Metrics for management of asphalt plant sustainability

Assessing the sustainability status of an asphalt production facility is a vital issue that interrelates with the quality of hot-mix asphalt (HMA). In-plant production depends on a number of technical, personnel, and management issues. Controlling HMA production and producers (contractors) is a difficult task for which a qualifications-based selection system could be a viable solution. Consequently, the objective of this study is to set up and validate a method for assessing the sustainability of an asphalt plant. The new model was set up and based on a synergistic consideration of economic and environmental factors. The model allows the derivation of an innovative scoring system in which internal (nonenvironmental) and environmental requirements are considered. The primary contributions to the body of knowledge are the following: (1) the method is built on the derivation of a combined and modular ranking system; (2) it is based on a framework that identifies the links between problem and outcome; and (3) unlike traditional multicriteria analysis, it combines the summation and running of the product. Consequently, this study can be used to obtain knowledge of asphalt plant sustainability including economic perspectives and environmental concerns. A simple spreadsheet was designed and used for model implementation. The outcome of the research can benefit practitioners, researchers, road and environmental agencies, and authorities.