Analysis of carbon reduction and vegetation carbon sequestration benefits of applying vegetation concrete ecological protection technology to highway slopes

Le résumé fourni par la source

Vegetation concrete ecological protection technology, which integrates structural stability with ecological restoration, offers substantial advantages for the low-carbon and ecological transformation of highway construction. Through leveraging the synergistic effects of anchor rods, protective mesh, plant root systems, and vegetation concrete, this technology creates a multilayer slope protection system that significantly improves superficial slope stability and erosion resistance while significantly increasing carbon sequestration capacity. This study evaluates the Jiangjin-Luzhou Highway in Chongqing, China using the life cycle assessment to compare the carbon emissions and sequestration characteristics between traditional masonry protection versus vegetation concrete ecological system. Experimental results demonstrate that the vegetation concrete achieves a 28-day unconfined compressive strength of 638 kPa meeting stability requirements for surface-layer slope protection. Compared to traditional masonry, the vegetation concrete ecological protection reduces life-cycle carbon emissions by 75.2 %. Furthermore, the ecological approach yields an annual carbon sequestration rate of 2.36 kg/m 2 , enabling carbon neutrality within approximately 5.7 years. Analysis identifies that material production is the dominant carbon emission source. Suggesting carbon reduction is best achieved through using materials with lower carbon emission factors. This study provides a scientific basis and technical guidance for advancing low carbon and sustainable transportation infrastructure.

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