Estimation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Produced by Road Projects in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Mohammed H. Alzard, Munjed A. Maraqa, Rezaul Chowdhury, Qasim Khan, Francisco D. B. Albuquerque, Timur Ibrahim Mauga and Khaled Nazmi Aljunadi
Additional contact information
Mohammed H. Alzard: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551 Al Ain, UAE
Munjed A. Maraqa: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551 Al Ain, UAE
Rezaul Chowdhury: School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Southern Queensland, 4350 Toowoomba, Australia
Qasim Khan: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551 Al Ain, UAE
Francisco D. B. Albuquerque: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551 Al Ain, UAE
Timur Ibrahim Mauga: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551 Al Ain, UAE
Khaled Nazmi Aljunadi: Infrastructure Support Department, Abu Dhabi City Municipality, 2460 Abu Dhabi, UAE

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: Assessing the current levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from road transportation projects allows for benchmarking and is essential for potential emissions reduction. The objective of this study was to estimate the GHG emissions associated with the construction and operation of three road cases—two primary roads and one secondary road network—in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The GHG emissions produced by the study cases were estimated using the RoadCO 2 estimation tool. Results showed that the total emissions (in kg CO 2 e/m 2 /y) range from 76 for the secondary road case to 1100 for the primary road cases. The operation phase is responsible for 94–98% of these emissions; the construction phase is responsible for the rest. Road works contributed the most to GHG emissions during the construction phase. The contribution of the remaining categories of the construction phase fluctuates within a certain case and among the considered cases. The equipment used in the construction phase for the three cases contributed 15–70% of the total phase emissions, while the remaining emissions were due to construction materials. In the operation phase, emissions were mainly generated by vehicle movement. Street lighting also contributed to emissions during the operation phase. On the other hand, the irrigation of planted trees along the road had a very low impact on GHG emissions, and carbon sequestration by these trees had a negligible effect in terms of acting as a carbon sink. The results obtained from this study were compared with other cases reported in the literature.

Keywords: greenhouse gases; road lifecycle; RoadCO 2; road construction; road operation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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