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Comparative Environmental Assessment of Rigid, Flexible, and Perpetual Pavements: A Case Study of Texas

Author

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  • Lubinda F. Walubita

    (Texas A&M Transportation Institute, The Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX 79016, USA)

  • Gilberto Martinez-Arguelles

    (Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 080001, Colombia)

  • Rodrigo Polo-Mendoza

    (Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 080001, Colombia
    Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic)

  • Sang Ick-Lee

    (Texas A&M Transportation Institute, The Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX 79016, USA)

  • Luis Fuentes

    (Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 080001, Colombia)

Abstract

Unlike conventional pavements with a service life of 20~30 years, perpetual pavements (PPs) are designed to have a 50-year service life without requiring major maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) activities. In this way, PPs are more cost-effective than conventional rigid pavements (CRPs) and conventional flexible pavements (CFPs). Nonetheless, even though the economic and mechanical aspects of PPs have been widely studied and well documented, the literature is limited regarding the environmental assessment of PPs. Consequently, this research estimated the environmental burden associated with five pavement structures (one CRP, one CFP, and three PP structures) through the life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Notably, the PaLATE computational tool was used to carry out the LCAs. The results indicated that for CFP, most of the environmental impacts are generated by the M&R activities. Otherwise, for CRP and PP structures, the most impact occurred during the initial construction stage. The study results also revealed that materials production is the sub-stage that most contributed to the generation of environmental detriments. Overall, this comparative case study concluded that the pavement alternative with the slightest environmental damage is the PP structure.

Suggested Citation

  • Lubinda F. Walubita & Gilberto Martinez-Arguelles & Rodrigo Polo-Mendoza & Sang Ick-Lee & Luis Fuentes, 2022. "Comparative Environmental Assessment of Rigid, Flexible, and Perpetual Pavements: A Case Study of Texas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-22, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:16:p:9983-:d:886557
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ali Naqi & Jeong Gook Jang, 2019. "Recent Progress in Green Cement Technology Utilizing Low-Carbon Emission Fuels and Raw Materials: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, January.
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    1. Xiaobing Chen & Miao Zhang & Jianming Yao & Xiaofei Zhang & Wei Wen & Jinhai Yin & Zhongshan Liang, 2023. "Research on Water Stability and Moisture Damage Mechanism of a Steel Slag Porous Asphalt Mixture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-23, October.

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