The environmental performances of reclaimed asphalt and bituminous sand pavements for transition toward low carbon mobility

Abstract

Given the climate change, the high levels of pollution nowadays and the depletion of lithographic resources, low carbon technologies for road reinforcement with low energy consumption are essential for a sustainable future. These technologies, including incorporation of nonconventional materials, such as oil sands or bituminous sands, in pavement construction and recycling techniques of the existing deteriorated pavements, represent significant methods which can be performed for a better conservation of resources, and therefore the environment. In terms of environmental indicators assessment, the results of recent research undertaken for road pavement reinforcement strategies are presented. The Global Warming Potential expressed as quantities of CO2e emissions for a road pavement incorporating various alternative materials, such as oil sand and reclaimed asphalt have been evaluated using a life cycle assessment (LCA) study performed with asPECT software. The results obtained from these studies are presented within this paper and specific recommendations with regards to various technologies usage are given. These are required for minimizing the environmental impact of transport infrastructure and thus advancing towards low carbon mobility. The paper aims to highlight the need for effective measures concerning road pavements maintenance and intervention works. These measures are intended to extend the pavements lifecycle and therefore to reduce the overall ecological impact associated with the reconstruction of the road pavement because this action is correlated with significant quantities of polluting emissions released into the atmosphere, enormous granular materials and energy consumption and thus, an exponential increase of the greenhouse effect.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sace.21.4.18486