Environmental Assessment of Airport Pavement Design and Construction Alternatives


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CAIT project no.: CAIT-UTC-052

Fiscal Year: 2014/2015

Status: Final

Rutgers-CAIT Author(s): Hao Wang, Ph.D., Patrick Szary, Ph.D., CAIT

External Author(s): Scott Murrel, Port Authority of NY & NJ

Sponsor(s): USDOT-FHWA, Port Authority of NY & NJ

Summary:

The proposed research is to develop and demonstrate an environmental assessment tool to quantify the life-cycle emissions (in particular carbon footprint) associated with different airport pavement design, construction, maintenance and rehabilitation strategies. This environmental assessment tool can help airport authorities incorporate environmental sustainability into their decision-making process. The tool can be also used to monitor and control environmental impact by identifying high-impact material and construction processes in the pavement life cycle. Another outcome of the research is the comparison of different pavement design and construction practices through quantitative analysis of energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. These research outcomes will lead to the enhancement of infrastructure sustainability in the aviation community through protection of the environment, and conversation of natural resources, while meeting performance requirements.