2012 - USA - Pavement Life Cycle Cost Analyses

This engineering bulletin presents the concepts of life‐cycle cost analysis (LCCA) for the purpose of comparing equivalent competing pavement design alternatives on an economic basis. All of the factors that should be considered in an economic analysis are explained, and guidance is given on the selection of values for LCCA‐sensitive factors. Single‐project LCCA examples are provided for a local road, a highway and an airfield. Advanced LCCA topics also are discussed, including, probabilistic analysis, the impact of pavement service life on a roadway network, the role of LCCA in pavement type selection and consideration of material price volatility.