Athena Sustainable Materials Institute Announces Major Upgrades to Free LCA Web APP
OTTAWA, Ontario (PRWEB) June 28, 2018 -- The popular and free Athena Pavement LCA Web App has been updated to further simplify life cycle assessment (LCA) and make paving more environmentally sustainable and cost efficient.
The new version 3.1 includes these improvements:
• A life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) module has been added, so users can assess both the environmental and the cost burdens of different paving options.
• A new embedded steel reinforcement input mass estimator for PCC roadways, so users no longer need to complete the calculation in another application.
• The addition of “roller compacted concrete” within the software. This includes a process profile as well as a default (but editable) roller compacted concrete mix design.
• All aggregate profiles (natural, crushed, coarse and fine) have been reworked to better handle project-specific transportation mode and distance specifications.
• Ready mixed concrete plant process data has been updated based on the NRMCA 2016 industry average LCA and EPD for concrete.
• The US sample projects have been brought over from the desktop version.
• The web app can now provide regional results for multiple Canadian and US locations including: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Central and East Ontario, Central and East Quebec, Atlantic Canada, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New York State, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington State.
The new LCCA feature uses a model developed by Dr. Mehdi Akbarian, a postdoctoral associate at the Concrete Sustainability Hub at MIT and a member of the US Federal Highway Administration’s Sustainable Pavement Technical Working Group. This software update was also made possible with funding from the Cement Association of Canada and Athena Institute members.
Learn more and find the tool here:
The Athena Institute would like to thank its members, sponsors and clients for their support in this work, particularly the Cement Association of Canada.
ABOUT THE ATHENA SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS INSTITUTE
The Athena Institute is a non-profit research group in life cycle assessment (LCA) for the built environment. The North American pioneer in construction-sector LCA, the Athena Institute works with sustainability leaders in product manufacturing, building design, construction, and green rating programs to enable smaller footprints in the production and consumption of materials, buildings and infrastructure. Athena’s common-good work includes free LCA software tools for architects and engineers and the development and maintenance of the large LCI/LCA database on construction materials and processes that underlies our tools. We additionally advocate and educate on the benefit of LCA in construction practice and in industry in order to help meet our mandate to mitigate the environmental burdens embodied in works of construction. Our support network includes a range of product manufacturers, trade associations, design professionals and other research and public service organizations.
Vanessa Salazar, Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, http://www.athenasmi.org, +1 (604) 966-1003, [email protected]
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