Methodology

Methodology with a solid base creates confidence and provides certainty for the right decisions.

Based on Current Science

The methodology, provided by independent scientific institutes (Ifeu, Infras and Fraunhofer IML), is continuously updated and validated with every leap in innovation. All assumptions are freely accessible and published in a methodology report.
Unique Results

The results are unique worldwide, because EcoTransIT World calculates the transport distances, energy consumption, greenhouse gases CO2 and CO2 equivalents, air pollutants SOx, NOx, NMHC and PM10 as well as external costs for every global transport chain.
Energy-based Bottom-Up Approach

The emissions are determined on the basis of the energy requirement, the associated fuel, and other parameters such as the load factor or emission class. A carrier-specific internal routing is the basis for the identification of the route characteristics.
Compliant and always up-to-date

Of course, the methodology includes the ISO14083 and GLEC-compliant calculation. To ensure that it stays that way, the calculation sources used are continuously updated by our methodology partners.

Customer-specific detailed Calculation

The multiple calculation parameters enable detailed, customer-specific transport modeling. The great flexibility starts with already representative standard values and ends with individual calculation details.

Gross weight in tonnes, containers (TEU, FEU) or pallets.

Origins, destinations, waypoints

Postal codes
UN-/ Locodes
IATA codes
Railway and loading stations
Geographic coordinates

Mode of transport

All common truck types
All common train types
Container, Bulk, RoRo ships
Over 280 aircraft types

Transport description

Individual vehicle type
Fuel types
Load factor and share of empty runs
Global emission classes per traffic type
Optional refrigerated cargo

Global ETW internal routing by transport mode
Automatic determination of transfer points
for ports, airports and railway stations
Network-specific attributes, such as street
category, electrification or ECA area
Automatic detection of stopovers based
on the flight number

Automatic transport parameters

Vehicle type, fuel quality, emission class
per country worldwide
Tradelane and ship category
Load factors for FTL, LTL, FCL, LCL
Identification of the aircraft type based
on the flight number

Proven sources

Handbook for Emission Factors, MOVES
International Maritime Organization, Clean Cargo
Small Emitters Tool Eurocontrol
Other sources

Emissions as WTT and TTW

CO2 (carbon dioxide)
CO2-e (carbon dioxide equivalents)
NOx (nitrogen oxides)
SOx (sulphur oxides)
PM10 (particulate matters)
NMHC (non-methane hydrocarbons)

External costs related to

CO2-equivalent
Environmental pollutants
Accidents
Noise

Additional output options

Waypoint distances also as KML file
Optional split by country, mode of transport
or fuel type
Detailed description of the calculation
parameters used for each section

Energy-based Bottom-Up-Approach

EcoTransIT World determines the emissions using an energy-based bottom-up approach. That means the emissions are determined on the basis of the energy consumed and the fuel used. This makes a big difference to the otherwise usual top-down approach, in which gCO2e / tkm are multiplied by the freight weight and a distance.
The bottom-up approach simulates the complete transport system. This ranges from the type of road, to the vehicle class with corresponding properties, to the fuel. This method makes EcoTransIT World future-proof, because in order to map new types of fuel or vehicle technologies, only one parameter needs to be adjusted in the calculation workflow.

This calculation workflow is structure as follows:

Internal Routing for determination of routes

Determination of the route by using the internal routing algorithm and extensive transport-specific GIS data networks.

Subdivision of the route into calculation sections via split

A split is made when emission-relevant parameters of the route change. Amongst others these include the following route attributes:

Truck: road type (motorway, country road extra-urban, urban)
Truck, train: Ferries
Truck, train: Change of country (especially important for electricity mixes and biofuel shares)
Sea ship: ECA or non-ECA zone

Energy and emissions calculation for each section

Determination of energy required, the fuel consumption and the emission curves based on:

Vehicle attributes, such as vehicle type and emission class (default value or customer-specific value)
Route attributes of the section

Formula for calculating energy and emissions for each section with the following parameters:

Freight weight
Load factor and share of empty runs
Fuel type and biofuel share
Fuel consumption and emission factors based on vehicle attributes
Distance per section

Summation and output of results

Totalization of all section results with the following outputs

Energy consumption
Greenhouse gases
Air pollutants
Distances
Transport parameters used
External costs

Optional outputs

Route as KML-file
Subdivision of results per
Country (Country split)
Fuel (e.g. diesel, electric, MDO/MGO)

Methodical Partners

Numerous scientists from our partners ifeu, INFRAS, and Fraunhofer IML with their respective specialist knowledge belong to the EcoTransIT World group of experts.
In addition, there is the IVE mbH team, which implements the methodical specifications in program codes and provides customer support.

The EcoTransIT World Methodology report can be downloaded here: