Hi,
I downloaded the table "3.7.1_apos_cumulative_LCIA"
what does -1 and 1 in column D mean?
and does the unit in column C describe the functional unit of the dataset?
Dear Tim Lohse,
Thank you for your questions. Please find the answers below:
- column C: Does this tell me the functional unit of the dataset from column B? yes exactly
- column D: What does "1" and "-1" mean? In general for all the system models, the first step during linking is that all the Materials for Treatment will be moved to the input side of activities producing them, with a negative sign. The negative sign represents that the treatment activity is supplying the service of removing a certain mass of the reference product for treatment (either final disposal or recycling). The reference product is physically an input to the treatment activity, but since the reference product is placed on the output side, it needs the negative sign to maintain the mass balance of the activity. In summary, this amount (1 or -1) is the amount for which the LCIA scores are calculated.
- column G: the word material is repeated 19000 times, what does that tell me? This column was meant for a classification of products, but for now, you can ignore it.
I hope this answers your questions.
Best regards, Lea Wollensack, Junior Data Analyst, ecoinvent Association