Civil engineering projects, such as roads, bridges, buildings, and dams, have long lifespans and substantial environmental footprints. LCA enables engineers to evaluate different design options and construction materials, considering their impacts on energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and waste generation. It also helps identify opportunities to optimize life cycle costs by considering not only initial construction expenses but also long-term operational and maintenance costs. Overall, this promotes the development of sustainable infrastructure that minimizes environmental harm while meeting societal needs.
Scope and Goal:
System boundary
In the LCA of our SUIP, the emissions of greenhouse gases from extraction of materials till its construction is considered, the maintenance scenarios and plans for optimized subsystems are also taken into account. Thus, the emission values of gases and the costs associated with it is calculated.
Life Cycle Inventory:
The Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) analysis serves as a foundational component of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), providing a comprehensive understanding of the inputs and outputs associated with materials used in construction projects.
The table below summarizes the key findings of our LCI analysis, including quantities used, energy consumption, and emissions of CO2, NOx, and SO2 per unit quantity of each material used in our project.
The inventory consists of our 3 best options of our sub-systems;
- Timber-concrete floor
- Exterior wood wall
- Base GGTC (Graded Gravel Treated with Cement)
LCI Inventory
The culmination of our analysis provides crucial insights into the energy consumption, emissions, ans associated costs of the Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Project (SUIP).
The table below shows the values of energy consumption, emissions of CO2, NOx and SO2 and costs associated with it.
LCA results
The SUIP requires a total energy consumption of approximately 410,007.6, encompassing various stages from material extraction to construction activities. This highlights the substantial energy demand associated with urban infrastructure development.
The project results in the emission of approximately 2,405,829 kg of CO2. This significant emission output underscores the project’s carbon footprint.
Additionally, the SUIP generates emissions of approximately 29,160.99 kg of NOx and 31,923.6 kg of SO2. These emissions contribute to air pollution and may have adverse effects on human health and the environment.
The associated costs for energy consumption and emissions management amount to €0.06654231. While this cost may seem relatively low, it underscores the importance of incorporating sustainability measures early in project planning to minimize future expenses.
The substantial energy consumption and emissions highlight the urgency of implementing measures to mitigate environmental impact. Strategies such as energy-efficient design, renewable energy utilization, and emission reduction technologies should be prioritized to minimize the project’s ecological footprint.