**3. Life Cycle Assessment**

Awareness regarding the forecasting and prevention of environmental impacts related to construction is increasing. In this way, interest in developing methods to better understand and deal with these impacts has been increasing. One of the techniques in development for this purpose is life cycle assessment (LCA). LCA can identify opportunities for improving the environmental performance of services at various points in their life cycles, as well as selecting relevant environmental performance indicators, assisting decision-makers in governmental or nongovernmental organizations, for example defining priorities and strategic planning [39].

LCA focuses on potential environmental impacts, such as the use of resources and the consequences of releases to the environment throughout the life cycle of a product or service, from the acquisition of raw materials, production, use, post-use treatment, recycling until final disposal. LCA studies are composed of four phases: goal and scope; life cycle inventory; impact assessment; and interpretation [40].
