This £8m project for National Highways was identified as the first UK Carbon Neutral Scheme. Early engagement and a strong commitment from National Highways enabled to deliver a carbon neutral scheme led to the search of a very low carbon pavement solution through ORIS, that would then be offset with Circular Ecology to reach carbon neutrality. ORIS was able to generate multiple design options within the pavement standards and shortlisted 3 options that showed significant improvement in terms of carbon performance, costs, resources and durability compared to the initial design. The final design was chosen to find an optimum balance between carbon performance and cost performance. The scheme was recognized by the 2021 Highways Awards with the Environmental Sustainability and the Special Merit Awards.

Carbon emissions reduced by 55%

Old pavement recycled by 85%

Costs reduced by £3m

Heavy goods vehicles removed: 6,000

All hazardous waste material reused

ORIS was integrated into Autodesk’s Civil 3D software and enabled to generate several pavement structures, with the aim of comparing costs and carbon impact. While the pavement options were substantially equivalent in terms of mechanical performance and were all compliant with French pavement standards, this approach made it possible to identify in only a few minutes a design structure that had a much better performance in terms of costs and carbon footprint. The robustness of the solution was also ensured taking into account the combinatorial calculations offered, justifying many options in the region. With this approach, the engineering firm’s public client was able to arbitrate its project between cost profile, carbon impact and enhanced circular economy.

Carbon footprint of the project potentially reduced by 40%

An estimated cost decrease of about 7% at the pre-project stage

The project scope was the analysis of alternative pavement scenarios of a 30-km 4-lane-expressway, connecting the country’s major cities and experiencing heavy traffic. Other opportunities highlighted by the project included the certainty to deliver on time, the traceability of the materials used and the variability in materials and workmanship costs.This project served as a pilot for the ORIS platform’s capability to help analyse the entire road project and improve investment decisions based on a holistic assessment of the economic and sustainability performance indicators of this project. 

Costs potentially reduced by 18%

Carbon footprint mitigated by 13%

Maintenance costs reduced by 9%

Natural resources spared, with 41% less used

After input of the initial design onto the platform, the contractor was able to compare with 4 alternative designs. Calculations integrated the carbon footprint and the costs of material production, transportation, and implementation on site as well as the incorporation of recycled aggregates. Design options were within the durability of local norms and recommendations. Using ORIS enabled to propose a pavement design solution more optimal than the original design.

CO2 emissions reduced by 6.1%

Service Life Cost reduced by 0,9%

Budget reduced by 3,1%