A dataset is a structured collection of data with accompanying documentation that serves as a fundamental building block in Life Cycle Assessment databases and modelling frameworks. Datasets enable practitioners to represent specific activities, impact assessment methods, or modular components within LCA software and ensure consistency, transparency, and reproducibility in life cycle studies.
In LCA practice, datasets are categorised into three distinct types, each serving a unique function in the modelling process.
The first type is the Activity dataset, which contains a set of data on exchanges all referring to the same activity or group of activities. Activity datasets form the core inventory data in LCA databases, describing the inputs and outputs associated with specific processes such as manufacturing operations, transportation services, or waste treatment activities. These datasets quantify material flows, energy consumption, emissions, and other exchanges necessary to model a process within a product system.
The second type is the Impact assessment dataset, which encompasses both impact category datasets and impact assessment method datasets. Impact category datasets contain characterisation factors and weighting factors with their documentation, all referring to a specific impact category such as climate change or acidification. Impact assessment method datasets provide complete sets of impact categories with documentation and rationale, enabling consistent translation of inventory results into environmental impact indicators.
The third type is the Module dataset, which consists of exchanges with fixed mathematical relationships and documentation. Module datasets function as reusable plug-ins that can be incorporated into activity datasets or impact category datasets during the linking or impact assessment phases, promoting efficiency and consistency across multiple studies.
Together, these three dataset types provide the standardised data infrastructure that underpins modern LCA databases and software tools, facilitating data exchange, quality assurance, and collaborative development of life cycle inventory information.
