Inventory Database for Environmental Analysis (IDEA)

IDEA, which stands for "Inventory Database for Environmental Analysis", is the standard equipment inventory database for MiLCA LCA software. 3000 datasets are available in both gate to gate and cradle to gate type

See GHG Protocol Disclaimer at the bottom of the listing for terms and limitations.

Summary
Name of source	IDEA
Provider	AIST/JEMAI
Summary text	IDEA is the standard equipment inventory database for MiLCA LCA software. IDEA, which stands for "Inventory Database for Environmental Analysis" has been jointly developed since FY2008 by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry (JEMAI). 3000 datasets are available in both gate to gate and cradle to gate type.
Contact	[e-mail]
Licensing	Free in MiLCA software
Language(s)	English/Japanese
Website	http://www.milca-milca.net/ download-files/MiLCAguidebook_En.pdf

Access – data formats and accessibility
File type	IDEA format (based on ISO TS 14048)
Software needs	MiLCA

Contents – breadth and depth of datasets
Age	Released in 2010
Geography	Global
Original Data Source(s)	Made from Japanese and global statistics, modeling of production process and industry associations
Other Databases Included
Life cycle stages	All
Modeling approach	Attributional approach
Emissions results	GHGs and about 50 elementary flows
Number of datasets	Approx. 3000
Main topics	Agriculture and fisheries, mining, construction and civil construction and other non-manufacturing, food and beverages, textiles, chemicals, ceramics and building materials, metals, machinery, and other manufacturing, electricity gas, water and sanitation, etc.
Other topics

Data transparency – what metadata is provided for each dataset?
System boundaries	From cradle to grave
Data Types	Gate to Gate and Cradle to Gate
Allocation Methods	Mass based allocation is basically used
Technology	Current
Data year	2000 to 2010
Original source
Uncertainty	Depends on dataset. Each dataset is evaluated by modified pedigree matrix.

Quality – is information provided on data quality?
Data quality score
Quality assurance	Internal review
Standards represented	Based on ISO 14040/14044

GHG Protocol Disclaimer

This database is listed as an informational resource to assist users in collecting data for product life cycle and corporate value chain (Scope 3) GHG inventories.

Inclusion in this catalogue does not constitute an endorsement, quality assessment, or recommendation by the GHG Protocol. The catalogue is not exhaustive.

Some of the data in these sources may not be consistent with certain GHG Protocol standards. Before using a database, the user should review its documentation for transparency, completeness, and applicability to the GHG inventory for which the data is being collected. For example, a database may contain combustion-only emission factors that are not applicable to product life cycle GHG inventories. Data should also be evaluated using the data quality indicators described in the Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard (chapter 7) and the Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard (chapter 8). Users should select the highest-quality data available in the context of business objectives and the principles of relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, and accuracy. 

The databases included meet the following criteria: 

1. It can be used directly by inventory developers. Databases that require purchasing consulting services or proprietary software solely to access the data are not listed.
2. It has a corresponding website on which users can review source documentation and additional information.
3. It is currently maintained or, if not actively updated, remains accessible and documented at a stable URL.
4. It is offered on terms that allow inventory developers to use the data for product life cycle or Scope 3 inventory purposes (free, paid license, or open are all acceptable; absence of any usable access is not). 
5. Where a database is accessible only on a paid or licensed basis, sufficient public documentation must be available for users to assess applicability before purchasing. At minimum, this requires a publicly accessible methodology description, geographic and sector coverage summary, and pricing or access information (including how to request access). Databases for which this information is not publicly available are not listed.