LIFE CYCLE AND ECONOMIC EVALUATION

ARRB is collaborating with state road agencies to:

• Evaluate economic and environmental sustainability impacts of innovative road pavement technologies
• Compare life cycle emissions and costs against traditional road technologies
• Quantify sustainability outcomes aligned with government sustainability targets and value for money indicators
• Make smarter procurement decisions regarding material selection, design and long-term maintenance strategies considering pavement life cycle performance, sustainability and cost.

Our economists and sustainability experts have developed life cycle assessment tools to help inform smart procurement decision-making. Life cycle assessment can support:

• improved long-term investment decision-making
• emissions reductions
• cost savings
• improved infrastructure performance
• reduced landfill
• innovation in road construction and recycling industries.

ARRB’s unique life cycle assessment tool assists decision-makers to filter and prioritise investment opportunities for sustainable technologies and innovative infrastructure designs. There is capability to expand the tool to include supporting road infrastructure, footpaths and bike paths and to develop life cycle outputs for a range of sustainability and economic indicators.

Case study

Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) engaged ARRB to develop a life cycle modelling of pavement materials to quantify and communicate the sustainability benefits, including the greenhouse reduction potential, of innovative pavement technologies. The model has been regarded as a powerful tool in assessing the sustainability impacts of different pavement technologies. Highlighted findings from this project are shown in the infographic below.

Watch the webinar

Sustainable pavements in the news

Margaret Brownjohn takes a look at life cycle assessment and promoting the uptake of innovative recycling materials in roads. 

Read the article

ARRB professional economists, data analysts and multi-disciplinary teams produce economic evaluations, including valuing transport externality costs (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions, noise, air pollution) for different vehicle types, technologies and infrastructure. 

Our experts are engaged by government agencies and industry in developing business cases and evaluating transport options, major projects, various transport and traffic treatment and innovative program investment plans.

ARRB economists have worked with government agencies to develop innovative business processes and to incorporate novel infrastructure approaches into business cases and investment decision‑making. We recently developed a framework to identify and assess value creation and capture opportunities for road projects.

This framework allows road agencies to plan and deliver road projects that enhance economic, social and environmental value and reduce the overall financial contributions for road agencies.