The Environmental and Economic Impacts of the Use of Recycled Asphalt during the Preventive Maintenance of Roadway in the UAE.
Loading...
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The British University in Dubai (BUiD)
Abstract
Roadways provide the primary means of connection between one area and another. The road network is an essential element of infrastructure development planning, which supports the ability of the citizens to transport goods and services and to travel smoothly. It is, therefore, imperative that an efficient road network is maintained. The significance of a well-maintained efficient roadway network notwithstanding, it is necessary that precious natural resources are saved, and the roadway maintenance practice is geared towards reducing its impacts on the environment.
The study assesses the application of cold in-place recycled asphalt in roadway maintenance procedures where the asphalt pavement condition is tested. The options that are provided as a roadway maintenance process in the Dibba-Masafi E89 roadway in the UAE are found by exploring roadway case studies, building software models using RAMS, running different scenarios for the optimum modelling, and studying the priority of undergoing the maintenance among federal roadways.
This research attempts to determine the roadway maintenance choices in the UAE federal roadways, by suggesting the use of recycled asphalt in the preventive maintenance of pavements. Financial and environmental advantages are anticipated when using recycled asphalt pavement in roadway maintenance. The study uses combined qualitative and quantitative methodologies to answer research questions to achieve the research aim and objectives.
The possible benefits of using recycled asphalt pavement in roadway maintenance have been examined and the disadvantages of using it have been illustrated to understand the effectiveness of the material to be used as an alternative solution. The enhancement to the maintenance system used in the UAE Federal roadways is targeted to reduce the need for maintenance, thus cutting running costs as well as maintenance process costs that comply with sustainability requirements.
There are different characteristics and parameters such as rutting, cracking, pavement quality Index, and roughness of pavements that are assessed to get the best solution. To illustrate, the parameters have been explained in detail using RAMS simulation. Depending on that, the maintenance of the roadway performance is done by comparing the roadway to the codes and standards.
Furthermore, the economic influences which have been obtained from using recycled asphalt pavement in roadway maintenance are evaluated by the comparison of three scenarios by life cycle cost analysis with consideration of the analysis for 20 years. The scenarios were 50 mm mill and overlay, cold-in-place recycling (CIPR) and reconstruction. The best scenario was chosen (CIPR) with a cost of 174,292 Dhs.
Besides that, environmental impact was through waste fill land calculation based on the volume of the case study of the Dibba- Masafi roadway, 13,285 m3 from the conventional pavements, shows that managing this construction area’s waste is a challenge within its given rising volume. However, by using recycled asphalt, 10,488 m3 of waste. Using recycled asphalt saves around 79%. The Future roadway maintenance plans in UAE federal roadways can be more efficient and ensure a better level of service. RAP assists in prioritizing maintenance plans for roadways with the use of RAMS data analysis, which enhances the sustainability and efficiency of the performance.
Description
Keywords
asphalt, recycle asphalt, pavement condition index, roadway condition