--ISAP Graduate Student Research Directory
Project Title
Environmental Life Cycle Analysis of Asphalt Concrete Pavements
Abstract
(Key objectives, description of work, expected outcome)
The environmental implications of pavement manufacturing, construction, and use are generally unknown. While specific aspects have been investigated (such as air emissions from bitumen production, or water runoff quality), a full scale life cycle analysis has not been completed. Moreover, the environmental work that has been completed does not, on the whole, differentiate between pavement and structure types within the major categories of PCC and AC.
This project will produce a life cycle analysis (LCA) of the most widely used asphalt concrete designs. This will include (though not limited to) an assessment of conventional, rubberized, and polymer-modified materials, as well as different available gradations. The life of the asphalt concrete will be broken down into materials extraction and production, construction, use (including maintenance), and decommissioning. Using a hybrid LCA approach, the phases will first be evaluated independently, then interconnected together to create the environmental footprint of each design, accounting for everything from air emissions to hazardous waste production. The overall goal is to create a software package that allows the user to input the design parameter details and output the environmental consequences, resulting in a tool that compares alternative feasible designs.
Starting Date:
June 2006
Expected Completion:
May 2009
University
(or
institution)
University of California, Berkeley, USA website
Chair, Civil Engineering
Arpad Horvath website
e-mail: horvath@ce.berkeley.edu
Student
Nicholas Santero
e-mail: njsantero@berkeley.edu
Academic Achievements
(Degree, grants, publications, etc.)
B.S. Civil Engineering, UC Davis (2003)
M.S. Civil Engineering, UC Berkeley (2006)
AGC Fellowship, UC Berkeley
Permission to post
on ISAP website
(Members only)
Yes
Date:
September 6, 2006