Functional unit choice for comparative pavement LCA involving use-stage with pavement roughness uncertainty quantification (UQ)

Mojtaba Ziyadi, Hasan Ozer, Imad L. Al-Qadi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

An analysis of the use-stage for pavement Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) is presented within a framework of an LCA tool developed for Illinois Tollway. Methodological choices that can significantly affect LCA results were evaluated in this study. The share of the use-stage in a comprehensive pavement LCA framework was evaluated with all life-cycle stages including materials, construction, use, maintenance, and end of life. The scope of the use-stage includes albedo, carbonation, and rolling resistance (including pavement roughness and texture components). Uncertainty of the pavement roughness and its effect on the results are investigated using Monte Carlo sampling technique. A discussion on the choice of functional unit and its effect in comparative LCA is presented and an appropriate functional unit is suggested. Four projects were selected as case studies to demonstrate the capabilities of the tool and proposed framework. A multi-point environmental performance evaluation was performed using four environmental indicators for comprehensive interpretation of results. The effect of each stage of LCA was evaluated with emphasis on the results of the use-stage. Additional fuel consumption and emissions, resulting from roughness and texture, constituted the largest share of use-stage impacts while the effect of carbonation was limited. As traffic reduced and the share of the materials and construction stage increased, the share of the use-stage could be decreased to 50% levels.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationPavement Life-Cycle Assessment - Proceedings of the Pavement Life-cycle Assessment Symposium, 2017
EditorsImad L. Al-Qadi, Hasan Ozer, John Harvey
PublisherCRC Press/Balkema
Pages133-144
Number of pages12
ISBN (Print)9781138066052
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017
EventSymposium on Life-Cycle Assessment of Pavements, Pavement LCA 2017 - Champaign, United States
Duration: Apr 12 2017Apr 13 2017

Publication series

NamePavement Life-Cycle Assessment - Proceedings of the Pavement Life-cycle Assessment Symposium, 2017

Other

OtherSymposium on Life-Cycle Assessment of Pavements, Pavement LCA 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityChampaign
Period4/12/174/13/17

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Building and Construction
  • Civil and Structural Engineering

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