{"id":26806,"date":"2026-02-07T02:23:47","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T02:23:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/141.23.68.248\/wp\/?page_id=26806"},"modified":"2026-02-07T02:34:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T02:34:32","slug":"concrete-sidewalk","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/141.23.68.248\/wp\/?page_id=26806","title":{"rendered":"Concrete Sidewalk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Decisions made during the design phase of civil infrastructure determine the environmental and economic performance of the system throughout its lifetime. For longlived urban assets such as sidewalks, maintenance and operation often cause greater impacts than the initial construction. Therefore, a life-cycle assessment (LCA) combined with multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) provides a systematic framework to evaluate design options and support sustainable decision-making.
The present study focuses on the winter service system of an urban sidewalk in Berlin, where recurring freeze\u2013thaw cycles and de-icing practices significantly influence surface durability and maintenance demand. The analyzed section measures 1.8 m \u00d7 100 m (180 m\u00b2), representing a typical pedestrian path exposed to urban winter conditions. The reference period is 40 years, assuming approximately 25 winter events per year based on the DWD Berlin-Tempelhof climate data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Objective and Scope<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The objective is to identify the most sustainable and policy-compliant winter maintenance
strategy by assessing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Environmental impact (CO\u2082-equivalent emissions),<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Life-cycle cost (LCC),<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Diesel fuel consumption,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Transport intensity (ton\u00b7km), and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Policy-fit according to Berlin regulations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The functional unit (FU) is defined as the maintenance of 180 m\u00b2 sidewalk for 40 years. The system boundary covers production and transport of de-icing materials, operational fuel use for spreading and plowing, periodic sweeping or collection (if applicable), and surface interventions caused by each strategy. Pavement end-of-life is excluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Goal and Scope of Assessment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The goal of this assessment is to quantify and compare the environmental and economic impacts of alternative winter maintenance strategies for a 1.8 m \u00d7 100 m sidewalk (180 m\u00b2 functional unit) over a 40-year service life. The assessment focuses on both direct impacts (material and fuel consumption, transport) and indirect effects (surface deterioration and maintenance frequency). The ultimate objective is to recommend the most sustainable and policy-compliant strategy for Berlin\u2019s pedestrian network. The scope of the analysis covers all life-cycle stages relevant to winter service, as illustrated in Figure below. The system boundary includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n