Catalyzing New International Collaborations: The Use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Methods in Geotechnical Engineering

OISE 11-32960该项目支持美国pi (Gallagher， Spatari和Bartoli)，三名研究生和一名本科生计划访问剑桥大学，与英国Soga教授及其研究生会面。这两个小组都是在岩土工程中率先使用生命周期评估（LCA）方法的。在这次访问中，pi将促进合作，并探索在岩土工程决策中发展、调整和整合LCA方法的协同作用，特别是在岩土工程方面。美国在设计弹性和可持续基础设施方面的作用。计划在2011-2012年举办后续研讨会。由于岩土工程涉及使用相对大量的材料，有时使用消耗大量燃料的重型建筑设备，有时会改变自然景观，因此将LCA成功地纳入岩土工程可能会对主要项目的环境可持续性产生重大影响。该项目还将研究和教育结合起来，为美国学生提供机会，与外国大学的同龄人讨论处于早期发展阶段的研究。

OISE 11-32960This project supports a planning visit for the US PIs (Gallagher, Spatari, and Bartoli), three graduate students and one undergraduate student to meet with UK Professor Soga and his graduate students at the University of Cambridge. Both groups are pioneering the use of life cycle assessment (LCA) methods in geotechnical engineering. During this visit the PIs will catalyze collaboration and explore the synergies of developing, adapting, and integrating LCA methods in geotechnical decision making, particularly as they relate to geotechnical engineering?s role in designing resilient and sustainable infrastructure. A follow on 2011-2012 workshop is planned.Because geotechnics involves using relatively large amounts of materials, at times employs heavy construction equipment that consumes large amounts of fuel and at times changes the natural landscape, successful incorporation of LCA into geotechnical engineering could have a significant impact on the environmental sustainability of major projects.This project also integrates research and education by providing US students with the opportunity to discuss research that is at an early development state with their peers at a foreign university.