Celebrating Concrete Pavement Performance: Carbon Embodiment Past, Present, and Future

Wednesday, November 1, 2023  11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, W-Marina Ballroom III

As sustainability and carbon embodiment have become driving forces in the construction industry, it is important to understand how concrete pavement has performed well in the past and identify areas of improvement for the future. A crucial aspect when comparing pavement surface options is considering the full life cycle and adjusting the design to minimize total carbon emissions. This session will discuss how the concrete pavement industry is adapting to these changes and incorporating buy clean initiatives into the design to meet the long-life and performance goals required. This session will be of interest to owners, consultants, contractors, and manufacturers.

Learning Objectives:
(1) Identify examples of long-life concrete pavements and highlight common factors that have contributed to their outstanding performance;
(2) Explain how the concrete pavement industry has responded to buy clean initiatives;
(3) Highlight the components and the process of incorporating life cycle analysis into concrete pavement design;
(4) Define recent modeling efforts and how asset management and end of life decisions can maximize carbon uptake;
(5) Recognize how concrete pavements can be used to achieve all the economic, environmental, and societal goals of sustainability while on the path to net zero emissions.

Sustainability Through Long Life: Concrete Pavement Performance Champions

Presented By: Kurt Smith
Affiliation: Applied Pavement Technology, Inc.
Description: Longevity is a hallmark of concrete pavements, and nothing speaks more to this than the predominance of concrete pavements that have provided 50, 60, or even 100 years of service in a range of applications and environments. This presentation will present examples of long-life concrete pavements and highlight common factors that have contributed to their outstanding performance.

Concrete Material Transparency: How Buy Clean Initiatives are Transforming Project Requirements

Presented By: Randolph Kirchain
Affiliation: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Description: Federal, state, and local Buy Clean initiatives require material suppliers to report environmental impacts with the goal of reducing these impacts over time. This presentation will share how the concrete pavement industry has responded to these initiatives and look ahead to what might be next.

Designing to Lower Climate Change Impacts and Improve Resiliency in New and Rehabilitated Concrete Pavements

Presented By: James Mack
Affiliation: CEMEX
Description: Much like pavements can be designed to carry a given number of loads; pavements can also be designed to be more resilient and lower the Environmental Impact of the System. This presentation will highlight the components and the process of incorporating life cycle analysis into the design.

The Embodied Carbon of Concrete Pavements and Their Role as a Carbon Sink

Presented By: Thomas Van Dam
Affiliation: Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
Description: To help meet carbon neutrality, concrete pavement may be used as a carbon sink through carbonation. However, current modeling of this phenomenon could be improved. The presentation will discuss recent modeling efforts and explain how asset management and end of life decisions can maximize carbon uptake.

Concrete Pavement Sustainability – Achieving Societal and Economic Goals on the Path to Carbon Neutrality

Presented By: Tim Martin
Affiliation: ACPA
Description: While achieving carbon neutrality is a central focus for the concrete pavement industry, true sustainability has a broader focus. This presentation will discuss how concrete pavements can be used to achieve all the economic, environmental, and societal goals of sustainability while on the path to net zero emissions.