An update on bridge carbon dioxide footprint data

Abstract

Transport infrastructure accounts for a significant proportion of the world's carbon dioxide emissions. Bridges and viaducts use a significant amount of steel and cement; these two industries alone amount to about 16% of the world's total carbon dioxide emissions. The carbon dioxide footprint of bridges and viaducts has been studied, and this paper adds some additional data from various sources. The data analysis is extended, and the key issues of substructure carbon dioxide and bridge size noted in the original research are explored in more detail. New datasets of bridge carbon dioxide with time, with span and carbon dioxide in substructures are introduced to note progress towards net zero. The paper indicates that there has been little change in carbon dioxide content over the past 60 years. The paper summarises the key conclusions from the new data and gives five recommendations towards net zero, along with key performance indicators of good bridge designs considering carbon dioxide footprint.