The ecoinvent database system: a comprehensive web-based LCA database

The data (exchange) format is also described. Processes are documented with the help of meta-information and flow data (including both unit process raw data and aggregated LCI results). The structure of the data format corresponds to the ISO/TS 14048 data documentation format. Data exchange between project partner institutes and between the database and its customers (database users) is based on XML-technology. Matrix inversion is used to calculate the cumulative LCA data using efficient algorithms and making use of the fact that LCA matrices are usually sparse.