The openLCA schema is the data exchange format of openLCA. This repository contains the specification of this format. The best way to read this specification is to:

Read the documentation online

The openLCA schema reflects the openLCA model. If we change the schema, we need to change the openLCA software. This can be quite some effort. However, format extensions in form of additional fields are easy and could be added if they are useful (as they could be just ignored if not supported by the software yet). What needs to be improved always, is the documentation of the format. The data set types and fields are specified and documented in their respective files in the yaml folder. Pull requests are welcome.

The data types are defined in a simple YAML format. The following things can be generated from the files in the yaml folder with the osch tool:

• the schema documentation
• a Python package for reading and writing openLCA schema data sets in Json, also from and to zip packages
• a Protocol Buffers schema

The openLCA schema is in the worldwide public domain, released under the CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.