# Life Cycle Cost Analysis and Deterioration Patterns of Limestone Paving
## 1 Introduction and State of the Art  
Natural stone has been used in construction for centuries due to its durability and aesthetic appeal. However, modern practices utilizing thin stone slabs for cladding, flooring, and paving have sometimes led to premature deterioration [1, 2, 3]. The rate and extent of deterioration depend on various factors, including the stone's geological origin, mineralogical composition, physical and chemical microstructure, and the environmental conditions to which it is exposed [4, 5, 6, 7].  
Different disciplines, such as architecture, geology, materials science, and civil engineering, often define and analyze weathering processes differently [2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17]. The recent studies have highlighted the contrasting analytical approaches between geologists and geogenineers on the one hand and civil engineers on the other hand [18, 19, 20]. While geologists focus more on microstructural changes, civil engineers emphasize the impact on mechanicaland physical properties. However, the holistic analysis of component performance within the overall structure is often lacking.  
Despite the importance of natural stone paving in urban design, such as in tourist areas, public spaces, and historic sites, research specifically focused on this application is limited [21]. Developing diagnostic and analytical tools is crucial for the design and life cycle planning of modern stone paving. The recent studies have examined topics such as the structural design of cube stone pavements using advanced modelling [22], the life cycle benefits of incorporating stone waste in cement materials [23], and the use of hyperspectral imaging to assess pavements' condition [24]. In [25] was investigated the impact of the hot and wet Eastern Mediterranean climate on the weathering of natural local sedimentary stones implemented in contact with cement mortars and concrete. The integration of weathering research with Life Cycle Prediction and life cycle costing (LCC) methodologies has also been discussed [26]. However, the holistic analysis of the components' performance within the overall structure is often missing.  
The reasoning and analysis of infrastructure systems is a meticulous topic. Pattern analyses for deriving the root causes of infrastructure failures, including design, the construction methods, execution, and external factors, which include unforeseen events or accidents was developed in [27]. The framework was validated on highway pavement construction. Research on pavement performance and the reliability domain indicates the need for performance and failure mechanisms criteria and life cycle assessment modeling [28; 29].  
Previous research into the critical success factors in pavement projects indicates the need for performance and life cycle assessment approaches for pavement materials [29]. Some researchers stressed the need for further research to quantify the environmental performance of construction materials and the methods used on sidewalk pavements to elucidate the most environmental pavement alternative and design guidelines by optimizing alternative materials and methods to improve the sidewalk performance [22]. In [30] was developed a stochastic framework for the assessment of pavement performance, emphasizing the pavement structure, the material, the traffic load, and the weather conditions. This model indicates the need for tools for the prediction of pavement performance under failure conditions. In [31] was emphasized the need for life expectancy estimates of pavement alternatives. This state-of-the-art review elucidates the gap in pavement materials' service life expectancy models and life cycle cost modeling and designs guidelines for sidewalk pavements.