LIFE CYCLE COST OF PROTECTIVE COATING FOR CYCLING PATHS IN SINGAPORE: A REVIEW AND ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK

Abstract

The Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) is known as an empirical framework universally applied for the total life cycle cost assessment of construction projects. It is also a popular tool among the European countries, US, and the UK as a significant financial assessment indicator of the alternative pavement comparison for their infrastructure projects including bridge and highway construction. By evaluating the economic feasibility of an infrastructure project, the costs forecasted into the expected service lifespan might serve as the largest cost component over the initial investments of the assets. Hence, the incorporation of infrastructure project’s LCCA evidently impose an influential impact on the planning and design of future operation and maintenance activities. Moreover, although the methodology has been long existence and engaged substantially by academics worldwide, the non-theoretical application on case studies is still rare to be seen regardless of public or private contexts in view of its intricate nature. The necessity of forecasting future cost attain the uncertain characteristic of the framework to determine cost ranging from the initial construction, maintenance, till the end of service life. Clear guideline of the framework also helps with presenting the transparent decision-making process of the department’s budget usage adhering to the public demand towards the transportation agency. The goal of this research is to establish a LCCA framework for the protective coating of cycling path project in Singapore. The results presented by the application of the proposed LCCA model to the protective coating maintenance project in Singapore demonstrates the potential strength and validation of the LCCA framework identified to benefit for the alternative material comparison purpose for the protective coating project’s decision making.