TRACIv2.1 Characterization Factors for FEDEFL Flows

This dataset applies the TRACIv2.1 life cycle impact assessment method to the Federal LCA Commons Elementary Flow List (FEDEFL) v1.0.7. It provides characterization factors for environmental flows, enabling impact calculations in life cycle assessments. The data is formatted as JSON for openLCA and as a Parquet file for general use.

Use Cases

• Calculate potential environmental impacts for FEDEFL elementary flows using TRACIv2.1 characterization factors.
• Integrate standardized impact assessment data into openLCA software for life cycle assessment modeling.
• Map TRACIv2.1 impact categories like acidification to FEDEFL flows for consistent LCIA calculations.
• Analyze the relationship between specific environmental flows and their assigned impact equivalents (e.g., kg SO2 eq).

Strengths

• Data is derived from the authoritative TRACIv2.1 method and the standardized FEDEFL v1.0.7 flow list.
• Provides a transparent mapping between TRACIv2.1 contexts and FEDEFL flows, documented in a separate mapping file.
• Formatted for compatibility with the openLCA v1.10 software ecosystem and the LCIA Formatter tool.

Limitations

• The dataset does not contain the elementary flow data itself; the FEDEFL flow list must be sourced separately.
• Characterization factors for flows with less specific contexts in FEDEFL are averages, which may reduce granularity.
• Limited to the TRACIv2.1 impact method and FEDEFL v1.0.7, not other LCIA methods or flow list versions.

Provenance

Source

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), using TRACIv2.1 and the Federal LCA Commons Elementary Flow List.

Collection Method

Created by the LCIA Formatter v1.0 tool, which applies TRACIv2.1 characterization factors to FEDEFL v1.0.7 flows via a mapping file.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Last updated on July 25, 2023.

Geography

Developed for U.S. Federal LCA Commons data guidelines, but the underlying methods have broader applicability.