In order to promote the tracking of recycled materials used in DOT projects, the RMRC developed a Microsoft Excel-based spreadsheet to track recycled materials. The program uses pavement mix designs in order to calculate the tons of recycled material used. The tracking tool can be used on an individual project basis; the resulting quantities can then be added to a state-wide tabulation. While the tracking tool is not meant to serve as an LCCA or even an LCA, the resulting total quantities can be used in LCA and cost-comparison calculations using the same methodology as in this study. The RMRC tracking tool was created based on the WisDOT system of payment for measured quantities of bid items (sometimes as price indices). The bid items represent materials or processes used in pavement construction.
Click Here to Download the Tool
The user is able to modify the tracking tool to fit their system or use it on a system-wide scale or on an individual project.
The WiscLEACH software is open access with a downloadable software file, paper and tutorial at this link: WiscLEACH
Dr. Tuncer Edil of the RMRC spoke at the 19th Annual Meeting of the Rocky Mountain Asphalt User/Producer Group. His talk was on the BE2ST-in-HighwaysTM rating system developed at the University of Wisconsin through the RMRC
Other programs that BE2ST-in-Highways uses are
NOTE: To run the workbook successfully, the Microsoft Excel program has to be 32-bit.
Step 1. Download BEST Workbook to ‘Downloads’ folder in computer C Drive . The file BEST.xls should remain in ‘Downloads’ folder.
Step 2. Create folder titled ‘Support’ in ‘Downloads’ folder
Step 3. Download PaLATE workbook
Step 4. Save copy of PaLATE titled ‘PaLATE’ in ‘Support’ folder. The file PaLATE.xls in the ‘Support’ folder will be connected with BEST.xls in the ‘Downloads’ folder. This PaLATE file will contain data for the Reference design.
Step 5. Save a copy of PaLATE titled ‘PaLATE-1’ in the ‘Support’ folder. The file PaLATE-1.xls in the ‘Support’ folder will be connected with BEST.xls in the ‘Downloads’ folder. This PaLATE file will contain data for the Alternative design.
Step 6. Download the life-cycle cost analysis software, RealCost, using instructions from the link provided above. After installation, the file RealCost.xls should be located in the C drive Program Files. Save a copy of RealCost to the ‘Support’ folder in ‘Downloads’. The file RealCost.xls in the ‘Support’ folder will be connected with BEST.xls in the ‘Downloads’ folder.
Step 7. Download Traffic Noise Model (TNM) using the instructions from the link provided above. In the Installation, you have the option to download TNM directly to the ‘Support’ folder or, after installation is complete, move the TNM program file to the ‘Support’ folder.
*Note: Please move all TNM folders to the ‘Support’ folder together. These include the ‘Example’, ‘Help’, and ‘Program’ folders. The application file, TNM.exe, is located in the support folder. Additionally, TNM is not directly linked with BEST. The TNM analysis may be performed separately, and its results entered manually.
Step 8. Download ME-PDG software from the link provided above. After installation, move the ME-PDG file to the ‘Support’ folder. The application file is named ‘M-E PDG.lnk’.
*Note: You may need to request access to the ME-PDG program files at the link provided above. Additionally, ME-PDG is not directly linked with BEST. You may use the ME-PDG results to determine the different pavement lifetimes of the Reference and Alternative design.
Step 9. Once all support programs are downloaded to the ‘Support’ folder, open BEST from ‘Downloads’. If prompted to update external links, please select ‘Update’.
*Note: If unable to update links, you may need to manually update. This update changes the links in BEST’s tables to the user’s specific computer. The most pertinent links to update are in the tables under the tabs ‘PaLATE’ and ‘LCCA’.
The Pavement Life-cycle Assessment Tool for Environmental and Economic Effects (PaLATE) is a spreadsheet LCA and LCCA program designed by the Consortium on Green Design and Manufacturing from the University of California-Berkeley.
Download program:PaLATE 2.0
PaLATE assesses the environmental and economic effects of pavement and road construction. Users input initial designs, inital construction material, maintenance material and processes, equipment, and cost for a project. Environmental outputs include:
Energy consumption (MJ)
Water consumption (kg)
Carbon dioxide emissions (Mg)
NOx emissions (kg)
Particulate matter-10 emissions (kg)
Sulfur dioxide emissions (kg)
Carbon monoxide emissions (kg)
Leachate information (including mercury, lead, RCRA hazardous waste generated, and both cancerous and non-cancerous human toxicity potential)
The PaLATE program also includes an LCCA, which compares the costs associated with processes and materials for a base and alternative scenario over the lifetime of the project.
PaLATE 2.0, while functionally the same as previous versions, introduces an updated data base. The updated data base will ensure that life cycle impacts calculated by the program are more representative of current practices. More specifically, the update includes the addition of both Recycled Asphalt Shingles (RAS) and Fractionated Recycled Asphalt Pavement (FRAP), materials which did not see widespread use until after PaLATE was first introduced.
RAS or Recycled Asphalt Shingles refers to roofing shingles that have been shredded and ground to a specific size for use in road construction. Common applications include, binder modification and, depending on the size of the shredded material, aggregate. FRAP or Fractionated Recycled Asphalt Pavement refers to RAP (Recycled Asphalt Pavement) that has gone through a fractionation process in which finer aggregate materials are separated out. Common applications include binder supplement and aggregate.
Along with the addition of new materials, PaLATE 2.0 includes updated unit process inventories. Unit process inventories are data sets within the program that are used to calculate the life cycle impacts of a given material. These unit process inventories are critical to the accuracy and effectiveness of the program and must be kept up to date.
While a host of updates were made many updates are still in progress and further changes have yet to be made. Information on further updates and changes will be released as they are made. All information regarding updates and future changes can be found on this page.
The AASHTO ME Pavement Design Software (ME-PDG) can be accessed via the following link:
http://www.aashtoware.org/Pavement/Pages/Educational-License
This version is offered as a no-cost educational license for universities and students.