publications: research briefs

Concrete Science Platform

Life Cycle Assessment Platform

LCA Research Brief - May 2013
Initial Cost Uncertainty in LCCA

Using historical bid data to characterize uncertainty in initial costs for LCCAs will help improve the accuracy of probabilistic LCCAs. Some of the cost variation can be explained by understanding the implication of bid quantity, but the amount of variation that can be explained can vary significantly from state to state for similar bid items. Future work will explore including other factors that could impact initial costs. more >>

LCA Research Brief - April 2013
PVI Mechanistic Model Refined

The refined PVI model can be used to obtain the deflection in any direction (including the direction perpendicular to the motion) and allows us also to study effect of tire shape and multi wheels on an axel on IFC. The improved model can be used in LCAs to understand the contribution of deflection-based PVI to life cycle impact. more >>

LCA Research Brief - March 2013
Quantitative Assesment of Resilience in Residential Building Envelope Systems

The intent of our research is to help designers and builders quantify the physical resilience of residential structures as a portion of the overall systems concept of resilience. Comparing this performance against costs will inform decision-making and facilitate communica-tion of the cost and performance trade-offs of alterna-tive designs. more >>

LCA Research Brief - February 2013
Deterioration Induced Roughness in the US Network

Pavement material and structural design directly influence pavement performance and its deterioration rate. Pavements with slower deterioration rates require fewer maintenance activities to meet agency IRI guidelines and will have lower environmental impacts within the pavement lifecycle. Analysis of PVI roughness, its progression, and its impacts at a national level can guide design and policy for sustainability of the US roadway network. more >>

LCA Research Brief - January 2013
Survey of LCA Tools for Residential Buildings

Through surveys, focus groups, and exploration of existing tools we are identifying the most effective ways to integrate environmental performance metrics into the design and decision making processes. Robust, streamlined residential building LCA tools would help decision makers, builders, and architects to make holistic decisions that integrate environmental impact of all phases of the building’s life cycle. Revised brief April 11, 2013. more >>

LCA Research Brief - December 2012
The State of LCA for Residential Buildings

In order for LCA to be scaled to fit the building sector, a method is needed to calculate life cycle impacts under diverse conditions, while fully accounting for uncertainty. Policymakers, engineers, and architects need an LCA method that can be used to ensure that sustainable buildings are being designed to meet long-term energy savings standards while also reaching today’s GHG reduction goals. Ongoing research in the CSHub seeks to address these needs. more >>

LCA Research Brief - November 2012

Key Drivers of Uncertainty in Pavement LCA

This research presents a sensitivity analysis to quantify the level of contribution of different factors in the life cycle assessment of pavements under uncertainty. The results of this approach can be used to identify the elements to focus on to improve the characterization of pavement environmental impact. In addition, it can shed light on the areas that can change the outcomes of a comparative assessment and the associated decisions. more >>

LCA Research Brief - October 2012

Forecasting Prices with Limited Data

Characterizing the price behavior of inputs for concrete and asphalt is a major step towards identifying an appropriate price model in the absence of significant historical data. Current work is validating whether such a price model would have, on average, led a decision-maker to the “better” pavement selection. more >>

LCA Research Brief - August 2012

Optimizing Passive Thermal Mass

The research aims to identify relationships that optimize passive thermal mass performance while maximizing energy efficiency. These have implications on the design of wall and floor systems, from both a manufacturing, construction, and design point of view. more >>

LCA Research Brief - July 2012

Potential Roadway Network Savings and PVI

Analyses of the impact of PVI on vehicle fuel consumption for different roadway functional systems demonstrate the impact of pavement design and management on vehicle fuel consumption. Such analyses can provide direction for future investments in maintenance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of the pavement network to reduce its impact on PVI. more >>

LCA Research Brief - June 2012

Comparative Pavement LCAs With Uncertainty

This research provides a probabilistic model for comparative life cycle environmental assessment of pavements in the presence of uncertainty and variation. Making use of this model (while accounting for correlation between designs) under a variety of scenarios enables decision-makers to choose a pavement with an associated degree of confidence. Corrected brief Nov 15, 2012. more >>

LCA Research Brief - May 2012

Quantifying Passive Thermal Mass

This research aims at identifying strategies for using concrete construction systems in homes to maximize energy efficiency. It has implications for how asnd where different wall systems are used to maximize energy savings using passive thermal mass. The findings equally apply to multi-family and commercial buildings which are the focus of ongoing research. more >>

LCA Research Brief - April 2012

Network, Pavements, and Fuel Consumption

Quantifying the impacts of pavement properties and management strategies on vehicle fuel consumption can provide guidance to pavement design and maintenance schedules while reducing the footprint of these systems. Although the impact of pavement roughness is higher than that of deflection, both are highly important within the environmental analyses of pavement systems, and greatly influence the aggregated vehicle fuel consumption. more >>

LCA Research Brief - March 2012

Modeling Uncertainty in LCCA

Interfacing this model with the recently developed MEPDG will allow decision makers to fully understand the probabilistic life-cycle cost of alternative designs for a given project. This will allow a decision maker to choose a pavement alternative based on the risk they are willing to accept. more >>

LCA Research Brief - February 2012

Homes: A Match for Concrete Innovation

This research aims at moving LCA in the design space of architects, engineers and developers, by quantifying the link between energy costs and architectural, materials and construction technology design parameters. This research makes it possible to match specific material solutions with structural tightness levels that need to be implemented in order to enhance the energy efficiency of homes in the United States. more >>

LCA Research Brief - January 2012

Roads: Smoothness Matters, But…

Interfacing modern pavement design tools such as MEPDG with Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) provides pavement engineers with an indispensable tool for a sustainable pavement design that is both structurally and environmentally sound. This research provides a means to moving LCA into the pavement design space. It can contribute to prepare our Nation’s road system for the economic, social and environmental challenges ahead. more >>

Life Cycle Cost Analysis Brief– July 2011

Accounting for Inflation in LCCA

This study examines historical data on real prices of construction materials, and finds that the assumption of constant real costs is seriously inconsistent with historical experience. Ignoring that experience can lead to serious cost overruns. To avoid such overruns, this study suggests the use of material-specific escalation rates that can be easily implemented into the LCCA practice to reflect changes in relative commodity prices. more >>

LCA Research Brief – June 2011

When the Rubber Hits the Road

This research suggests that a mechanistic approach can close the uncertainty gap of Pavement Vehicle Interaction (PVI) in LCA of pavements. Implemented in an LCA environment, the derived functional relations between fuel consumption, structural and material pavement design parameters, provide pavement engineers and decision makers with a design tool to optimize our Nation’s pavement inventory for high performance fuel and GHG efficiency. more >>

Special Research Brief – April 2011

Adopting a Life-Cycle Perspective

The economic and environmental impacts of infrastructure should be evaluated using a life-cycle perspective. The coupling of two methodologies — lifecycle assessment (LCA) for environmental impact and life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) for economic impacts — provides decision makers with the tools to reach sustainability targets using cost-effective strategies. more >>

Special Research Brief: LCA - March 2011

Designing for Sustainable Pavements

The use of optimized design thicknesses helps reduce costs and CO2 emissions by minimizing the materials needed to construct a pavement. The economic and environmental benefits are significant and can help transportation agencies reduce their carbon footprint while working within tight budgetary constraints. more >>