Life cycle carbon emission assessment for ecological protection slopes: Focus on construction and maintenance phases

Ecological slope protection has become widely adopted for its carbon reduction benefits. This study develops a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model to evaluate carbon emissions across the entire lifecycle of ecological protection slopes, focusing on the construction and maintenance phases. A carbon emission factor database was created, incorporating various emission sources, and a comprehensive carbon emission calculation model was developed to estimate emissions in different phases of the lifecycle. The model was validated through real-world engineering case studies. The findings indicate that the construction phase is the primary source of carbon emissions, with material production accounting for the largest share, followed by transportation and construction activities. Vegetation-based carbon sequestration projects offset a significant portion of the total emissions, contributing to carbon neutrality. The model's robustness was demonstrated through a relative standard deviation of less than 5%, confirming its capacity to handle uncertainties. This study refines the life- cycle carbon emission assessment for ecological protection slopes, providing valuable technical support for carbon emission reduction strategies and sustainable development in infrastructure projects.