Blueprint for Sustainability

Maurer, Lindsay K; Mansfield, Theodore J.; Lane, Leigh; Hunkins, Julie

doi:10.3141/2357-02

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Some contribute more explicitly to the conceptualization function (5,23), some to the operationalization function (4,14), some to the utilization function (2), and others address more than one function (3,12). The three functions intend to support this first level of categorization of the extracted criteria.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building a Metaframework for Sustainable Transport Indicators

Cornet

Gudmundsson

2015

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation R

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Several recent papers presented at TRB and elsewhere seek to make sustainability manageable. To this end they suggest using indicators and performance measures to help conceptualize and operationalize sustainability for transportation-related planning and decision-making. These studies often present frameworks that will allow sustainability indicators and measures to be included in, for example, agency strategies and practices. Moreover, some suggest criteria for selection of individual indicators and performance measures. The studies, however, do not always agree on what is really meant by a framework or how to use it for making sustainability-based decisions, and the aspects and concerns they underline tend to differ. This paper addresses the issue of frameworks more generically and explores what the authors term a 'meta-framework' with a set of associated criteria to guide the framing of indicators for sustainable transportation. Based on an explicit framework theory, it is found that the three functions of conceptualization, operationalization and utilization provide a logical structure of complementing features for building indicator frameworks. Characteristics of robust indicator frameworks were evaluated in terms of their significance for the three key functions and collected into a list of criteria. A review of the Brundtland report provides an example of how a more finely grained understanding of sustainability can inform the conceptualization criterion 'Ranking of sustainability impacts'.The meta-framework is primarily intended as a basis for undertaking empirical analysis and to 'meta-evaluate' existing practice frameworks with regards to the strength of the level for sustainability they are likely to provide.Keywords: Sustainability, Transportation, Framework, Indicators, Evaluation LIST OF TABLES INTRODUCTIONDespite associated complexity, it would no longer be fair to depict sustainability as a marginal or exotic concern in the assessment of transportation policies, plans, programs, or projects. On the contrary, many agencies in the US and around the globe have adopted notions of sustainability principles or goals for parts of their activities or even as a more general direction. Several recent reports, papers and guidance documents seek to make sustainability manageable by suggesting indicators and performance measures as tools to help conceptualize and operationalize sustainability for planning and decision-making. According to several studies in this field, the best approach is not to simply add a few sustainable transportation indicators (STI) to an agency's existing performance measurement system. The recommendation is rather to integrate sustainability principles and goals at the higher level of strategic planning and performance measurement and then to derive a set of indicators that serves this purpose (1-4). If successful, this approach is likely to result in a more meaningful approach to sustainability by an agency than simply parachuting in a few indicators into an otherwise unal...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building a Metaframework for Sustainable Transport Indicators

Cornet

Gudmundsson

2015

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation R

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“…Sustainable engineering and construction practices in the transportation infrastructure decision making process have become increasingly important in recent years (Mansfield & Hartell, 2012;Maurer, Mansfield, Lane, & Hunkins, 2013). Pavement rehabilitation is one type of transportation infrastructure construction that is now benefitting from sustainable practices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Central Iowa Expo site pavement foundation stabilization and paving project: an investigation into the influence of pavement foundation stiffness on pavement design, construction, and performance

Becker

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Performance Comparison of Recycled Pavement Foundation Layers

Becker

White

Vennapusa

et al. 2015

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation R

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This paper describes results from a study comparing the performance of side-by-side test sections of pavement foundation layers constructed with on-site recycled materials and surfaced with hot-mix asphalt (HMA). Test sections included recycled materials blended with subgrade to create a mechanically stabilized subgrade layer and recycled materials placed in an overexcavated subgrade layer. In situ falling weight deflectometer (FWD), dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP), and laboratory freeze–thaw tests were used to assess the performance of the test sections, in comparison with a control section where recycled materials were not used. Field testing was conducted at seasonal intervals over 2 years after construction, and the results were statistically analyzed with two-tailed Welch's t-tests to account for unequal variances. Findings indicated that test sections with on-site recycled materials provided improved support conditions for the pavements during both before and after freeze–thaw conditions, when compared with the control section. FWD and DCP test results indicated that recycled material blended with sub-grade showed more thaw-weakening compared with recycled material alone. Laboratory freeze–thaw test results corroborated the comparisons observed in the field test results. Correlations between FWD test measurements on the foundation layer and on the pavement yielded a statistically significant regression relationship, which indicated the importance of support conditions on the surface layer performance. Analysis of bid prices to construct the test sections indicated no statistical evidence to suggest that the unit costs for the test sections were different from one another.

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Blueprint for Sustainability

Cited by 5 publications

References 5 publications

Building a Metaframework for Sustainable Transport Indicators

Building a Metaframework for Sustainable Transport Indicators

The Central Iowa Expo site pavement foundation stabilization and paving project: an investigation into the influence of pavement foundation stiffness on pavement design, construction, and performance

Performance Comparison of Recycled Pavement Foundation Layers

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