Skip to main content
Log in

Lci data modelling and a database design

  • Published:
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A large scale operative data format for transparent storage, administration and retrieval of environmental Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data has been implemented by applying data modelling and database design.

Key concepts in the design are ‘activity’ and flow’: An activity is a technical system, such as a process or a transport, or an aggregate of different processes or transports. A flow is any matter entering or leaving an activity, such as natural resources, energywarc, raw material, emission, waste or products.

Any numerical data set on an activity can he thoroughly described by supplying meta data. Meta data fields are prepared for a wide set of commonly known LCA-data aspects, such as descriptions of data acquisition methods, system boundary conditions and relevant dates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Steen, B.;Carlson, R.;Löfgren, G. (1995): SPINE, A Relation Database Structure for Life Cycle Assessments, Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL), IVL-Report B 1227, Göteborg, Sweden

  2. Ryding, S.O.;Steen, B.;Wenblad, A.;Karlsson, R. (1993): The EPS system — A Life Cycle Assessment concept for cleaner technology and product development strategies, and design for the environment, EPA Workshop on Identifying a Framework for Human Health and Environmental Risk Ranking, Washington DC, USA

  3. LCA Inventory Tool (1994): Chalmers Industriteknik (CIT). Göteborg, Sweden

  4. Carlson, R. (1994): Design and Implementation of a Database for use in the Life Cycle Inventory Stage of Environmental Life Cycle Assessments. Department of Computing Science, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden

    Google Scholar 

  5. Frischknecht, R.;Hoestetter, P.;Knoepfei, I.;Dones, R.;Zollinger, E. ( 1994): Ökoinventare für Energiesysteme. Schluß- bericht, Laboratorium für Energiesysteme, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  6. European Database for Corrugated Board Life Cycle Studies (1996): 1996/1, FEFCO Paris, Groupement Ondulé Darmstadt, KRAFT Institute Stockholm, Sweden

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bousted, I.: General principles for Life Cycle Assessment databases. Journal of Cleaner Production, 1993, Vol. 1, Number 3–4, p. 167–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Ekvail, T. (1994): Criterias for a national database for Life Cycle Assessment. CIT EkoLogik, Göteborg, Sweden

    Google Scholar 

  9. Singhofen, A. (1996): Introduction into a Common Format for Life Cycle Inventory Data. Society for the Promotion of LCA Development (SPOLD), Brussels, Belgium

    Google Scholar 

  10. An International Database for Ecoprofile Analysis. A Tool for Decision Makers (IDEA) (1991): WP-91-30, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg

  11. Haglind, L.;Lindström, R.;Parming Vass, A.M.;Strömberg, L. (1994): STFI bygger databas for skogsindustriella livscykelanalyser. p. 34–35, Svensk Papperstidning/Nordisk Cellulosa nr 2, Sweden (in Swedish)

  12. SimaPro Demo v 3.1 (1995): PRé Consultants, Amersfoort, Netherlands

  13. ISO/CD 1041.2: International Organisation for Standardization (ISO), 1996

  14. Udo de Haes, H.A. ed. (1996): Towards a Methodology for Life Cycle Impact Assessment, Part 1: Discussions of general principles and guidelines for practical use. SETAC

  15. Schaltegger, S. ed. (1996): Eco-Efficiency of LCA, The Necessity of a Site-Specific Approach. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)-Quo vadis?, Birkhäuser Verlag

  16. EcoLab (1997): Nordic Port AB, Göteborg, Sweden

  17. EPS 3.0 Design System (1997): Assess AB, Göteborg, Sweden

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Carlson, R., Tillman, AM., Steen, B. et al. Lci data modelling and a database design. Int. J. LCA 3, 106–113 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02978500

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02978500

Keywords

Navigation