Modelling sensitivity and uncertainty in a LCA model for waste management systems - EASETECH

In the new model, EASETECH, developed for LCA modelling of waste management systems, a general approach for sensitivity and uncertainty assessment for waste management studies has been implemented. First general contribution analysis is done through a regular interpretation of inventory and impact assessment results. Based on findings from this step, the user can carry out sensitivity analysis on numerous key parameters through the use of parameters at most input places. For every parameter the users can then specify a list of values, termed a numberlist, to represent different values for each parameter, that is then propagated throughout the model. This means that all results are obtained in the form of numberslists. In the next step, uncertainty propagation is done through the use of single probability distributions in lieu of the parameters. Uncertainty contribution analysis can next be generated based on the results of steps 1 & 2. The 4th step of combined sensitivity analysis can currently not be carried out graphically in the model, but can be performed by calculating in EASETECH for two scenarios’ results for different combinations of values for two parameters and extrapolating the results to delimitate the space of predominance of each scenario.