Terms as they're used in Circa. For general LCA terms, see the LCA glossary on Learn.
Aggregated#
A Process that includes the cumulative life cycle inventory of all upstream Processes, as defined by the publisher.
Batch Size#
The quantity of a Material input to or output from a Process. Batch sizes set the relative quantities of a Process's inputs and outputs.
Characterization Method#
A standardized approach for calculating environmental impacts from elementary flows. Examples include TRACI, ReCiPe, and EF v3.1.
Credit#
The currency used to license data in Circa. One credit lets you pull (license) one datapoint; the number of credits a datapoint costs varies by publisher. Credits are $0.95 each with no minimum purchase, purchased in advance, and shared across team members.
Data Pull#
The action of licensing a datapoint. Pulling reveals the complete record and grants a one-year license to use it.
Disaggregated#
A Process that includes only the local inventory of the named activity. Upstream contributions are not included.
Elementary Material#
An environmental flow, meaning an exchange with nature rather than with another Process. Called an environmental flow in some other tools.
Functional Unit#
The quantified performance of a product system, used as the reference for the assessment. In Gesserit this is what you set as the Reference Point.
Gesserit#
Circa's modeling environment. Build a Production Graph of connected Processes and Materials and calculate environmental impacts across a System Boundary.
Impact Category#
A type of environmental impact being measured, such as Global Warming Potential, Acidification, or Water Depletion.
Intermediate Material#
A technosphere flow, meaning an exchange between Processes rather than with nature. Called an exchange or flow in some other tools.
Library#
Circa's LCA database, holding Processes, Materials, and published Graphs. Free to search without an account. Individual datapoints are licensed with credits.
Material#
A node representing a material or substance in a production system. Materials can be water, gases, or nonphysical flows like occupancy, and carry properties such as density, carbon content, and price.
Node#
A visual element in Gesserit representing either a Material or a Process. Nodes are connected to model flows.
Node System#
A connected group of successive Processes in a graph.
Partially Aggregated#
A Process whose inputs are each automatically linked to an Aggregated upstream supplier Process. Gives Disaggregated-level detail without connecting every supplier by hand.
Process#
A node representing an activity such as a production process or waste treatment. Processes store a ratio of input Materials to output Materials and can carry environmental impact data.
Production Graph#
A visual representation of a production system in Gesserit, showing how Materials and Processes connect.
Reference Point#
The Material that the entire graph is normalized to. All impacts are calculated relative to it.
System Boundary#
The scope of the assessment, defining which Processes and flows are included in impact calculations.
Team#
A collaborative workspace. Teams are free and have unlimited members. Team Owners manage billing and permissions. Licensing is per user, so team members each license the data they need.
