The Carbon Footprint Calculation of the GFRP Pedestrian Bridge at Tai-Jiang National Park

This paper proposes a study of a high strength, light weight and durable glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite material that was used in a pedestrian bridge in Tai-Jiang National Park, Taiwan. In order to better understand the carbon footprint and carbon reduction of GFRP pedestrian bridge, the evaluated carbon footprint of the superstructure of the GFRP pedestrian bridge is compared with those of traditional construction materials, such as reinforced concrete (RC) and steel. The evaluation includes material production stage, transportation stage and construction stage of the carbon emission of GFRP pedestrian bridge. From the calculated carbon emission results, it is found that the GFRP pedestrian bridge reduced total carbon emission about 43% compared to an RC pedestrian bridge and up to 19% compared to a steel pedestrian bridge.