LCA Modeling in EcoSemantic¶
This section provides comprehensive documentation on how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) modeling works in EcoSemantic, including the underlying computational framework, data conventions, and best practices.
Overview¶
EcoSemantic is built on top of Brightway2, a powerful open-source framework for Life Cycle Assessment. Understanding how Brightway2 works helps you create more accurate and efficient LCA models.
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Computational Structure
Learn how LCA calculations work at the matrix level and how EcoSemantic leverages Brightway2's computational engine.
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Exchange Conventions
Understand the sign conventions for exchanges and how to correctly model inputs, outputs, and environmental flows.
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Activity Modeling
Best practices for creating activities, defining functional units, and structuring your LCA models.
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Environmental Flows
Working with biosphere exchanges, emissions, and resource consumption in your models.
Quick Reference¶
The Golden Rules¶
- Use positive values for inputs - Material and energy inputs should be positive numbers
- Use positive values for emissions - Environmental releases are positive
- Use negative values only for credits - Avoided burdens and recycling credits are negative
- Always define a production exchange - Every activity needs a reference product output
Key Concepts¶
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Activity | A process that transforms inputs into outputs |
| Exchange | A flow of materials, energy, or environmental substances |
| Functional Unit | The quantified performance of a product system |
| Reference Product | The main output of an activity (production exchange) |
| Technosphere | The industrial economy (human-made products and services) |
| Biosphere | The natural environment (emissions and resources) |
Supported Databases¶
EcoSemantic provides access to multiple versions of the ecoinvent database:
| Database | Version | Activities | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| ecoinvent-3.6-cutoff | 3.6 | ~17,000 | Legacy version |
| ecoinvent-3.7.1-cutoff | 3.7.1 | ~18,000 | |
| ecoinvent-3.8-cutoff | 3.8 | ~19,000 | |
| ecoinvent-3.9.1-cutoff | 3.9.1 | ~20,000 | Recommended |
| ecoinvent-3.10.1-cutoff | 3.10.1 | ~21,000 | |
| ecoinvent-3.11-cutoff | 3.11 | ~22,000 | |
| ecoinvent-3.12-cutoff | 3.12 | ~23,000 | Latest (Professional only) |
Next Steps¶
- Start with Exchange Conventions to understand the sign convention
- Learn about Computational Structure for deeper technical understanding
- See Activity Modeling for practical guidance on building models