Embodied Carbon Assessment of Geotechnical Works

In the light of rising construction sustainability concerns, embodied carbon assessments are often one of the main engineering tools to identify the best “green” option. Embodied carbon assessments provide a simple way to quantify and measure the summation of all the greenhouse gases generated from the built environment. It includes a whole life carbon cycle assessment of a given project from the impacts of materials production, transportation, installation, maintenance, and any waste or disposals during and at the end of design life. This paper aims to allow geotechnical engineers to quickly determine the embodied carbon of their design, and more profoundly form the basis of an innovative and efficient design approach with the consideration of intelligent and alternate material choice to achieve the same performance. In this paper, the methodology of embodied carbon calculation will first be introduced, followed by a summary of carbon emission factors (CEF) that are applicable for geotechnical designs. The discussion herein will focus on the initial portion of the embodied carbon life cycle assessment which comprises of the “before use stage” only for a particular project. Case studies on the use of embodied carbon calculations were provided for a variety of geotechnical projects including foundation for road embankment, trench excavations, and tunnel design. These case studies will show the significance of carbon calculations during the initial design stages and its value in recognition of projects’ sustainability goals. Alternative real-life solutions in achieving de-carbonization will also be presented as a concluding remark, highlighting the possibility of sustainable design in geotechnical practice.