NDLI: Bias in normalization: Causes, consequences, detection and remedies

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Heijungs, Reiut Guinée, Jeroen Kleijn, René Rovers, Vera
Copyright Year	2007
Abstract	Normalization is an optional step in LCIA that is used to better understand the relative importance and magnitude of the impact category indicator results. It is used for error checking, as a first step in weighting, and for standalone presentation of results. A normalized score for a certain impact category is obtained by determining the ratio of the category indicator result of the product and that of a reference system, such as the world in a certain year or the population of a specific area in a certain year.In determining these two quantities, the numerator, the denominator, or both can suffer from incompleteness due to a lack of emission data and/or characterisation factors. This leads to what we call a biased normalization. As a consequence. the normalized category indicator result can be too low or too high. Some examples from hypothetical and real case studies demonstrate this.Especially when for some impact categories the normalized category indicator result is right, for others too low, and for others too high, severe problems in using normalized scores can show up. It is shown how this may affect the three types of usage of normalized results: error checking, weighting and standalone presentation.Some easy checks are proposed that at least alert the LCA practitioner of the possibility of a biased result. These checks are illustrated for an example system on hydrogen production. A number of remedies of this problem is possible. These are discussed. In particular, casedependent normalization is shown to solve some problems, but on the expense of creating other problems.It appears that there is only one good solution: databases and tables of characterisation factors must be made more completely, so that the risk of detrimental bias is reduced. On the other hand, the use of the previously introduced checks should become a standard element in LCA practice, and should be facilitated with LCA software.
Starting Page	211
Ending Page	216
Page Count	6
File Format	PDF
ISSN	09483349
Journal	The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
Volume Number	12
Issue Number	4
e-ISSN	16147502
Language	English
Publisher	Ecomed
Publisher Date	2006-07-28
Publisher Place	Landsberg
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Data gaps hydrogen production LCIA normalization Environment Environmental Economics
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Environmental Science

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

Reducing bias through process inventory dataset normalization

Regional scaling and normalization in LCIA : Development and application of methods

Reply: Uncertainty in LCIA of toxic releases

Comment: Uncertainty in LCIA of toxic releases

Normalization in EDIP97 and EDIP2003: updated European inventory for 2004 and guidance towards a consistent use in practice

A new LCIA method: LIME has been completed

GM-troph: A Low Data Demand Ecotoxicity Effect Indicator for Use in LCIA (13+3 pp)

Normalization references for Europe and North America for application with USEtox™ characterization factors

Impact categories for life cycle assessment research of seafood production systems: Review and prospectus

Bias in normalization: Causes, consequences, detection and remedies

Similar Documents

Reducing bias through process inventory dataset normalization

Regional scaling and normalization in LCIA : Development and application of methods

Reply: Uncertainty in LCIA of toxic releases

Comment: Uncertainty in LCIA of toxic releases

Normalization in EDIP97 and EDIP2003: updated European inventory for 2004 and guidance towards a consistent use in practice

A new LCIA method: LIME has been completed

GM-troph: A Low Data Demand Ecotoxicity Effect Indicator for Use in LCIA (13+3 pp)

Normalization references for Europe and North America for application with USEtox™ characterization factors

Impact categories for life cycle assessment research of seafood production systems: Review and prospectus

Bias in normalization: Causes, consequences, detection and remedies