A Systematic Digitalization for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Measures in Long-Term Road Planning

Facing the growing challenges posed by climate change, the importance of integrating climate mitigation and adaptation measures in long-term road planning has become increasingly crucial. From road design involving different materials and constructions to maintenance planning and material circularity, an integral assessment is critical for infrastructure management, as decisions made today will have far-reaching implications for the future. This paper underscores the pressing need for systematic digitalization in road planning, augmented by life cycle assessment (LCA), and the key benefits of leveraging materials knowledge in this process. Systematic digitalization offered by ORIS Materials Intelligence involves the data collection, analysis, and usage of various datasets regarding materials, climate, and traffic towards environmental and social parameters, to enable more informed decision-making. Advanced modeling, automatic simulation techniques, and effective visualizations allow planners to evaluate climate exposures, as well as network vulnerability, and craft climate adaptation strategies for enhanced resilience. Moreover, the emergence of such digital capabilities offers a unique opportunity to systematically and consistently assess alternative designs and deliver low impact infrastructure by connecting local materials data with engineering expertise to simulate the cost and carbon performance through a road’s life cycle. The LCA model also predicts the impact from pavement-vehicle interactions and the effect of albedo and carbonation, which enables an inclusive decision-making process through a whole value chain. Recent studies have resulted in up to a 30% reduction in cost, 50% in carbon and 80% in resource utilization.