Optimisation of bridge maintenance strategy and cost considering whole life costs and carbon emissions

This paper describes the optimisation of bridge maintenance strategy and cost, utilising a Structures Asset Valuation and Investment (SAVI) tool and considering whole life costs, traffic delays and carbon emissions arising from the bridge maintenance programme. Parametric studies were carried out with SAVI to compare maintenance costs and traffic delays for different maintenance strategies. Carbon emissions for each maintenance strategy were estimated using a popular carbon calculator tool and monetised, based on UK carbon valuations, before incorporating into the whole life costing of the bridge. The results demonstrate that a planned preventive maintenance strategy was the most cost effective and sustainable strategy with 7.7% lower discounted maintenance costs and 7% less carbon emission compared to an unplanned reactive maintenance strategy.