The Athena Pavement LCA Web App has been updated to further simplify life cycle assessment (LCA) and make paving more sustainable and cost efficient.
The 3.1 version includes these improvements:
- A life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) module has been added, so users can assess both the environmental and the cost burdens of different paving options.
- An embedded steel reinforcement input mass estimator for PCC roadways, so users no longer need to complete the calculation in another application.
- The addition of roller compacted concrete within the software. This includes a process profile as well as a default (but editable) roller compacted concrete mix design.
- All aggregate profiles (natural, crushed, coarse and fine) have been reworked to handle project-specific transportation mode and distance specifications.
- Ready mixed concrete plant process data has been updated based on the NRMCA 2016 industry average LCA and EPD for concrete.
- The U.S. sample projects have been brought over from the desktop version.
- The web app can now provide regional results for multiple Canadian and U.S. locations, including British Columbia; Alberta; Saskatchewan; Manitoba; central and east Ontario; central and east Quebec; Atlantic Canada; California; Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Minnesota; New York State; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Washington State.
The LCCA feature uses a model developed by Dr. Mehdi Akbarian, a postdoctoral associate at the Concrete Sustainability Hub at MIT and a member of the U.S. Federal Highway Administration’s Sustainable Pavement Technical Working Group. This software update was also made possible with funding from the Cement Association of Canada and Athena Institute members.