What does Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) evaluate?

Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) evaluates the total cost of an asset, such as a pavement, over its entire lifespan, from initial construction to the end of its service life or disposal. It considers all relevant costs associated with the asset, including initial construction or rehabilitation costs, maintenance costs, rehabilitation costs, user costs (such as vehicle operating costs and delay costs), and salvage value. The goal of LCCA is to determine the most cost-effective option by comparing the present value of all costs associated with each alternative. LCCA incorporates the time value of money by discounting future costs back to their present value. This allows for a fair comparison of alternatives with different cost streams over time. For example, a pavement with a higher initial cost may have lower maintenance costs and a longer service life, resulting in a lower life cycle cost than a pavement with a lower initial cost but higher maintenance costs and a shorter service life. LCCA provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating the economic implications of different design, construction, and maintenance decisions, leading to more informed and cost-effective asset management.