Sandia Complex Lifecycle Analysis Framework

Abstract

Given a set of unit-process descriptions in Ecospold XML format, the software imports said descriptions and objectifies them into software objects dynamically linked into a process graph. The software then traverses this graph dynamically to compute a total inventory of inputs and effluents involved in the production of any represented anthropogenic substance or product. The software is capable of intelligently searching this graph to find upstream unit-process linkages based not only on the name of the unit-process, but also other attributes such as the geographic location of the unit-process, potential greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of the unit-process, etc. In addition, the software can search based on metadata attributes such as the provenance of the unit-process data. These degrees of freedom enable the software to not only compute conventional LCI inventories but to perform process-substitution studies, optimized process chains, constraint-satisfied process chains, and temporally-optimized process chains taking into account how such chains might change over time. The software conducts Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) of GHGs based on the IPCC Global Warming Potential methodology.