The life cycle cost analysis program (LCCA) is designed to automate and standardize life cycle costing in Virginia. It allows the user to input information necessary for the analysis, and it then completes the calculations and produces a printed copy of the results. The program requires the user to input site-specific information as well as the initial costs for each alternative. It calculates user costs automatically and reduces all costs to their present value. It is these present value costs that are used in the final ranking of alternatives. Although this program is not as sophisticated as some of the software currently in use, it is a step toward the completion of life cycle costing in Virginia's pavement management system. LCCA should be regarded as another tool in the pavement management decision-making process.
This study examines the development, utilization and application of performance prediction and life cycle costing for rigid pavements. Emphasis is laid on selecting an appropriate computer application that comprises mechanistic-based prediction equations and life cycle costing, for application to the Ohio Route 50 Project. A thorough literature review examining methods of collection and processing pavement performance data, development of performance prediction equations for flexible and rigid pavement systems, computer programs for rigid pavement performance prediction and life cycle cost analysis, and usage of performance prediction and life cycle costing methods by selected state highway agencies for planning and maintenance is presented. Pavespec 3.0, developed for the Federal Highway Administration, is selected, and over two hundred simulations of the program are completed, using the as-constructed pavement system data from the Ohio Route 50 Project as inputs. Observed distress data trends are used for calibration, and predictions for the service life of the Ohio Route 50 pavement system are generated. Life cycle cost analysis methods are utilized to determine the relative cost effectiveness of various joint sealing options on the Project. From the comparisons of predicted and observed distresses for the eastbound and westbound sections of the Ohio Route 50 pavement, it is established that data points spaced out over a longer period of time provide better regression curves, and subsequently, a more reliable analysis. The slopes of observed distress curves for the international roughness index, for transverse slab cracking and for spalling, are found to be many times higher than the slopes of the corresponding predicted curves obtained from Pavespec 3.0. The differences are most pronounced in the case of transverse slab cracking. Previous mechanistic analysis of this pavement system had attributed the very high cracking percentage to longer slab length. In addition, it had been inferred that an unexpected flood and various construction issues led to the premature deterioration of this pavement system. Data calibration assumes a significant role in such cases, but Pavespec 3.0 uses a linear regression method for this purpose, which is found to be inadequate. Life cycle cost analysis methods are used to examine the cost effectiveness of the ten joint sealant materials used on the Ohio Route 50 Project. Approximate rehabilitation life cycle costs are calculated using Pavespec 3.0. Compression sealants, with the exception of Techstar W050, are found to be the most cost effective sealing option, due to their lower material and installation costs, consistently higher performance, and longer replacement cycles.
This Interim Technical Bulletin recommends procedures for conducting Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) of pavements, provides detailed procedures to determine work zone user costs, and introduces a probabilistic approach to account for the uncertainty associated with LCCA inputs.
Given the aging of highway pavements, high traffic levels, and uncertainty of sustained preservation funding, there is a need for balanced decision-making tools such as LCCA to ensure long-term and cost-effective pavement investments. It has been shown in past research that more effective long-term pavement investment could be made at lower cost using LCCA. Current LCCA-based pavement design and preservation practice in Indiana could be further enhanced by due consideration of user costs. Also, the existing FHWA LCCA software could be further enhanced for increased versatility, flexibility, and more specific applicability to the needs of Indiana, particularly with regard to treatment cost estimation and development of alternative feasible preservation strategies (rehabilitation and maintenance types and timings). The study documented/developed several sets of alternative pavement design and preservation strategies consistent with existing and foreseen Indiana practice. The preservation strategies were developed using two alternative criteria – trigger values (pavement condition thresholds) and predefined time intervals (based on treatment service lives) and are intended for further study before they can be used for practice. These strategies were developed on the basis of historical pavement management data, existing INDOT Design Manual standards, and a survey of experts. The study also found that with a few enhancements, FHWA’s current LCCA methodology and software (RealCost) could be adapted for use by INDOT for purposes of decision support for pavement investments and proceeded to make such enhancements.
Life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) is an engineering economic analysis tool useful in comparing the relative merit of competing pavement design alternatives. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation shares their experience with LCCA.
"This manual provides basic instruction for using RealCost, software that was developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to support the application of life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) in the pavement project-level decisionmaking process. The manual provides direction on how to enter the data required to perform LCCA and how to incorporate the software's outputs into project-level decisionmaking. The User Manual is addressed to pavement designers and design decisionmakers who wish to use LCCA and the RealCost software to compare the cost-effectiveness of alternative project proposals"--P. 5.
An increasing number of agencies, academic institutes, and governmental and industrial bodies are embracing the principles of sustainability in managing their activities and conducting business. Pavement Life-Cycle Assessment contains contributions to the Pavement Life-Cycle Assessment Symposium 2017 (Champaign, IL, USA, 12-13 April 2017) and discusses the current status of as well as future developments for LCA implementation in project- and network-level applications. The papers cover a wide variety of topics: - Recent developments for the regional inventory databases for materials, construction, and maintenance and rehabilitation life-cycle stages and critical challenges - Review of methodological choices and impact on LCA results - Use of LCA in decision making for project selection - Implementation of case studies and lessons learned: agency perspectives - Integration of LCA into pavement management systems (PMS) - Project-level LCA implementation case studies - Network-level LCA applications and critical challenges - Use-phase rolling resistance models and field validation - Uncertainty assessment in all life-cycle stages - Role of PCR and EPDs in the implementation of LCA Pavement Life-Cycle Assessment will be of interest to academics, professionals, and policymakers involved or interested in Highway and Airport Pavements.
