Performing an Analysis and Getting Results

The following controls are located on the Analysis & Results Page.

This page is used to perform a LCA analysis, also referred to as "Balance", since the process of solving the LCA model is basically scaling upstream flows according to downstream material needs. When that process is finished, then all flows and processes, are in balance. See Section 2.1 of the eLCAP Report for more details on Balancing a LCA model.

The following discusses each control:

1.This control shows the currently loaded project.

2.This control shows the currently loaded trial for the project.

3.This button starts the analysis (Balance). Once selected, eLCAP builds a LCA model from all user supplied input data and starts the balancing process, starting with the right-most process (the Pavement Project process) and begins the flow scaling process for each of the flows going into the Pavement project, such as HMA, PCC, Paver_Time, etc. Once that process is finished, eLCAP computs the 18 different impact factors, such as GWP (GHG) from the scaled flows. This model generation, flow scaling and computing impacts tasks is done for each event define in the life cycle.

4.This button is used to cancel the balancing process.

5.This area shows a high-level summary of your project.

6.Once the balancing process is complete, this button becomes enabled, allowing you to generate graphs of the results.

7.Once the balancing process is complete, this button becomes enabled, allowing you to generate reports of the results.

8.Checking this checkbox before starting a balance will instruct eLCAP to generate several, detailed result reports which can be downloaded using the Detailed Rpts button

9.This button allows you to download the detailed reports generated if the checkbox (8) was checked before starting the analysis.

10.This message area shows the progress of the balancing, in seconds.

As the balancing process is progressing, the graph area shows a real-time plot of the total GHG (GWP) in MT vs Time. Holding the mouse cursor at any point on the curve will bring up a pop-up window, showing the the point's X- and Y-values (date and GWP).

The following discusses the labeled areas above:

1.This vertical line represents the GWP (GHG) for the first event, which includes all materials, transports and construction equipment defined for the first event.

2.This sloped line, going from the first construction event to the second, represents the Use Stage results, which is based on the growth of IRI overtime and the amount of traffic (cars and trucks) and its growth over time. The slope of the line depends on: (1) the treatment selected in the Use Stage Roughness Eqn control on the Life Cycle page and (2) the level of traffic and its growth over time. If a Use Stage has not been included between construction events then the slope of the line will be horizontal.

3.This vertical line represents the GWP (GHG) for the second event,  which includes all materials, transports and construction equipment defined for the second event.

4.This sloped line, going from the second construction event to the end of the analysis period, represents the Use Stage.

After the analysis finishes, a summary report is displayed in the bottom scrollable text for your review.

The top of the summary report is shown above.

1.This section gives information about the version of eLCAP, the name of the user and the date the report was generated. It also indicates the kind of project (Caltrans or Local Agency) and the name and description of the project and trial. Finally, it shows the date the output was generated.

The rest of the report for the first event is shown below.

The table of impact factors for the first event is shown above.

1.The title for the following table of results. The number of processes listed in the table title indicates that eLCAP generated 132 processes for construction event 1, resulting from the materials, transports and pieces of construction equipment contained in the first event. Just below the title is the date of the event, the pavement type and treatment selected for the Use Phase.

2.This note indicates that computed impact factors have not been scaled down (since the scale factor is 1.0) because the Analysis Period is after the Service Life for the event.

3.This is the table of results, one line for each of the 18 impact factors computed by eLCAP. Each line has the name of the impact factor, the value and the units associated with the impact factor.

Just below the table of impact factors are event GHG results and running life cycle GHG totals.

The event and running life cycle GHG totals are shown above.

1.The first two lines are GHG impact values for the event and then per lane mile. The next two lines are the same but are running life cycle totals.

Following the first event results are results for the second event. This event is the Use Stage event going between the first and second construction events.

The first section of the Use Stage results is shown

1.The first two lines

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