title: Environmental assessment of pavement infrastructure: A systematic review.
abstract: Through a critical review and systematic analysis of pavement life cycle assessment (LCA) studies published over the past two decades, this study shows that the available information regarding the environmental impacts of pavement infrastructure is not sufficient to determine what pavement type is more environmentally sustainable. Limitations and uncertainties related to data, system boundary and functional unit definitions, consideration of use and maintenance phase impacts, are identified as the main reasons for inconsistency of reported results in pavement LCA studies. The study outcomes also highlight the need for advancement of knowledge pertaining to: (1) utilization of performance-adjusted functional units, (2) accurate estimation of use, maintenance, and end-of-life impacts, (3) incorporation of the dynamic and uncertain nature of pavement condition performance in impact assessment; (4) development of region-specific inventory data for impact estimation; and (5) consideration of a standard set of impact categories for comparison of environmental performance of different pavement types. Advancing the knowledge in these areas is critical in providing consistent and reliable results to inform decision-making toward more sustainable roadway infrastructure.
authors.affiliation: OHL School of Construction, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, 10555, EC 2900, West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33174, United States. Electronic address: pinyi001@fiu.edu.
authors.forename: Peeraya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Inyim
authors.affiliation: OHL School of Construction, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, 10555, EC 2900, West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33174, United States.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pereyra
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, 10555, EC 3601, West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33174, United States.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bienvenu
authors.affiliation: OHL School of Construction, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, 10555, EC 2900, West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33174, United States.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mostafavi
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000032:analysis*; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013597:Systems Analysis; D014186:Transportation; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: Environmental impact; Life cycle assessment; Pavement life cycle; Sustainability