INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE
NATIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORIES PROGRAMME

WMO

Expert Meeting on Software for the IPCC 2006 Guidelines
15-17 April 2008
WMO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland

Meeting Report
1

Background

The Task Force Bureau (TFB) at its last meeting agreed that the software for the 2006 IPCC Guidelines
should be developed in stages or phases. The first phase was to develop a demonstration version of thesoftware covering the Energy Sector. Following the TFB decision the TSU held an open tender and,following a review of the bids received by a committee including representatives of the TFB Co-Chairs,
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and the TSU, awarded the contract to SPIRIT a.s1.
This software is now being developed and two review versions have been circulated to experts
including CLAs and Energy Volume authors of 2006 Guidelines, participants of Qatar Meeting(January 2007) Editorial Board Members of the Emission Factor Database as well as the TFB members
to invite their comments. A third version, including responses to comments, was made available justbefore this review meeting..
The review meeting was held in Geneva, 15-17 April. (The list of participants is annexed to this report.)
The aim was to decide if the second phase should go ahead and to provide some feedback on thedemonstration software and guidance on the implementation of the remaining sectors. The discussions
were based on the demonstration version of the software and comments received, the latest version of
the demonstration software by SPIRIT a.s. and the agreed specification.

2

Results

The meeting:•

Agreed that, generally, the design and appearance of the software is fit for purpose;•

Agreed that, the second phase of development of complete software covering all sources
should commence;•

Noted a number of corrections and refinements should be implemented. These are detailed
below;•

Discussed and agreed how the remaining sectors should be implemented;•

Also discussed features that could be implemented in a third phase.

It was clear that all the participants at the meeting agreed that the existing demonstration software wassuitable as a basis for further developments. The third version of the software, which was introduced indetail to the meeting participants during the meeting, answered most of the comments about theoperation of the software, backups, and linkage of simultaneous users of the software in a single
country. While a number of issues were discussed at the meeting and some points had to be clarified
there were no major problems.
Phase 1 still needs to be finished and a further phase 1 version of the software is anticipated in June.
Following a successful demonstration of the phase 1 requirements the TSU can issue a tender for phase2 which will cover all the remaining sectors at Tier 1, and where relevant, at Tier 2 as well.
The detailed comments from the meeting are given below for, firstly for the energy sector
demonstration software and then, in section 4, for phase 2 implementation.

1

SPIRIT a.s., Kubaniho 12, 811 04 Bratislava, Slovak Republic (http://www.spirit.sk)

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Expert Meeting on Software for the IPCC 2006 Guidelines

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Detailed Comments and Conclusions on the Demonstration Software
Topic

Status

Decision taken

Inventory start year
and final year

Currently the start year is1990 and latest year iscurrent year

Inventory start year and final year should be userdefined in the preferences box.

Documentation“Documentation” inworksheets and“documentation box” inreports are suitable for ourneeds‘Documentation’ for each record in theworksheets should be renamed ‘Remarks’.

GWPs

GWPs not yet
implemented in Energy
sector (they are needed for
KCA and Uncertainty
analysis). They will beuser-defined.

Do not use term “GWP” use “CO2 equivalent
factors”.

Numbers are not roundedin display or reports

No rounding should be performed during the
calculations.

Number ofsignificant digits

Factors will be enterable by the “super-user”,
IPCC factors from SAR, TAR and AR4 will beavailable for selection or new factors can beentered.

For presentation of the reports, users should be
able to specify the number of digits to be
displayed.
Fuel types and fuels

Currently different fueltypes (SOLID, LIQUID
etc.) are displayed
separately and selectedfrom a drop down menu.

Add “All Fuels” to drop down menu which willthen display all fuels for an aid to inventory
compilers.

Addition of newunits for fuelconsumption

Currently only TJ and Gg
are allowed

It should be possible to add new units of fuelconsumption (such as m3 as in the guidelines) but
USERS will have to input a conversion factors(TJ/unit) for these new units, the system should
also understand Mg, Tg, MJ, PJ etc.
If m3 selected then warning to users that theyneed to enter their own factor.

Notation Keys

Not yet Implemented

Implementation as shown in Table 1 of thisreport.
Two codes from the Guidelines are treateddifferently
NA (Not Applicable) is not needed for thesoftware.
Confidentiality (C): data will be flagged asconfidential and entered into worksheet. Second
Phase: the software may need to only display theconfidential data to the data enterer or super-user.

Colour scheme of
the interface

The colour scheme isfixed and not liked by all.
Calculated values arecoloured differently – thisis good.

QA/QC

Name in software

If it is feasible, there should be an option to choseother colours or TSU and SPIRIT to find a better
colour scheme.

Rename “Quality Control”

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Expert Meeting on Software for the IPCC 2006 Guidelines

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Topic

Status

Decision taken

Uncertainty

Not yet implemented

To be implemented.

Information/Memo
Items

Software does not indicate
how these are dealt with

Leave it as it is

Key Category
Analysis (KCA)

Not yet Implemented

To be implemented following the Guidelines. User
will have the option to modify the categories/gas
combinations for the KCA.
SPIRIT will check whether this flexibility is
feasible within the present state of development of
the software. This could be in next phase(s).

Quality Control

Currently: Completenesscheck (list categories
without data) and existing
range checks.

This is OK for phase 1. Ideas for Phase 2 and 3
are given below.

Time Series Display

Not yet Implemented

To be implemented (display of Emission x Year,
tables and graphs).

