GIS-Based Regionalized Life Cycle Assessment: How Big Is Small Enough? Methodology and Case Study of Electricity Generation

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• 作者：Christopher L. Mutel ; Stephan Pfister ; Stefanie Hellweg
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T)
• 出版年：2012
• 出版时间：January 17, 2012
• 年：2012
• 卷：46
• 期：2
• 页码：1096-1103
• 全文大小：361K
• 年卷期：v.46,no.2(January 17, 2012)
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

We describe a new methodology for performing regionalized life cycle assessment and systematically choosing the spatial scale of regionalized impact assessment methods. We extend standard matrix-based calculations to include matrices that describe the mapping from inventory to impact assessment spatial supports. Uncertainty in inventory spatial data is modeled using a discrete spatial distribution function, which in a case study is derived from empirical data. The minimization of global spatial autocorrelation is used to choose the optimal spatial scale of impact assessment methods. We demonstrate these techniques on electricity production in the United States, using regionalized impact assessment methods for air emissions and freshwater consumption. Case study results show important differences between site-generic and regionalized calculations, and provide specific guidance for future improvements of inventory data sets and impact assessment methods.