Measuring the sustainability of transportation infrastructures through comparative life cycle and energy assessment

Abstract

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015. It addresses people, planet and prosperity needs and particularly focuses on transport systems that must be 1) Sustainable. 2) Quality and resilient. 3) Safe. 4) Affordable and accessible. The Research Project PRIN USR342 focuses on similar concepts and the expected outputs are 3 paving solutions (made with recycled materials and sustainable technologies), 4 sets of modules (software), and 2 platforms. In this view, the objective of this study is the identification of the best pavement technology in terms of energy and environmental performance. To this aim a LCA approach has been applied in a cradle-to-grave perspective, which includes materials production, construction, maintenance, and end of life. Results highlight the principal potential differences, in terms of environmental burdens, of the different pavement solutions and the step in life cycle most impacting. In particular results show that the use of warm mix asphalts coupled with the use of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) results the best solution, because it implies the lowest energy consumption and environmental impact, further the production of mixtures is crucial, in terms of impacts produced in all the categories considered in LCA, with a contribution of 60–70% in the life cycle of the different materials. Based on the outcomes, LCA approach appears a methodology able to help decision makers in setting up strategies for the eco-design of road pavements.