An industry perspective on sustainable asphalt technologies

The factors that have led to increased interest in the sustainability of paving products are examined in this presentation, with specific attention on the sustainability of asphalt pavements. Regarding the pavement types that are selected, four main sustainability factors have an impact, as follows: 1) Greenhouse gases and climate change; 2) Green construction mandates; 3) Pavement economics; and 4) Environmental life cycle assessment (LCA). Sustainability demands, specifically recycled materials (recycled asphalt pavement (RAP), recycled asphalt shingles (RAS), and tire rubber), sustainable technologies (warm mix asphalt (WMA), porous asphalt, alternative binders), and green metrics (rating systems, LCA), are the focus of the National Asphalt Pavement Association. Also examined in this presentation is the impact of pavements on fuel use. Although flexible pavements might require more vehicle energy, as advocated by research conducted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), it is recognized by most other researchers that MIT's modeling effort is too simplistic. It is now confirmed by a number of independent studies that the characteristic of smoothness accounts for the majority of pavement impacts on vehicle fuel economy; also confirmed is the fact that the smoother the pavement, the greater the driving public benefits from fuel savings. The issue of pavement reflectivity and the urban heat island effect were also examined in this presentation. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab developed original research for buildings and modeled for pavements. Some of the original conclusions were contradicted by subsequent research.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.asphalttechnology.org/annual-journal/current-issue.html
• Corporate Authors:

  Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT)

  6776 Lake Drive
  Lino Lakes, MN  United States  55014

  DEStech Publications, Inc.

  439 Duke Street
  Lancaster, Pennsylvania  United States  17602
• Authors:
  • Marks, Howard
• Conference:
  • 2013 Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists Annual Meeting
  • Location: Denver Colorado, United States
  • Date: 2013-4-7 to 2013-4-10
• Publication Date: 2013

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: pp 651-654
• Monograph Title: Asphalt Paving Technology 2013
• Serial:
  • Journal of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists
  • Issue Number: 82
  • Publisher: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT)
  • ISSN: 0270-2932
  • Serial URL: https://www.asphalttechnology.org/site_page.cfm?pk_association_webpage_menu=9169&pk_association_webpage=19109

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt pavements; Climate change; Flexible pavements; Fuel consumption; Greenhouse gases; Life cycle analysis; Porous materials; Porous pavements; Recycled materials; Reflectivity; Sustainable development; Warm mix paving mixtures
• Uncontrolled Terms: Urban heat island
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Materials; Pavements; I15: Environment; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01515675
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 24 2014 5:00PM