LCA Technology flashcards
LCA Technology · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Functional unit
- The quantified performance of a product system used as the reference to which all inputs and outputs are scaled, enabling comparison of systems that deliver the same function.
- Reference flow
- The amount of product or process output needed to fulfill the functional unit; all inventory data in the system are normalized to this quantity.
- System boundary
- The set of unit processes and flows included in the studied system; it defines what crosses the boundary as elementary flows and what is excluded.
- Allocation hierarchy
- ISO 14044 order: avoid allocation by subdivision or system expansion, then use physical relationships, then other relationships such as economic value.
- Cut-off criteria
- Specified thresholds for mass, energy, or environmental significance that justify excluding flows or processes; the threshold and rationale must be documented.
- Comparative assertion
- A claim of environmental superiority of one product over a competing product, which under ISO 14044 requires a panel critical review before public disclosure.
- Foreground vs background data
- Foreground data are collected by the practitioner for the specific system; background data are third-party datasets describing upstream supply chains.
- Aggregated dataset
- A dataset that combines many unit processes into one record; internal structure and embedded allocation choices cannot be modified by the user.
- Pedigree matrix
- A scoring scheme rating data quality on indicators such as temporal, geographical, and technological representativeness; scores are converted into uncertainty factors.
- Geometric standard deviation
- The spread parameter of a lognormal distribution; a GSD of 2 corresponds to a 95 percent range of roughly 0.25 to 4 times the value.
- Elementary flow naming
- Elementary flows must match the LCIA method's reference substances and compartments; mismatched names produce zero characterization results without error.
- Characterization
- The LCIA step that multiplies each elementary flow by its characterization factor and sums results within an impact category.
- Midpoint vs endpoint
- Midpoint indicators are close to emissions and more certain; endpoint indicators model damage to health, ecosystems, and resources with greater uncertainty.
- GWP time horizon
- Global warming characterization factors depend on the chosen horizon; GWP100 is standard, while GWP20 and GWP500 give substantially different results.
- Normalization and weighting
- Normalization divides results by a reference system; weighting aggregates categories using value-based factors and is optional and subjective.
- ReCiPe perspectives
- ReCiPe endpoint results depend on cultural perspectives (individualist, hierarchist, egalitarian) that change time horizon and damage modeling assumptions.
- Parameter sets
- Named collections of local or global parameter values and formulas that let one model represent multiple variants; the set used must be documented.
- openLCA product system
- A linked network of processes with provider connections and a quantitative reference; it can be exported as JSON-LD for exchange or archiving.
- Model version control
- Recording software, database, method, and parameter versions plus exported archives so that reported results can be reproduced later.
- Unit consistency check
- Verification that flow properties and conversion factors align across linked processes; mismatched units are a common modeling error source.
- Contribution analysis
- Ranking processes, flows, or impact categories by their share of total impact to identify hotspots; it does not explain uncertainty.
- Sensitivity analysis
- Varying a parameter or methodological choice, such as allocation rule or GWP horizon, and reporting the resulting change to test robustness.
- Monte Carlo simulation
- Propagating input uncertainty distributions through the model by random sampling to produce a distribution of results; iteration count governs output stability.
- Completeness check
- Verification that all relevant flows and processes within the boundary are accounted for, with documented gaps carried into the conclusions.
- Consistency check
- Verification that the same method, boundary, and data quality rules were applied uniformly across all systems being compared.
- ILCD format
- An XML-based dataset and process exchange format from the European Commission, used for International Reference Life Cycle Data System compliance and EPD data.
- ecoSpold2
- An XML schema for activities, exchanges, and master data with uncertainty fields; it is the native export format of the ecoinvent database.
- openLCA JSON-LD
- A JSON linked-data schema for flows, processes, and impact methods that serves as openLCA's native import and export format.
- Product category rules
- PCRs define the rules for EPDs in a product category, including declared unit, modules, data quality, and impact categories to report.
- EN 15804 modules
- The modular structure for construction product EPDs: A1-A3 product stage, A4-A5 construction, B1-B7 use, C1-C4 end of life, D benefits.
- Product carbon footprint
- A single-category LCA restricted to greenhouse gases, specified by ISO 14067 and used for product-level climate reporting and claims.
- Digital product passport
- A structured, machine-readable record of product data including material and environmental information, intended for exchange across the value chain under EU policy.