Shehadeh, A; Alshboul, O and Tamimi, M (2025) Quantitative analysis of climate-adaptive pavement technologies: Mitigating environmental impact and enhancing economic viability in urban infrastructure. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 151(6): 04025064, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
The escalating demand for robust infrastructure amid rapid urbanization and climate change necessitates innovative approaches to road construction that consider both environmental impact and economic sustainability. This study introduces a comprehensive framework for integrating climate-Adaptive technologies in the design and maintenance of pavements, particularly in urban settings subject to tropical climates like Florida. Utilizing a hybrid methodology that combines life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) with environmental impact assessments, we quantitatively analyze the effects of using advanced asphalt binders and climate-Adaptive construction practices. Our findings indicate that incorporating temperature-resistant asphalt binders can reduce pavement maintenance frequency by up to 40% over a 30-year period, leading to a significant decrease in associated CO2 emissions by approximately 15%-20%. The adoption of these materials and methods could also lead to a reduction in life-cycle costs by up to 25%, compared to traditional pavement technologies. By utilizing global climate models (GCMs) within the framework of the relative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario, our projections show an enhance in pavement durability by extending the service life under predicted temperature rises of 2°C-4°C. Economic analysis further reveals that investing in climate-Adaptive technologies not only mitigates the cost of frequent repairs due to climate-induced damages but also enhances the overall economic efficiency of urban infrastructure projects. By establishing a clear link between climate-responsive materials and economic benefits, this research advocates for a shift in urban infrastructure planning toward more sustainable and economically viable solutions.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | climate change; highway construction; life-cycle cost analysis |
| Index terms: | environmental impact assessment, durability, CO2 emissions, urbanization, service life, efficiency, road construction, highway construction, economic sustainability, damages, urban infrastructure, cost analysis, climate change, adaptive technology, economic analysis, quantitative analysis, repair, environmental impact, methodology |
| Subjects: | data analysis and analytics, material degradation and durability, financial and cost management, air quality, dispute resolution, infrastructure and transport systems, civil engineering, performance management, urban planning, design analysis, innovation and technology management, economic analysis, environmental impact, climate science, asset management, research methods, maintenance engineering |
| Topics: | Legal Issues, Quality Management, Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Urban Studies, Design Practice, Governance, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Construction Materials, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here