A Comprehensive Dynamic Life Cycle Assessment Model: Considering Temporally and Spatially Dependent Variations

Shu Su (), Jingyi Ju, Yujie Ding, Jingfeng Yuan and Peng Cui
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Shu Su: Department of Construction and Real Estate, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
Jingyi Ju: Department of Construction and Real Estate, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
Yujie Ding: Department of Construction and Real Estate, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
Jingfeng Yuan: Department of Construction and Real Estate, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
Peng Cui: Department of Engineering Management, School of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a widely-used international environmental evaluation and management method. However, the conventional LCA is in a static context without temporal and spatial variations considered, which fails to bring accurate evaluation values and hinders practical applications. Dynamic LCA research has developed vigorously in the past decade and become a hot topic. However, systematical analysis of spatiotemporal dynamic variations and comprehensive operable dynamic models are still lacking. This study follows LCA paradigm and incorporates time- and space-dependent variations to establish a spatiotemporal dynamic LCA model. The dynamic changes are classified into four types: dynamic foreground elementary flows, dynamic background system, dynamic characterization factors, and dynamic weighting factors. Their potential dynamics and possible quantification methods are analyzed. The dynamic LCA model is applied to a residential building, and significant differences can be observed between dynamic and static assessment results from both temporal and spatial perspectives. This study makes a theoretical contribution by establishing a comprehensive dynamic model with both temporal and spatial variations involved. It is expected to provide practical values for LCA practitioners and help with decision-making and environmental management.

Keywords: dynamic life cycle assessment (DLCA); environmental impact assessment; spatiotemporal variations; time-dependent; space-dependent; buildings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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