Abstract
As the nation moves toward more sustainable energy and environmental standards, it is important to examine all sources of fuel consumption and pollution, including heavy-duty diesel (HDD) construction equipment. In order to quantify these sources at the project level, they must be identified with their respective activities. A case study was performed on an Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) bridge replacement project in order to establish a baseline estimate of real-world equipment activity, fuel use, and emissions data. These data were collected on a daily basis via jobsite visits and included specific information such as the equipment’s model year, engine horsepower, and hours worked. These data were used to estimate equipment fuel use and emissions based on calculations from the EPA’s NONROAD model. Using these estimates, traditional project management techniques were expanded to evaluate the economic, energy, and environmental impacts of the project. Cumulative frequency diagrams were developed to summarize the accumulation of fuel use and emissions for the project. These results were paired with the ODOT pay item quantities to define new fuel use and emissions estimating factors for project activities. Recommendations include using the new fuel use and emissions estimating factors to identify activities with high energy and environmental impacts and consider potential mitigation strategies.
Recommended Citation
Hazzard, Elizabeth and Lewis, Phil
(2015)
"Assessing the Economic, Energy, and Environmental Impacts
of a Bridge Replacement Project,"
The Professional Constructor: Vol. 39:
No.
1, Article 6.
Available at:
https://open.clemson.edu/aic-journal/vol39/iss1/6
