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Data from: A data-driven method for quantifying the environmental impacts of freight transportation in construction for prospective LCA in the United States

Torabi, Mahsa1; Huang, Monica1; Tabatabaei Manesh, Mohammad1; Nanayakkara, Isuru1; Simonen, Kathrina1; Life Cycle Lab, College of Built Environment, University of Washington

Published May 04, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.80gb5mm46

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May 04, 2026 version files 22.57 MB

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Abstract

Transportation in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) modeling is commonly represented using simplified, one-size-fits-all assumptions. However, empirical freight data show that transportation distances and associated environmental impacts vary significantly depending on material type, transportation mode, and regional infrastructure conditions. These variations can lead to substantial differences in results and are not well captured in conventional LCA practice. To address this gap, this dataset provides data-driven, regionally informed transportation parameters for use in LCA modeling in the United States. 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 transportation modes not available in USLCI at the time of dataset development, additional quantitative calculation methods were applied and documented in the corresponding journal article. This dataset provides transportation distance estimates and associated environmental impact factors for modeling freight movement in U.S. domestic supply chains. The dataset was developed by processing publicly available dataset and integrating that with life cycle inventory (LCI) emission and background research. Transportation distance data were compiled from the U.S. Commodity Flow dataset that reports commodity shipments between U.S. states and includes shipment information such as mode and distance of travel. These shipment records were processed to generate point-to-point as well as scenario-based distance estimates for domestic freight movement. The dataset is organized to support modeling transportation in LCA and supply chain analysis, including applications in building and construction material transport, procurement policy analysis, and scenario testing of transportation assumptions. The data can be used to parameterize transportation modules, compare mode impacts, evaluate sensitivity to distance, mode of transport and efficiency assumptions, and support transparent, reproducible modeling of domestic freight transportation impacts. 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.