Network-level pavement life-cycle assessment tool

Abstract

In addition to the need to lower the overall maintenance cost while keeping their road networks in the appropriate condition, road agencies are facing even more demanding challenges, including incorporating global climate change and environmental impacts into their decision process. Many studies and research initiatives have modeled the impact of pavement condition on vehicle fuel consumption and maintenance costs, indicating that maintaining the pavement network at the lowest roughness level would lower fuel and parts consumption, which is beneficial for the environment. On the other hand, the more intensive pavement maintenance, which is required to keep up roads as smooth as possible, is accompanied with the extensive emissions and negative environmental impact. The objective of this paper is to find an optimal maintenance plan at network level that minimizes environmental impact during the entire pavement life-cycle, which includes both traffic and maintenance works.