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Infrastructure Carbon Estimator

• The Infrastructure Carbon Estimator Version 2.1 is a spreadsheet tool that estimates the lifecycle energy and greenhouse gas emissions from the construction and maintenance of transportation facilities. Version 2.1 of the tool was developed through FHWA Transportation Pooled Fund TPF-5(362), led by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and may be downloaded by completing this form on MnDOT's website. The User Guide and other information is available on this MnDOT webpage

  ICE Version 2.1 improves on the original FHWA ICE tool by incorporating recent lifecycle research addressing the energy and GHG emissions from materials and fuels.  It also includes new project types and the capacity to develop simple estimates of vehicle operating GHG emissions and energy consumption.

  ICE is intended to inform planning and pre-engineering analysis. It can be used to address these types of questions:    

  • Are there alternative plans or projects that would result in fewer construction emissions?
  • What is the emissions payback period for a transportation construction project that is intended to reduce operational emissions?
  • What is the total energy and emissions impact of maintaining the current regional transportation system?
  • What types of strategies can be used to reduce GHG emissions from building and maintaining transportation facilities?

The tool is based on a nationwide database of construction bid documents, data collected from State DOTs, and consultation with transportation engineers and lifecycle analysis experts.