In the quest for sustainable infrastructure, asphalt pavements have long been under the microscope for their environmental impact. A comprehensive review led by Abolfazl Afshin from the University of Mississippi’s Department of Civil Engineering sheds new light on how life cycle assessment (LCA) and emerging technologies can transform the way we evaluate and improve the sustainability of asphalt pavements. Published in the journal *Cleaner Materials* (translated from the original title), this research offers a roadmap for the construction and energy sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and material waste.
Asphalt pavements are a cornerstone of modern infrastructure, but they come with a significant environmental cost. “The construction sector’s environmental footprint is heavily influenced by asphalt pavements, particularly through GHG emissions, energy use, and material extraction,” Afshin explains. His review, which synthesizes over 500 peer-reviewed studies, highlights the critical role of LCA and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in quantifying and mitigating these impacts.
One of the key findings is the potential of emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to revolutionize the way we assess and improve asphalt pavements. IoT sensors can generate project-specific inventory data, while AI enables automated data cleaning, quality control, and predictive scenario modeling. “These tools support the development of dynamic, high-resolution environmental profiles that improve transparency and comparability,” Afshin notes.
The review also underscores the importance of policy developments across the United States, European Union, and other regions, where EPDs are becoming embedded in public procurement practices. This growing alignment around EN and ISO standards enhances consistency and cross-border comparability, paving the way for cleaner asphalt materials and sustainable infrastructure development.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain. Fragmented Product Category Rules (PCR) frameworks, limited high-quality datasets for emerging materials, and uncertainty in modeling long-term pavement performance are among the hurdles that need to be addressed. Afshin’s review proposes a roadmap focused on standardized impact reporting, direct measurement of material and energy flows, and verifiable digital workflows to tackle these issues.
The implications for the energy sector are significant. As the demand for sustainable infrastructure grows, the insights from this research can guide energy companies investing in construction projects. By adopting LCA and EPDs, and leveraging emerging technologies, these companies can reduce their environmental impact and meet the increasing demand for greener solutions.
In the end, Afshin’s work is a call to action for the construction and energy sectors to embrace a shift from static environmental documentation to actionable, performance-based tools. As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, this research provides a crucial roadmap for achieving cleaner asphalt materials and infrastructure development.