The German Network on Life Cycle Inventory Data – Using Modern Techniques for Web Portals to Meet the Requirements of an Environmental Network

Abstract

The Network on Life Cycle Inventory Data is the information and communication platform for all groups and persons interested in life cycle analyses in Germany. Life cycle inventory (LCI) data is a prerequisite for life cycle assessments and other methods in the area of life cycle analyses instruments that are increasingly used in industry and environmental policy. In line with the concept and structure of the network there are three main objectives to be met by a communication infrastructure: firstly, it has to be a platform to enhance the scientific fundamentals of life cycle analyses in a dialogue with science and users, secondly, it has to be a working platform for the science corporation and, thirdly, an architecture to integrate a self-supporting infrastructure for supply of LCI data. These objectives result in a communication infrastructure based on a web portal as front end, a content management system, a user management system via LDAP, and groupware functionalities as well as in an LCI data supply management system with a relational database technology behind. The content management and portal server framework selected is based on broadly used and accepted Java technology. It will be able to support the currently developed final organisation structure of the network, consisting of independent bodies: a development Association, LC Validate and LC Data. This paper reveals the elements of a communication infrastructure for the Network on Life Cycle Inventory Data and their contribution to the objectives of the organization. It is shown that the use of modern techniques for web portals enables the computer scientist to meet the requirements of an environmental network, while still efforts have to be made to realize the interoperability between relevant components.