The importance of environmental issues and costs in life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) for highway projects

Sustainability has been increasingly recognised as an integral part of highway infrastructure development. In practice however, the fact that financial return is still a project's top priority for many, environmental aspects tend to be overlooked or considered as a burden, as they add to project costs. Sustainability and its implications have a far-reaching effect on each project over time. Therefore, with highway infrastructure's long-term life span and huge capital demand, the consideration of environmental cost/ benefit issues is more crucial in life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA). To date, there is little in existing literature studies on viable estimation methods for environmental costs. This situation presents the potential for focused studies on environmental costs and issues in the context of life-cycle cost analysis. This paper discusses a research project which aims to integrate the environmental cost elements and issues into a conceptual framework for life cycle costing analysis for highway projects. Cost elements and issues concerning the environment were first identified through literature. Through questionnaires, these environmental cost elements will be validated by practitioners before their consolidation into the extension of existing and worked models of life-cycle costing analysis (LCCA). A holistic decision support framework is being developed to assist highway infrastructure stakeholders to evaluate their investment decision. This will generate financial returns while maximising environmental benefits and sustainability outcome.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9784889507133
• Authors:
  • Goh, K C
  • Yang, J
• Conference:
  • International Conference on Asphalt Pavements, 11th, 2010, Nagoya, Japan
• Publication Date: 2010-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 8p
• Monograph Title: The 11th International Conference on Asphalt Pavements, August 1 to 6, 2010, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan: proceedings

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Environment; Highway operations; Investments; Life cycle costing; Questionnaires; Road construction
• Uncontrolled Terms: Road design and asset management
• ATRI Terms: Cost benefit analysis; Environment; Investment; Life cycle costs; Questionnaire; Road construction; Road management
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01380748
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• ISBN: 9784889507133
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 22 2012 11:13AM