POD|LCA project data: Dataset on environmental impacts and emissions per mode of transportation in the United States
Data files
May 13, 2026 version files 26.86 KB
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Mode_of_Transport_Impacts__Emissions.xlsx
21.16 KB
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README.md
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Abstract
The environmental impact associated with different transportation modes plays a critical role in accurately estimating the impacts of freight movement in life cycle assessment (LCA). However, existing tools and studies often report inconsistent values for transportation mode impacts, leading to variability and reduced comparability in results. These discrepancies stem from differences in data sources, system boundaries, and underlying assumptions, all of which can significantly influence LCA outcomes. Moreover, the estimated environmental impact per transportation mode is often represented as a single value without a defined range, limiting the ability to capture uncertainty and perform sensitivity analysis in LCA. To address this challenge, a methodological framework was developed to estimate environmental impacts and emissions of transportation modes within the United States, with results presented as summary tables in this dataset. The framework incorporates commonly used modes for commodity transport and aims to provide more consistent, transparent, and data-driven impact factors for use in LCA and related analyses.
This dataset reports environmental impacts and emissions for multiple freight transportation modes, including diesel truck, electric truck, rail, ocean freighter, barge, aircraft, and concrete mixer truck. Environmental impacts are provided across three vehicle efficiency levels, enabling transparent comparison of transportation assumptions. The dataset also includes a summary of global warming potential (GWP) associated with typical transportation modes for entire trips, including empty return trips where applicable.
Environmental impacts were evaluated in OpenLCA (version 2.5.0) using the US EPA ISO21930-LCIA-US (v0.1) LCIA method. The USLCI repository was used to obtain inventory data for processes associated with these modes. For modes not available in USLCI at the time of dataset development (mixer truck and electric truck), quantitative methods were developed to calculate impacts and emissions; these methods are documented in the associated publications.
This dataset can be used to estimate transportation-related environmental impacts when transportation distances are known. It supports LCA studies, enables benchmarking, and facilitates sensitivity analysis across transportation scenarios. The included GWP summary tables can inform policymaking and early-stage decision making, and support preliminary carbon footprint estimation.
This dataset was developed as part of the Parametric Open Data for Life Cycle Assessment Project (POD|LCA) Project which contains a suite of open-source methods, models, data, and a variety of tools for screening-level (early-stage) building sector life cycle assessments (LCAs). This dataset can be used to fill data gaps in LCA studies and is being integrated into tools developed by the POD|LCA project. This results in a dataset of environmental impact and emission data appropriate to be used to fill data gaps for transportation of materials and commodities in the United States. Please refer to the corresponding article for additional details. For more information on the POD|LCA project, please visit https://www.lifecyclelab.org/project/pod-lca/.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.05qfttfhh
Supporting open-source methods, models, data, and a variety of tools for the Parametric Open Data for Life Cycle Assessment (POD|LCA) Project.
Description of the data and file structure
This dataset includes the five environmental impact categories (AP, EP, GWP, ODP, POCP) and three emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O) along with electricity consumption (kWh) of seven modes of transportation that are currently used in the USA supply chain. The modes of transportation include diesel truck, electric truck, rail, barge, ocean freighter, aircraft, and concrete mixer truck.
Files and variables
Mode_of_Transport_Impacts__Emissions.xlsx
Tab: Impacts Per MOT- Extended
Description: This file includes the extended version of results on environmental impact categories, electricity consumption and emissions for seven modes of transportation in three levels of efficiency.
Variables
- Mode of transport: The type of vehicle being used to transport the material
- Efficiency level: The fuel efficiency of the vehicle being used to transport the material
- AP (kg SO2 eq/tonnekm): Acidification potential of the transportation, in units of kg SO2 eq/tonnekm
- EP (kg N eq/tonnekm): Eutrophication of the transportation, in units of kg N eq/tonnekm
- GWP (kg CO2 eq/tonnekm): Global Warming potential of the transportation, in units of kg CO2 eq/tonnekm
- ODP (kg CFC-11 eq/tonnekm): Ozone Depletion Potential of the transportation, in units of kg CFC-11 eq/tonnekm
- POCP (kg O3 eq/tonnekm):photochemical oxidant creation potential of the transportation, in units of kg O3 eq/tonnekm
- Electricity Consumption (KWh/tonnekm): Electricity consumption of the trip if electric truck is used, in units of kWh/tonnekm
- CO2 (kgCO2/tonnekm): Carbon Dioxide of the transportation, in units of kg/tonnekm
- CH4 (kgCH4/tonnekm): Methane of the transportation, in units of kg/tonnekm
- N2O (kgN2O/tonnekm): Nitrous oxide of the transportation, in units of kg/tonnekm
- USLCI Process: The link to USLCI process used to calculate environmental impacts and emissions. In cases where multiple steps were required and no single process could be applied, references to the corresponding publications are provided.
Tab: Impacts Per MOT- Policy Summary
Description: This tab provides a summary of the full dataset and includes recommended values for global warming potential (GWP) for entire trips. It reflects typical vehicle efficiency levels and accounts for the impact of empty return trips where relevant.
Variables
- Mode of transport: The type of vehicle being used to transport the material
- Efficiency level: The fuel efficiency of the vehicle being used to transport the material
- GWP (kg CO2 eq/tonnekm): Global Warming potential of the transportation, in units of kg CO2 eq/tonnekm
- GWP (kg CO2 eq/short-tonmile): Global Warming potential of the transportation, in units of short-tonmile
- USLCI Process: The link to USLCI process used to calculate environmental impacts and emissions. In cases where multiple steps were required and no single process could be applied, references to the corresponding publications are provided.
Code/software
No custom code or software is required to access or use the data files in this repository. The included .xlsx file that can be opened using standard spreadsheet software.
Access information
Data was derived from the following sources:
- LCI Data
Federal LCA Commons. (2025, July 1). USLCI (version 1.2025-06.0). https://www.lcacommons.gov/lca-collaboration/National_Renewable_Energy_Laboratory/USLCI_Database_Public/datasets
- LCIA Methods
US EPA / ISO21930-LCIA-US (version 1.2024-6.0)https://www.lcacommons.gov/lca-collaboration/US_Environmental_Protection_Agency/construction_epd_indicators/datasets [Accessed July 21 2025]
Acknowledgement
This material is based on work developed as part of the Parametric Open Data for Life Cycle Assessment (POD|LCA) project supported by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) in the U.S. Department of Energy, under award number DE-AR0001624 as part of the program under program number DE-FOA-0001953 (Topic V: Life Cycle Assessment for Carbon Negative Buildings). The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Team members who contributed to this work include Isuru Nanayakkara, Monica Huang, Mohammad Tabatabaei Manesh.
Methods
Evaluation of life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) results from life cycle inventory (LCI) data was conducted using the open-source LCA software OpenLCA (version 2.4.0). To demonstrate the methods and framework described in the associated journal article, the five core impact assessment categories required by ISO 21930:2017 were selected for evaluation: 100-year global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), and photochemical oxidant creation potential (POCP). The US EPA ISO21930-LCIA-US (v0.1) LCIA method was used to evaluate these impact categories for product systems generated from Federal LCA Commons processes using OpenLCA.