Title: "Environmentally Sustainable Pavements: Tactical and Strategic Needs and Opportunities"

Abstract

The presentation intends to cover both the tactical and strategic needs and opportunities pertaining to the topic of environmental sustainability of pavements. Specifically, the tactical portion will cover federal and state green public procurement policies and initiatives from construction material industries in meeting these requirements. The strategic portion will delve into the topic of net-zero, looking at the origination and relevance for the pavement domain. In addition, it will cover both the upstream and downstream asphalt industry initiatives around the topic of net-zero pavements. The presentation will conclude by highlighting potential interdisciplinary needs and opportunities for next generation engineers.

Dr. Chaitanya Bhat
Sustainability Engineer
Asphalt Institute (AI)

Chaitanya (Chait) Bhat is currently working as a Sustainability Engineer at the Asphalt Institute (AI). Chait graduated with a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental engineering from Michigan Technological University with a focus on developing life cycle information models that render Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Chait is a certified Life Cycle Assessment Practitioner by the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment. Chait is working with both the pavement and environmental sustainability stakeholders with a vision to further tactical and strategic pavement sustainability initiatives.