Developing an LCA-based tool for infrastructure projects
Shamir Ghumra
Miles Watkins
Paul Phillips
Jacqui Glass
Matthew Frost
Jane Anderson
2134/5989
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/conference_contribution/Developing_an_LCA-based_tool_for_infrastructure_projects/9429845
There exists a well established set of tools based on life cycle assessment
methodology for buildings. Tools such as the BRE’s Environmental Assessment
Method (BREEAM) are commonly used and a greater number of clients are
specifying a particular rating to be achieved for projects. Whilst the Civil Engineering
Environmental Quality Assessment and Award Scheme (CEEQUAL) assesses
infrastructure projects across the whole sector it does not specifically take into
account the life cycle assessment of the project and, in particular, the materials used.
However, recent developments with regard to responsible sourcing may go some way
to addressing this gap. For example an organisation’s procedures and systems
regarding quality, the environment and health & safety can also be assessed through
responsible sourcing alongside the impacts of the construction product itself. In the
UK however, there is little evidence that a single, unified and overarching framework
for project assessments will be developed in the immediate future. Therefore a real
and pressing need exists for an easy to use tool for civil engineers that takes into
account both the life cycle assessment of the materials used and the environmental
impacts these have on infrastructure projects. This research aims to develop such a
tool and as such this paper will present an analysis of the drivers and barriers in
relation to this development.
2010-03-10 09:13:13
Civil engineering
Infrastructure projects
Life-cycle assessment
Responsible sourcing
Built Environment and Design not elsewhere classified