Decision of Construction Technology from a Sustainability Aspect, Life Cycle Analysis Based on Transport and Construction

Abstract

In the case of the different types of construction processes, an important aspect from the sustainability point of view is the organization of construction, the total construction time and cost, and their influence on CO₂ emissions. In this study, in the case of construction projects, we examine the impact of the decided technology on the environmental impact. We take into consideration the aspects of transport and construction organization. Using life cycle analysis methods, we present the comparison of alternatives and sustainable solutions. Discrete event simulation is used to determine the CO₂ emission rate under different maintenance approaches. In the simulation model, a 2 x 2 lane I2 type bridge is simulated with altered traffic lines according to the different scenarios of maintenance. In the case of a half-track closure, the capacity of a 2 × 2 lane road is reduced by half, while the capacity of a 2 × 1 lane road due to alternating traffic directions is reduced by more than 50 %. The extent of the reduction depends on the length of the closed section, which greatly affects the emptying time. According to the results of the simulation, the CO₂ emission might be lower in the case of narrowed traffic alteration than in the case of half-track closure, but the maintenance timeframe is also an important factor.