Determination of the preferred intervention point for rehabilitation of dense graded asphalt wearing courses on the sand sub-grades of the Swan Coastal Plain in consideration of the triple bottom line: ecological, economic and social impacts

In most cases, decisions made by pavement engineers on the rehabilitation of a road pavement wear course are based on a simple economic model. The model compares the cost of replacing the wear course compared to ongoing maintenance of the existing wear course. There seems to be very little consideration for either the ecological impact (excessive fuel use, tyre wear) or social impacts (personal injury and excessive road noise). The sand sub-grades of the Swan Coastal Plain provide some of the best road pavement foundations in the world. When combined with Perth’s Mediterranean climate without any freeze-thaw it is considered that the thin road pavements on the Swan Coastal Plain have much longer life spans than similar roads elsewhere in Australia and the world. The published deterioration models for road pavements and the wear courses from around the world do not take consideration for either the beneficial sub-grade or environment that exists on the Swan Coastal Plain. The paper presents the preliminary findings for a PhD thesis to: establish the deterioration model for dense graded asphalt wear courses on the Swan Coastal Plain; determine the ecological, economic and social impacts during the deterioration of the dense graded asphalt wear courses; propose an appropriate point of intervention for rehabilitation of the dense graded asphalt wear course in consideration of the ecological, economic and social impacts; and consider the relative balance between negative environmental inputs during maintenance versus environmental impacts of a delayed response.

• Authors:
  • Glover, M
• Conference:
  • International Public Works Conference, 2013, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
• Publication Date: 2013-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 9p
• Monograph Title: Public works: explore new territory: IPWEA International Public Works Conference, Darwin, NT, 11-15 August 2013

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Climate; Environment; Environmental impacts; Pavement layers; Pavement performance; Pavements; Sand; Subgrade (Pavements); Wearing course (Pavements); Weather
• Uncontrolled Terms: Pavement technology
• Geographic Terms: Australia; Perth (Australia)
• ATRI Terms: Climate; Environment; Environmental effects; Pavement layer; Pavement performance; Subgrade; Wearing course
• ITRD Terms: 2950: Subgrade; 2980: Wearing course
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01495598
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 17 2013 10:08AM