Format converter overview

The format converter is the first plug-in to be realised for the openLCA framework.

Basically, it enables exchange between some of the most important LCA data formats, including EcoSpold, ISO@Spine, and the new ELCD format of the EU Joint Research Centre. The converter will run also as stand-alone application. Conversion is performed in a loss-less manner, via a metaformat and metadocument.

Most important for users, and our driver for starting with the converter, is that it has the potential to end the format dispute: Which format you use for an LCA will not any more depend on your data sources, or on "believe", and even not on customer requirements: instead, you are free to choose and to take the format that carries best the information that you need for your analysis.

The simple principle of loss-less information exchange requires a quite sophisticated tool design and implementation which are both described briefly below. More is available in the technical documents on the download and resources page.