Sustainable building and CO2 emissions: analysis of the transport of sand in Tijuana and Tecate, B.C.

Authors

  • Adriana Álvarez-Andrade Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Autonomous University of Baja California, Blvd. Universitario 1000, Valle de las Palmas, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9977-2056
  • Alicia Ravelo-García Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Autonomous University of Baja California, Blvd. Universitario 1000, Valle de las Palmas, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5968-3916

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37636/recit.v316370

Keywords:

Greenhouse gases, Life cycle analysis, Sand extraction, Carbon dioxide, Environmental impact assessment.

Abstract

The sands are the second most resources extracted and traded by volume after water and outperform fossil fuels and biomass. Currently, 50 billion tons are extracted per year, or an average of 18 kg per person per day [1]. Although the life cycle approach of materials requires that the environmental costs of the construction process be quantified at all stages, the efforts of UN agencies and international organizations to account for CO2 emissions have not considered the contribution of GHGs during the transport of materials such as gravel and sand and, if they do, the data is aggregated in other topics. More than 60% of the aggregates produced in Baja California come from the Las Palmas river that runs along the municipalities of Tijuana and Tecate, B.C.  Hence the regional environmental effects are important. This study aimed to estimate CO2 emissions during sand transport using the IPCC level 1 method and vehicular counting techniques. Sand transportation from the extraction zone, in the Las Palmas river, to a transfer station located in the Alamar river was analyzed. Sixteen types of vehicles were identified. For a route of 75 km, an emission of 77.7 kg of CO2 was calculated. Emissions from 0.8 to 8.7 kg of CO2 were found per ton of sand transported; or its equivalent volume of 1.3 to 13.9 kg / m3; Therefore, the most efficient vehicles in terms of emissions were those with the greatest load capacity. The removal of sands from riverbeds, in addition to generating water impacts, also contributes to climate change due to the cumulative impact of CO2 emissions. This emphasizes the need for policies to promote more efficient means of transport for the transfer of aggregates. 

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References

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Sand transportation route from the Las Palmas stream to the transfer center in the Alamar stream, Tijuana, B.C. Aerial image from Google Earth.

Published

2020-01-15

How to Cite

Álvarez-Andrade, A., & Ravelo-García, A. (2020). Sustainable building and CO2 emissions: analysis of the transport of sand in Tijuana and Tecate, B.C. REVISTA DE CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS, 3(1), 63–70. https://doi.org/10.37636/recit.v316370

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