Decision Support in Selecting Airfield Pavement Design Alternatives Using Life Cycle Assessment: Case Study of Nashville Airport

Ali Azhar Butt, John Harvey, Arash Saboori, Maryam Ostovar, Manuel Bejarano and Navneet Garg
Additional contact information
Ali Azhar Butt: University of California Pavement Research Center, University of California Davis, 2001 Ghausi Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
John Harvey: University of California Pavement Research Center, University of California Davis, 2001 Ghausi Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
Arash Saboori: University of California Pavement Research Center, University of California Davis, 2001 Ghausi Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
Maryam Ostovar: University of California Pavement Research Center, University of California Davis, 2001 Ghausi Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
Manuel Bejarano: Atkins, 482 S. Keller Rd., Orlando, FL 32810, USA
Navneet Garg: Airport Technology R&D Branch, FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City, NJ 08405, USA

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has taken measures to improve safety, reduce costs, increase resilience, and improve the sustainability of the United States (U.S.) airfield infrastructure by using a life-cycle cost analysis methodology to increase the efficient use of economic resources needed for expanding and preserving the airfield system. However, a life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach for evaluating the environmental impacts of decisions regarding airfield infrastructure has yet to be fully developed and applied. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the use of the airfield LCA framework that was developed for the FAA and can be used by U.S. airports. The comparison of alternative pavement designs at Nashville International Airport (BNA) is presented. The scope of the study was from cradle to laid; materials, materials transportation, and construction stages of the pavement life cycle are considered, and the maintenance, use and end of life stages are not considered. Primary data were acquired from BNA and secondary data were used in situations of unavailability of primary data. The case study showed that performing LCA provides opportunities for airports to consider energy use and environment-related impacts in the decision-making process.

Keywords: life cycle assessment; life cycle cost analysis; airfield pavements; decision support (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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