Holistic environmental analysis of freight transportation

Important results from the project

The overall objective of improving the environmental calculations for the carriage of goods has been achieved through the results presented. More specifically, data and methodologies have been developed to be able to include the environmental effects of infrastructure in the environmental calculations for freight transport. This is the first time a systematic work has been done in this area for all modes of transport. Also aims to improve knowledge about the noise from freight transport as well as on the uncertainty calculations have been achieved.

Expected long term effects

The results from this project will be used in environmental calculations for freight transport, which would include the environmental effects of transport infrastructure. For example, NTM will include this in their models. Furthermore, discussed on methods of allocation will certainly continue. The effect of this is going to be more focus on improving environmental performance of infrastructure, for example in the construction, operation and maintenance of roads and railways, as well as in the case of transshipment in ports.

Approach and implementation

The project took advantage of existing life cycle assessment (LCA) for road, railway and an airport and within the project we have developed an LCA for port (the port of Gothenburg), including the five separate terminals, and shipping routes to the sea. LCA data are then used to calculate the emissions from infrastructure. This has involved extensive work to allocate infrastructure impacts to traffic and transport work. Literature studies, method development and calculations have been made regarding the uncertainty and noise calculations.