WWW.ACPA.ORG 17 FALL // 2022 some states are evaluating upfront construction impacts to gather data for the creation of baseline measurements. “The concrete pavement industry has been talking about use phase impacts for more than a decade, but it’s important to get our message out that including use phase emissions is valuable data that provides a better view of environmental impact over the pavement’s life,” Ferrebee says. Mack agrees: “Measuring the use phase impacts as part of the overall analysis will allow departments of transportation to make the right decisions because they have the right information,” he says. “This doesn’t mean that concrete is always the right choice for a project. It depends on the type and volume of traffic, geographic location and climate, among other factors. We want decisions to be made fairly, with complete information, so the right application is chosen for the right reasons.” Using performance-engineered mixes, optimizing the design to avoid overbuilding, reducing clinker and increasing the use of portland limestone cement and supplementary cementitious materials all contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases, but the conversation around reducing concrete pavement’s life-cycle impact on the environment should continue. “This requires an ongoing conversation about accurately measuring emissions throughout the life of a pavement, not just in the manufacture of materials or initial construction,” Ferebee says. References 1. Akbarian M, Ulm FJ, Xu X, Kirchain R, Gregory J, et al. 2019. “Overview of Pavement Life Cycle Assessment Use Phase Research at the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub.” Airfield and Highway Pavements 2019: Innovation and Sustainability in Highway and Airfield Pavement Technology— Selected Papers from the International Airfield and Highway Pavements Conference 2019. 2. Zaabar I, Chatti K. 2010. Calibration of HDM-4 Models for Estimating the Effect of Pavement Roughness on Fuel Consumption for U.S. Conditions. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2155. Pages 105–116. 3. Akbarian M, Moeini SS, Ulm F-J, Nazzal M. 2012. Mechanistic Approach to PavementVehicle Interaction and Its Impact on Life-Cycle Assessment. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2306. Pages 171–179.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Nzc3ODM=