Measuring the carbon footprint of road construction using CHANGER

Abstract

The road sector is coming under pressure to review current practice and the potential to reduce carbon emissions. The life cycle approach has been accepted as a robust method of measuring carbon footprint. Tools and data-sets have been developed to facilitate the measurement. Among them is the Calculator for Harmonised Assessment and Normalisation of Greenhouse-gas Emissions for Roads (CHANGER) developed by International Road Federation (IRF) and aimed to measure and benchmark the carbon footprint of road construction worldwide. This paper outlines the common methodology of road carbon footprinting, application of results in sustainable construction assessment schemes and resources available to undertake such analysis. Case studies of using CHANGER are provided for a UK trunk road widening, a public–private partnership highway construction in the United Arab Emirates and strategic highway upgrades in India. The CO₂ output of these projects is compared, and an investigation is made to seek the causes of any differences. Finally, advice is provided on carbon measurement of roads and improvements of the IRF's tool.

Keywords:

• carbon footprint
• road construction
• CHANGER
• life cycle assessment
• sustainable construction

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Venkat Sheela and Ram Mohan Rao (URS Scott Wilson, India) for providing data on the road upgrading projects in India and Tamara Percy (URS Scott Wilson, UK) for data on the UK trunk road widening. We are also grateful to Dr Tony Parry (University of Nottingham) who reviewed the paper and provided advice on the life cycle analysis.

Notes

^3. All numbers of CO₂ below denote CO₂ equiv.

^1. [email protected]

^2. [email protected]

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bachar Hakim

1

Susanna Zammataro

2