Basic Data Types

The data types in Antelope are similar to conventional LCA, with one extension.

1. quantities are dimensions of measurement. They can be either directly measurable, such as mass, price, volume, or energetic content; or “analytic”, derived from a mathematical model.

  • In Antelope, all quantities are extensive. Intensive measures like pressure and temperature are not available.

  • All quantities have a reference unit, typically abbreviated as unit, which is the quantitative extent of 1.0 of the quantity.

  • All analytic quantites have an Indicator property, which describes what they measure.

  • LCIA Indicators are analytic quantities. They often also have a Method property that names the family of indicators they are a part of.

2. flows are “anything that can be measured or observed.” Flows are one of the two key data types established in ISO 14048. A flow can include a physical object (e.g. with mass and volume), an amount of energy, a discrete item, a form of service, a currency, or anything else that can be assigned a measurable extent.

  • Every flow is assigned a reference quantity which gives the principal dimension in which it can be measured.

  • A flow’s unit is the same as its reference quantity’s unit.

  • A flow can optionally be given a locale and / or a context (see below)

3. processes are the counterpart to flows. In other words, a process is defined by the set of flows that are exchanged by it with other processes or environmental compartments.

  • A process is something that has “activity” and can be operated. When a process is operated, all of its flows are exchanged in concert with one another, and typically in fixed proportion to one another.

  • Processes have a spatial boundary and a temporal extent.

4. contexts are analogous to processes in that they are counterparts to flows. However, contexts are more like “stocks” or reservoirs than processes. A context has no notion of activity or operation, and instead simply acts as a reservoir.

  • Contexts can be either “elementary” (part of nature) or intermediate (part of the human system or the “technosphere”)

  • A flow that is exchanged between a process and an elementary context can have an environmental effect or impact.

  • A flow that is exchanged between a process and an intermediate context cannot have an environmental effect.