Quantifying Sustainability Metrics for Trunk Line Bridges in the Mountain Plains Region

Millions of cubic yards of concrete and steel used to support the U.S infrastructure may result in a significant negative impact on the environment. CO₂ released by construction processes, as well as material production, is taking a substantial toll on the environment. This study seeks to develop a system to rank bridges based on their CO₂ emissions. First, in order to accomplish this objective, rating systems for buildings around the world were analyzed for common attributes applicable to bridges. Second, a sample of bridges from the state of Colorado was selected and analyzed for sustainability by considering only their primary materials. This sample served as the first step in developing a sustainability rating system for bridges in Colorado, where production and transport of concrete and steel were considered in this analysis. This rating system can be further developed to include CO₂ emissions from construction processes, demolition and disposal and other factors that contribute to sustainability, but its current version is intended only to serve as an example of an approach to develop a ranking system.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=919
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Mountain-Plains Consortium

  North Dakota State University
  Fargo, ND  United States  58108

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Gopi, Vaishak
  • van de Lindt, John W
  • Senior, Bolivar
• Publication Date: 2018-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 39p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge construction; Carbon dioxide; Environmental impacts; Highway bridges; Metrics (Quantitative assessment); Pollutants; Ratings; Sustainable development
• Geographic Terms: Colorado
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01683182
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MPC 18-360
• Files: UTC, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 15 2018 9:34AM