DigiDeal 4: Accessing cross-sections of environmental data at the product level

DigiDeal 4. in short

Enable the ability to request subsets of available environmental data via an API or other easy, publicly accessible method.

Background

The fourth digiDeal, Unlocking subsets of environmental data at the product level, focuses on the controlled availability of specific subsets or cross-sections of environmental data per product. This could include subsets per impact category or life cycle phase, such as climate impact or a specific LCA module. The goal is to provide users with exactly the data they need while allowing data owners to retain control.

A key challenge is the complexity of managing different subsets and data versions. A clear rights and authorisation model must also be established to determine which users can access which subsets. Additionally, the technical infrastructure, such as APIs and data services, must be flexible and perform well under high demand. Synchronisation and performance are therefore important considerations.

The approach involves developing data services and APIs that allow users to perform specific queries. An authorisation module will be linked to the data owner, ensuring they retain control over access. Caching and aggregation functions will also be used to improve performance. Pilot cases will test this in practical applications, such as in assessment methods or validation software.

The expected results are that users, such as advisory software and reporting tools, can request exactly the data they need without unnecessary information, making usage more efficient and transparent. At the same time, data owners retain confidence as they maintain control over their data.

Result:

A proof of concept (POC) for the machine-readable retrieval of a subset of environmental data.
A POC of an authorisation system for data owners, enabling them to authorise the release of subsets of their product data.