DESIGNING SUSTAINABILITY INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE LIFE CYCLE OF URBAN ROAD RENOVATION

Abstract

Problem statement
The infrastructure sector, particularly the urban road sector, has a significant impact on the environment due to the use of primary materials, the inefficient use of resources and greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, the United Nations has urged member states to reassess their infrastructure, including urban roads, with a view to achieving a sustainable infrastructure life cycle. The infrastructure life cycle comprises of two distinct phases: an upstream phase ‘designing phase’, and a downstream phase, which encompasses the implementation stage. In the upstream phase of sustainable road infrastructure, the involvement of practitioners and their expertise is lacking. Practitioners frequently lack effective methodologies and strategies for implementing sustainability through co-creation processes in the upstream phase. What are the barriers and measures to implement sustainability through co-creation process in urban road renovations?
Method
To gather scientific knowledge on sustainability in the upstream phase, we build on a systematic literature review (SLR; by Web of Science data, post-Paris Agreement). To collect data based on the expertise of practitioners in urban road renovation, we conducted an online consensus consultation (by Nominal Group Technique NGT).
An online validation session was conducted with practitioners (through semi-structured interviews) who had experience with an awarded 'green' urban road project to confirm that the guide is able to do the job it is intended to do. In order to analyse both the data collected through the online consensus consultation and the online validation session, we used qualitative data analysis (tool Atlas.ti), building on the key findings from the SLR.
Results
The SLR resulted in a list of barriers to implement sustainability through co-creation processes in urban road renovations. In the online consensus consultation, eight practitioners were involved in each of the 5 stages of the upstream phase. This consultation resulted in a discussion of the current barriers for each of the 5 stages and the identification of possible measures to address them. In the online validation session, these barriers and measures were recognised by the practitioners, but comments were made on the order of the stages to better ensure the integration of sustainability.
Conclusion
The current barriers are uncertainty, need for rethinking, the need for an advisory system, change in prioritisation, sustainability involved too late in the process and lack sustainable procurement procedures. The measures to overcome there are: stakeholders, including practitioners, should be involved early in the upstream phase of urban road renovations. In addition, the upstream stages should be an iterative process rather than sequential. Integrating sustainability into urban road renovations requires a constant back and forth between stages to reflect on developments. Finally, an online NGT session seemed to be the appropriate method to collect data from practitioners on the barriers and measures for integrating sustainability in urban road renovations.
The current barriers are uncertainty, need for rethinking, the need for an advisory

Date of Award	2024
Original language	English
Supervisor	Angelique Lansu (Supervisor) & Lily Fredrix (Assessor)