The Sustainability and Environment Councillor of the Andalusian Government, Catalina García, has visited the facilities of the Environmental and Water Agency (Amaya) to firsthand experience the Andalusian Air Quality Reference Laboratory (Larca) and the Environmental Quality Data Center (CDCA). Both centers play a «fundamental role» in monitoring air quality in Andalusia, ensuring the reliability of the data provided by the Air Quality Surveillance and Control Network of the autonomous community, the most extensive in Spain with 94 fixed stations distributed throughout the territory.
During the visit, García highlighted the importance of the work carried out in these facilities, emphasizing that «Andalusia has established a cutting-edge structure for environmental monitoring, allowing us to effectively address the challenges posed by air quality and its impact on public health and the environment.» In this regard, she praised the Junta’s ongoing efforts to improve these systems, with an investment of over 1.26 million euros since 2019 in acquiring mobile units and state-of-the-art equipment to enhance the analytical capacity and response to episodes of atmospheric pollution.
The Andalusian Air Quality Reference Laboratory (Larca), operational as such since 2013, is one of the two only reference laboratories in this field at the national level. Its establishment as a laboratory dates back to 1998, and in 2001, it became the first in the country to receive accreditation from ENAC (National Accreditation Entity) for conducting tests in the chemical and fluid areas of atmospheric emissions and immissions. However, it wasn’t until 2013 that it became a reference center in Spain.
Its main function is to manage the quality of the data from all stations in the Air Quality Surveillance and Control Network. To do this, it carries out verifications, calibrations, and audits that ensure the accuracy of the measurements, as well as organizes inter-laboratory intercomparison exercises involving public bodies and private companies in the sector.
Just last week, the Larca organized a nationwide intercomparison exercise to assess the accuracy of measurements from accredited air quality laboratories. From March 17 to 21, it brought together nine specialized companies from different autonomous communities in Seville, who worked with their own equipment in the Agency’s mobile units. «This pioneering initiative positions Andalusia as a technical benchmark at the national level,» she affirmed.
During the exercise, participants calibrated atmospheric pollutant analyzers such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, benzene, or PM10 particles, among others. In addition to providing the analyzers, Larca conducted measurements before and after each intervention to ensure the stability of the equipment. Based on the results obtained, the laboratory prepares a statistical study that evaluates the accuracy of each participant against a consensus value. This type of exercise, as detailed, is essential to maintain quality accreditations before ENAC, and until now, it had not been carried out in Spain with this methodology.
On the other hand, the Environmental Quality Data Center (CDCA) monitors continuously, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the information collected by the surveillance network. This control system, with over two decades of experience, is a reference in Europe and has allowed to improve the response capacity to pollution episodes, as well as the design of strategic plans to improve air quality in Andalusia.
The Councillor emphasized that «the Andalusian Government has committed to precise and continuous monitoring of air quality, allowing us to provide rigorous information to the public and establish effective measures for the protection of health and the environment.» She also highlighted the work of the technicians at Amaya in this area, whose work has been crucial for the implementation of specific measurement campaigns and the improvement of protocols for environmental quality.
Advanced Technology for Environmental Management
In addition to air quality analysis, the Andalusian Environmental and Water Agency is incorporating state-of-the-art technological tools for forestry management and environmental control. In this context, Catalina García has been able to learn in detail about the devices that Amaya uses for data capture in the field, highlighting the role of drones, rover vehicles, and advanced sensorization systems.
The Agency has a fleet of 11 drones operated by 12 certified pilots, making it the first drone operator in the Andalusian Government. These devices allow for information gathering in hard-to-reach areas without risking technical personnel and are equipped with specialized sensors for mapping, monitoring of protected flora and fauna species, detection of invasive species, or assessment of the state of aquatic ecosystems by sampling in contaminated environments.
In addition to aerial drones, Amaya has incorporated underwater exploration equipment, such as an ROV vehicle capable of operating up to 300 meters deep, facilitating the monitoring of marine ecosystems and the surveillance of invasive species in the waters of the Andalusian coast. These systems are complemented by an unmanned vessel equipped with side-scan sonar, allowing for bathymetric surveys in rivers and reservoirs for the analysis of sedimentation processes.
One of the most innovative devices presented has been the ‘Mobile Mapping’ system, a technology that allows for massive data capture using spherical cameras installed in off-road vehicles, generating 360° models similar to those of ‘Google Street View’. This tool facilitates the georeferencing of elements in the natural environment, optimizing fieldwork times and improving the accuracy of environmental analyses.
The Councillor highlighted that «the incorporation of these tools represents a qualitative leap in environmental management in Andalusia, allowing for improved efficiency and safety in fieldwork.» She also noted that the investment effort in these equipment, which has reached two million euros since 2019, reflects the Junta’s commitment to modernizing environmental monitoring and control systems.
As part of this technological modernization, Catalina García also oversaw the operation of the eight forestry management ‘rover’ vehicles, an innovative remote-controlled clearing system that enhances the safety of workers in hard-to-reach areas. Acquired in 2024, these vehicles have caterpillar traction and can operate on slopes of up to 55 degrees, significantly reducing the risks associated with such tasks and allowing for more efficient forest land management.
The Councillor emphasized the Andalusian Government’s commitment to innovation in natural resource management, stating that «thanks to these technological advances, we can optimize resource utilization and improve fire prevention, as well as the conservation of our natural spaces.» In this regard, she underscored the importance of continuing to promote the development of innovative solutions that contribute to sustainability and environmental protection.
Also present during the visit were the Secretary General of Environment and Climate Change, María López Sanchís; the Managing Director of AMAYA, Javier de Torre; the Director of Environment and Sustainability of AMAYA, Ignacio Morales; the Director of Corporate Services and R&D&I Technical Services, Jesús Crespo, and the Director of Water Management and Environmental Quality, María Luisa López Cánovas, among other authorities.
Amaya in Figures for 2025
The Andalusian Environmental and Water Agency will have a total budget of 171.4 million euros in 2025, financed through self-financed resources (100 million), commissions to its own media (29.8 million), European funds (FEADER 35.6 million and other European funds 1.4 million), and earmarked revenues (4.6 million).
Regarding managed facilities, the agency manages 126 centers throughout Andalusia, of which 88 are public use facilities (such as visitor centers, marked trails, or recreational areas) and 38 correspond to other environmental and natural resource management facilities. These infrastructures are distributed in the eight Andalusian provinces, with Cádiz leading in the number of facilities (22), followed by Granada (21) and Jaén (20).
In terms of planning, Amaya develops a Management Program with operational objectives and 68 key indicators, as well as an Annual Action Plan with 371 actions and 636 monitoring indicators, representing almost half of the agency’s overall indicators.
In human resources terms, Amaya has 1,558 employees, distributed across different professional groups. Among them are technicians and specialists, as well as auxiliary and base staff. This workforce specifically includes 308 continuous employees from INFOCA, reinforcing the agency’s operational capacity in fire prevention tasks and natural resource management.
