The goal of a life cycle analysis is to identify opportunities for environmentally friendly courses of action. Life cycle assessment (LCA) has become an essential instrument in road construction, as it enables an objective and comprehensive evaluation of environmental impacts throughout the entire life cycle of road infrastructure. This includes raw material extraction, construction, service life with maintenance and repair activities, and eventual decommissioning, while quantifying resource consumption, emissions, energy use and associated environmental effects.
A variety of LCA tools are available internationally to support these evaluations. However, their methodological approaches, data foundations and suitability for German road construction have not yet been systematically reviewed.
The LATOS project (International Life Cycle Analysis Tools for Road Construction) addresses this gap by conducting a structured comparison of relevant LCA tools and identifying pathways for their effective application under German conditions. Despite the maturity of several European tools, key challenges remain – including inconsistent system boundaries, heterogeneous background databases, differing modelling capabilities and variations in environmental indicators.
The aim of LATOS is therefore to analyse these tools in depth, assess their applicability to German asphalt and concrete pavement structures, and derive recommendations for a future optimized LCA solution. The central objectives include:
- analysing the functional structure and modelling capabilities of selected tools (DuboCalc, Seve®, Klimatkalkyl ECO2nstruct, ECORCE, InfraLCA, KBOB/ecobau, LCA Pave, OpenLCA, VegLCA, dTIMS),
- examining their approach on life-cycle modules according to EN 15804 and ISO 14040/14044, and phases according EN 15643,
- evaluating the implementation quality of key environmental indicators (GWP, cumulative energy demand and others),
- testing applicability to German pavement constructions and maintenance scenarios,
- and exploring options for environmentally oriented procurement criteria in Germany.
The outcomes of this project include a evaluation matrix using objective indicators and a multi-criteria benefit analysis, that provide a transparent comparison of different tools. Through the identification of strengths and weaknesses in relation to German requirements, the project provides a roadmap for the development of a scientifically robust, user-friendly and national LCA tool. Furthermore, the project supports sustainable procurement practices and provides enhanced analytical foundations for planning, design, tendering and monitoring of road infrastructure.
Funding institution: Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen (BASt)
Project title: International Life-Cycle Analysis Tools for Road Construction – Comparative Analysis and Implementation Options for Germany
Acronym: LATOS
Duration: 18 months (1 April 2024 – 30 September 2025)
Project leadership: Technische Universität Braunschweig - Institut für Straßenwesen
Project partners: FH Campus Wien, Umtec Technologie AG
