ARGUS partners met in Madrid and visited Baltanás

ARGUS partners met in Madrid for their periodical meeting on 21 and 22 of January 2025 and took the opportunity to visit one of the pilot sites of the project, the cellar town of Baltanás. 

Hosted by CSIC, the meeting brought together partners from various work packages (WPs) to align efforts and ensure project milestones remain on track. 

Day 1: review of the project progress

During the first day, ATHENA kicked off the meeting with a detailed presentation of the overarching project workplan for achieving the objective. The session emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to achieve key objectives.

After this introduction, the focus was on each of the work packages to get insights into the work performed and establish the framework for future activities. In particular, partners detailed the steps to follow for a complete review of data collection methodologies and of of miniaturized technology components

The day concluded with remarks summarizing the progress and setting the stage for the next day’s field visit.

Day 2: visit to Baltanás pilot region

During the second day, the ARGUS group visited Baltanás, a small village located in the region of Castilla y León. The village hosts a unique neighbourhood with cellars excavated underground in clay. The ARGUS project, and more specifically researchers from CSIC, are studying how to preserve the memory of the cellar threatened by high humidity and landslides inside and outside the cellars. Guided by volunteers of the Asociación Cultural Barrio de Bodegas de Baltanás, ARGUS partners had the opportunity to experience the project’s implementation context firsthand.

After the visit, prof. Luis Javier Sánchez Aparicio from the Technical University of Madrid presented the research done in Baltanás from the architectural point of view, including a 3D printing of a model of the site. 

This visit underscored the importance of real-world applications and community collaboration in driving the project’s success.

Looking ahead

The meeting provided a comprehensive review of progress across all WPs, fostering alignment and collaboration among partners. With the insights gained from the discussions and the field visit, the consortium is well-equipped to address upcoming challenges and achieve impactful outcomes.

Stay tuned for updates as we continue to advance innovation and collaboration!