge decks represents a major safety risk for road infrastructure during winter. Because bridges are exposed to ambient air both above and below the deck, they cool more rapidly than conventional roads, making them especially vulnerable to frost and ice formation. Traditional de-icing methods, based on chemical salts or mechanical snow removal, involve high maintenance costs, accelerate infrastructure deterioration and may have significant environmental impacts. Developing sustainable solutions that prevent ice formation without continuous chemical use has therefore become an important challenge for transport infrastructure.
The GEODUCTO project was developed within the Spanish INNPACTO 2011 programme to design and validate an innovative geothermal system that prevents frost and ice formation on bridge decks by using shallow geothermal energy. Rather than applying de-icing treatments after ice had formed, the project proposed an active thermal protection system in which heat extracted from the ground is transferred to the bridge structure, thereby maintaining the pavement temperature above freezing.
The project combined expertise in geothermal engineering, civil infrastructure, and thermal modelling to develop an integrated solution suitable for real-world transport infrastructure. Research activities included the design of geothermal heat exchangers, thermal circuits embedded within bridge decks, numerical simulation of heat transfer processes and the optimisation of system operation under different climatic conditions. Experimental validation and engineering analyses were conducted to assess the thermal performance, energy efficiency, and long-term reliability of the proposed technology, while ensuring compatibility with conventional bridge construction practices. By replacing conventional de-icing methods with renewable geothermal energy, GEODUCTO demonstrated the potential to improve road safety while reducing maintenance costs, environmental impacts and the use of corrosive de-icing salts. The project contributed to expanding the application of shallow geothermal energy beyond buildings, illustrating how renewable thermal technologies can also enhance the resilience and sustainability of transport infrastructure. The knowledge generated reinforced ITACA-UPV’s expertise in applied geothermal engineering and laid the foundation for subsequent research into innovative geothermal heat exchanger systems and infrastructure applications.
“GEODUCTO” was funded by the National Plan for Scientific Research, Development and Technological Innovation (2008–2011).
