Welcome
eLCAP is a web-based transport infrastructure life cycle assessment tool
that has the capability to
model the life cycle history of a pavement project by allowing a user to specify any number of
construction events, occurring at a user-specified date, followed by an automatically
generated Use Stage event that begins immediately afterward and lasts
until the next construction event or the End-of-Life date.
eLCAP database library is developed based on the California
specific extensive inventories of materials
and mixes, construction equipment and activities, transportation modes, use stage impacts with
consideration of pavement vehicle interaction and traffic congestion. The database is
built in-house (UCPRC) to represent local conditions to the extent possible, by
using California’s electricity grid mix and fuels and following local practices
in production, mix design, and construction.
eLCAP computes 18 different impact category values which include Primary
Energy Demand used as Raw Materials (feedstock energy), Primary Energy Demand
from Renewable and Non-renewable Resources (gross and net caloric value, separately), Primary
Energy from Nonrenewable Resources (gross and net caloric value, separately), Primary Energy
from Renewable Resources (gross and net caloric value, separately) and United States Environmental
Protection Agency’s Tool for Reduction and Assessment of Chemicals and Other Environmental
Impacts (TRACI); Acidification, Ecotoxicity, Eutrophication, Global Warming Air (excluding and
including biogenic carbon, separately), Human Health Particulate Air, Human
toxicity (cancerous and non-cancerous, separately), Ozone
Depletion Resources, Fossil fuels, and Smog Air.
eLCAP has two main built features:
- Specifically for Caltrans with built-in Caltrans databases (location, cross-section and traffic)
- For local agencies, researchers and academics
LCA models for various processes in eLCAP are available using the following button links.
A list of acronyms used throughout eLCAP is located in the online help system.