Assessment of carbon footprints in road operation and maintenance activity

Abstract

By the year 2030, Malaysia has pledged to reduce emissions (GHG) by 45%. In Malaysia, human activities and mobility via road networks will increase substantially with rising urbanization and living standards. As we know, road networks operate 24-hour and require maintenance all the time. Consequently, significant carbon emissions from operations and maintenance activities are generated annually in tandem with the increase in road users. This study aimed to identify sources of carbon emissions from operations and maintenance activities by collecting fuel usage during O&M from the concession companies. The total emissions of CO2 resulting from the operation and maintenance activities in the state of Perak. The study results will make an impact on related government agencies and concession companies during the federal road operations and maintenance process. This study aimed to provide a framework for the importance of carbon emissions from a Perak Federal Road to help define potential targets for reductions. The results of this study show feasible carbon-reduction mitigation strategies for concession companies engaged in maintenance work contracts. Besides, the sources of carbon emissions from operations and maintenance activities are essential to establish since there is no study focus on carbon emission assessment for O&M in Perak. Activities for O&M are defined as RO1-Pothole Patching, Road Shoulder Maintenance, RO3-Grade Cutting, Road Furniture Maintenance, RO5-Maintenance of Bridges and Culverts, RO6-Drainage and RO7-Routine Inspection of Roads. Roughly 1 million liters per year of fuel are consumed after examining the equipment used. Fuel usage is 675,59 litres/kilometres. The daily fuel consumption averages 3,900,27 litres/day and a total of 2 631.47 tons/CO2 carbon emissions result from the O&M activities are produced annually as well as 1.75 tons of CO2/km. The gross carbon emission is 8,10 tons/day. Ultimately, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions from fuel consumption depends on the length of the road and equipment for each process. Fuel-efficient and well-maintained vehicles/machinery are considered to be one factor that can reduce fuel consumption in O&M activities to make O&M activities more efficient and reduce carbon emissions.