A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SUSTAINABILITY TOOLS TO ASSESS AN ASPHALT ROAD PAVEMENT’S LIFE CYCLE

摘要

The concern to make sustainable choices for road pavements is omnipresent. Many roadauthorities are moving steadily to a decision making process in which also theenvironmental, economic and social impact of road works are considered. The challenge isto use the right tool in the right situation to achieve objective results.A broad variety of software tools is available to assess a road project’s sustainability. Theauthor gives a non-exhaustive overview of some tools that are used to assess an asphaltroad pavement and reports on their evaluation and comparison.The aim is to investigate which tools are adequate and flexible in calculating a carbonfootprint and are able to compare alternative (innovative) asphalt materials; also to assesswhat sensitivity input parameters have, how recycled materials are taken intoconsideration and which life cycle stages are covered.By using a calculation example of a dense asphalt concrete, strong points and possibleinconveniences or drawbacks of tools, are demonstrated and their preferential life cyclephase in which they are most valuable to use is indicated.The comparative analysis results in findings that can help to interpret a tool’s outputcorrectly.