An improved pavement maintenance optimization methodology: Integrating LCA and LCCA

Bin Yu, Qing Lu and Jian Xu

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2013, vol. 55, issue C, 1-11

Abstract: Environmental damage cost (EDC) is traditionally ignored in the pavement cost evaluation. This study used a combined life cycle assessment–life cycle cost analysis (LCA–LCCA) model to optimize the pavement maintenance plans with the incorporation of EDC. The paper introduced a comprehensive LCA methodology in pavement field, estimated the marginal damage costs of various air pollutants, and developed an algorithm to link LCA model and LCCA model. A case study of three overlay systems, Portland cement concrete (PCC) overlay, hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlay, and crack, seat, and overlay (CSOL), was presented. The findings through the study include: the EDC occupies a significant portion of the overall costs; the developed LCA–LCCA model is effective in reducing both the energy consumption/greenhouse gas emission ranging from 8.2% to 12.3% and the overall costs ranging from 5.9% to 10.2% for the three overlay designs, respectively; it is reasonable to expect smaller environmental burdens and less overall costs for the PCC and CSOL options as opposed to the HMA option although comparisons of the former two are indeterminate due to the great uncertainties in the usage module.

Keywords: LCA; LCCA; EDC; Pavement overlay system; Optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856413001262
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:transa:v:55:y:2013:i:c:p:1-11

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/supportfaq.cws_home/regional
https://shop.elsevie ... _01_ooc_1&version=01

DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2013.07.004

Access Statistics for this article

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice is currently edited by John (J.M.) Rose

More articles in Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().