In the TAC Bookstore - Sustainability Considerations for Bridges Guide

The Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) has released the Sustainability Considerations for Bridges Guide (2015) in the TAC Bookstore.

The guide, offered at $225 for TAC members and $299 for non-members (order code PTM-SCBG-E), helps transportation agencies and bridge professionals improve the sustainable benefits of their projects and communicate them to stakeholders in a consistent and objective manner. It provides broad direction on sustainability considerations specific to bridge planning, design, construction and management.  

The Guide provides:

• sustainability concepts – definition of sustainability; setting priorities and making decisions
• 12 sustainability objectives (e.g. reducing energy use and emissions; improving safety, access and mobility)
• 22 practices sheets describing a sustainability topic to be considered in a project such as bridge aesthetics, improving material reuse and recycling, and more

Background

The road and highway bridge engineering community has long been considering many aspects of sustainability, such as safety, durability, and aesthetics. However, these efforts rarely are coordinated with the goal of improving sustainability, and are sometimes done without a clear understanding of the positive and negative effects to sustainability. Considering the growing awareness of sustainability, most authorities recognize that sustainability will need to become an important consideration when making decisions, setting policies, and meeting performance measures sought by stakeholders. 

The guide is available in both print and e-book formats.