GIS based regionalized land use characterization factors for Life Cycle Impact Assessment using LANCA®

Land is used and modified in its natural functions for the cultivation of food and energy crops as well as for infrastructure and other production purposes. Despite their global significance, land use impacts are currently only rarely addressed, although methods for integrating land use aspects into LCA have been developed recently. The present work describes the development and calculation of regionalized characterization factors based on the LANCA® method in a geo information system (GIS) as well as the critical evaluation of the results. As result, maps showing the different land use impact characterization factors for various land use types are presented.