📋 Tender Overview
The Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma) has awarded the National Civil Engineering Award 2023 to Joaquin Andreu Alvarez for his brilliant professional career related to water, where he has combined his intense dedication in the field of teaching and research with the management of water resources.
Joaquin Andreu, PhD in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), is an expert in hydrological planning, drought and climate change applied to water, among other subjects. His contributions have been aimed at reconciling the development of human activity with the preservation of the environment and the sustainable use of the resource.
In addition, he has developed throughout his career various models of simulation and optimization of water resources and decision support systems widely used in the Hydrographic Confederations. This award has been granted after considering the outstanding qualities and circumstances that characterize his professional career, taking into account the social, economic, aesthetic and technological impact of his activity.
An impeccable track record
Beyond the PhD, Andreu holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University. He is also a professor in the Department of Hydraulic Engineering and Environment (DIHMA) at the School of Civil Engineering (ETSICCP) of the UPV, becoming director of the Department and even director of the School. In addition, he is responsible for the Water Resources Engineering Group (IWRM) of the Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA) of the UPV, an institute of which he was also founding director.
Among other milestones, his work as technical director of the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation (CHJ) stands out, where he reinforced decision-making in the field of management of water resources systems in real time through the use of models and decision support systems and participatory processes. In addition, he supervised more than 100 projects of works, installations and structural and environmental actions within the scope of the CHJ.
Currently, he is head of the research team that has developed the AquaTool Decision Support System for the planning and management of water resources, used in practice by numerous basin agencies, research organizations and consulting companies, both in Spain and in other countries.
Innovation, key in his career
Joaquín Andreu has been a researcher in more than 50 R + D + i contracts and transfers with Administration entities and consulting companies, as well as in more than 50 competitive R + D + i projects (financed by the European Communities or by the Ministry of Science and Technology).
He is the author of more than 180 publications in journals and papers at conferences on water planning and management, among others. In addition, he has been director or co-director of 25 doctoral theses and author and editor of several articles and books, highlighting his work as reviewer of important scientific journals and member of the Editorial Committee of the Journal of Water Resources Management.
Given his extensive experience, he has been a consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. The European Water Resources Association awarded him in 2019 the Certificate of Honour as a Distinguished Member "for his outstanding contribution to the field of water resources management".
National Civil Engineering Award
The National Civil Engineering Award is an award granted annually by Mitma since 2001 as a reward and recognition of the work carried out by a professional related to civil engineering. Since that year, twenty prizes have been awarded to as many professionals of recognized prestige in this field.
For its award, the merits of the candidates are evaluated with objective criteria, for which the social, economic, aesthetic and technological impact of their activity is taken into consideration.
The Center for Studies and Experimentation of Public Works (CEDEX), dependent on Mitma, is responsible for promoting and managing the tasks associated with the granting of this award.
