The prototype of an industrial ecology data commons (IEDC), based on a comprehensive data model for socioeconomic metabolism (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jiec.12890) and hosted at the University of Freiburg, Germany, contains now almost 1.1 million data points in 180 datasets.
Over the course of this year, Niko Heeren and I have parsed and added a number of important datasets from our community, including the Yale Stocks and Flows Database (YSTAFDB, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-019-0085-7), the Metabolism of Cities database (https://metabolismofcities.org), and a small fraction of the UNEP IRP MFA database (https://www.resourcepanel.org/global-material-flows-database, for demonstration purposes).
The IEDC prototype also contains data from ca. 40 journal papers, 15 datasets from government organisations, some datasets from industry organisations, and some correspondence tables (see. Figure below). The data models of ecospold v2 and MRIO data have also been matched to the general data model for socioeconomic metabolism.
By casting these very diverse data into a common data model, we show how data integration for future IE research can look like. Also, all uploaded datasets are available for download in a common file format:
http://www.database.industrialecology.uni-freiburg.de/
We are already receiving requests from collueges who would like to submit their data to the data commons prototype. We create regular backups of the database, and asked the ISIE to archive them.
We are interested in your suggestions for creating a sustainable business model for expanding, professionalising, and maintaining this research infrastructure!
The data model of the IEDC and the file formats used for storing and exchanging data are also used for the database of the RECC project for studying the link between resource efficiency and climate change mitigation for an upcoming report by the UNEP International Resource Panel: http://www.blog.industrialecology.uni-freiburg.de/index.php/2019/12/11/introducing-odym-recc-a-community-model-for-circular-economy-and-material-efficiency-assessments/
