Evaluating factors in sustainable road construction and management: a life cycle approach

摘要

Roads perform an important connecting function for the community. At the same time their design, construction and operation are not always easy from the point of view of sustainability. Achieving sustainability in this process requires the undertaking of initiatives such as sound environmental management, water sensitive urban design, use of advanced and recycled materials, and environmentally responsible project management and construction. The contribution of such factors to a particular road project can be different for alternative options for constructing and managing the road. This can be an issue in comparing these options. A methodology is proposed to address this issue through calculating a weighted score of the sustainability related economic, environmental and social factors for each option, using a life cycle management approach that considers stakeholder requirements. As the variables in this process tend to be measured in a range of units and may be either quantitative or qualitative, each variable in a given road construction option is both given a weight and also assigned a suitable comparative score obtained though calculation for quantitative variables, or using a utility approach for qualitative variables. The calculated total weighted scores for various road construction and management options may then be compared when assessing the most sustainable option. An example calculation that compares the weighted sustainability for two road construction options is provided. The approach described is flexible and may be used in conjunction with other methodologies, and is also capable of being developed into a suitable computer based modelling tool.