Use of Geosynthetics in Transportation Infrastructure Development : A Path to Carbon Neutral World

Infrastructure development is a cornerstone of national progress. Projects such as roads, bridges, highways, and airports demand significant quantities of construction materials. Carbon accounting, or the assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, plays a critical role in these projects because they are highly material- and energy-intensive, making them major contributors to carbon emissions. In infrastructure works, most emissions stem from embodied carbon-emissions generated during material production and construction activities. Steel and concrete are the primary materials responsible for these emissions.

To mitigate the environmental impact, the integration of carbon-efficient materials such as geosynthetics offers a viable solution. Geosynthetics can replace conventional construction methods, thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint of infrastructure projects. This paper explores the role of geosynthetic solutions as sustainable alternatives to traditional approaches and evaluates their impact on carbon emissions. Through a series of case studies, we demonstrate how substituting conventional solutions with geosynthetics leads to measurable reductions in embodied carbon. The study examines five distinct geosynthetic applications and quantifies their environmental benefits through carbon accounting. The findings aim to establish a benchmark for future research and encourage engineers to adopt geosynthetic solutions as a means of promoting sustainable infrastructure development.