Environmental Life-Cycle Assessment for Asphalt Pavements: Issues and Recommended Future Directions

Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) analyzes the total energy and resource requirements and environmental impact of human-designed systems. Both policymakers and industry have shown a great deal of interest in applying LCA as a decision-making criterion during planning and design for new pavement construction, and maintenance and rehabilitation activities. This interest results from two different perspectives: first, from recognition that pavement activities have effects on the environment, which must first be evaluated before they can be minimized to improve pavement system sustainability; and second, from a perception that competitive advantage can come from “green marketing” through improved pavement sustainability. This paper provides a brief overview of LCA and identifies the most important unresolved issues and gaps in the application of LCA to pavements. Based on this review, recommendations are made for improving the scientific viability of LCA when applied to pavements, including how to implement pavement LCA and key research needs for improving its validity and accuracy.