1.B.1.b

No worksheet inguidelines

Use worksheet for stationary combustion.

No worksheet inguidelines

There is no 1.B.1.c category in volume 2 this is afugitive emission form solid fuel conversion. (see1.A.1.c for combustion emissions for thiscategory.)

1.B.1.cEmission factors only for coal for CO2,
(Anthracite; Coking Coal; Other Bituminous
Coal; Sub-Bituminous Coal; Lignite; Oil Shaleand Tar Sands)

A worksheet with simply 3 cells to enteremissions of CO2, CH4 and N2O calculated
elsewhere or measured is needed.
CCS

No worksheet inguidelines

Use the 2 reporting tables as data entry table.
Should be accessible for worksheet menu andunder reporting menu table is displayed as atpresent.

Data Entry

Currently data is typed in(or cut and paste) cell bycellThis is as specified for Phase 1. Needed.

Grand totals ofactivity data should
be displayed dineach worksheet

It will be addressed in the next version.

NCV or GCV

Currently not displayedMust be indicatedMultiple rows withthe same fuelCurrently these can only
be distinguished by theremarks field.

It was agreed this is OK.

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Expert Meeting on Software for the IPCC 2006 Guidelines

15-17 April 2008

Topic

Status

Decision taken

Creating New YearCan be based on previous
year only.

Must be able to base new year on any other year.

Currently can save any
previous year into XML
and import into a newyear.
BackupManual system
implemented

Automatic back-up system will be implemented, if
possible.

Road Transport

Now follows Tier2.
(Detailed aggregation isTier 2, Tier 1 is at level of
total fuel use…)

Needs to be able to enter data at tier 1 level(aggregated level) as well as Tier 2 more detailed
sub-categories.

Table 1 Use of Notation Keys and How they Used
Code

Meaning

Applicability

CommentNO

Not occurring

Activity data onlyNE

Not estimated

Activity data or emission factor

IE

Included elsewhere

Activity data only

All these notation keys will betreated as zero in any summationof calculations based on records
where they are used.

3

Sectoral Issues

3.1 IPPUIPPU Sector module can be developed in a similar way to that for Energy Sector module. It should be
noted there are three spreadsheet calculation sheets for F-gases (Category 2.F.) that were developed by
the 2006 GLs authors. These models should become part of the software.
3.2 AFOLU
AFOLU categories can be considered in two groups (fro a software development perspective).:
1.

Categories that depend on a disaggregated land area classification e.g. Biomass, DOM, Soils
and Biomass Burning

2.

Categories that depend on nationally aggregated data, e.g. N2O from soils; Liming; Urea
Application; Livestock and manure management; and Rice

This will be reflected in the software. The software will follow the worksheets in the guidelines andimplement Tier 1 methods. These could be filled directly by hand (by entering data, defaults of national
factors. (This could be extended in some case in a potential phase 3 e.g. DOM in forests remaining
forests where the Tier 1 default is zero.)For stock change categories where there is no Tier 1 worksheet (as the default is zero change) weshould have a “worksheet” for the entry of data calculated elsewhere, in order to extend the flexibilityof the software in line with he text of the guidelines.
Entering land area data and classification is a problem. There was a- broad discussion over the issues
and difficulties of this. After extensive discussion it was decided that SPIRIT assisted by the TSU andauthors as necessary will develop a detailed proposal on the basis of the discussions. The main featuresof this will be:•

Allow for Approach 1 and 2 for land area classification;•Will try to ease data entry for users by ensuring the same data is entered only once;

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Expert Meeting on Software for the IPCC 2006 Guidelines

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Reduce chance of errors by allowing the land classification matrices to be use for checking
entered data;•

Will consider if and how links to default data can be made•XML, or other import will enable import from other software•

Excel or text file data entry will also allow users to enter multiple data items at once.

QC checks - Links to other sectors
The software should present a similar data used in different sectors for consideration by the users.
Differences may be OK or may indicate errors so this will be a valuable QC check. Examples are:•Biomass harvested and that used for energy use•

Urea production and fertiliser use•

Sewage sludge production, application to land and amount burnt•

Peat extraction and burnt for energy or used in horticulture•

Production of manure and amounts burnt for energy

The HWP spreadsheet has an option to line to the SWDS spreadsheet in the waste sector where specificnumbers have to be exchanged.

•There are some specific QC checks in the guidelines within the AFOLU sector that can be
implemented in the software. These concern the consistence of land areas within and across years, andlivestock numbers and manure production.
3.3 WASTE
Waste Sector module can be developed in a similar way to that for Energy Sector module. It should be
noted there is a First-Order Decay (FOD) model that was developed by the 2006 GLs authors. Thismodel should become part of the software.
3.4 OTHER
Only a data entry sheet is needed here.

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Expert Meeting on Software for the IPCC 2006 Guidelines

4

15-17 April 2008

General Issues beyond Phase 1

Topic

Status

Decision taken

Addition ofguidelines as pdf
files or hyperlinked
HTML files

Currently little information
is given of link toguidelines

Hyperlinks could be added to HTML version of
Guidelines for each category. Resources will
determine when this can be done.

Reference
Approach

Not Yet implemented

Needs to be implemented in phase 2

Deleting data:

It is not clear how to delete/undo data which have been
typed in. How to do it isexplained in the user
manual.

SPIRIT and TSU to try to improve the manual.

Size of database

Currently uses MS Access

SPIRIT: db is small and size is not a problem

Information/Memo
Items

Software does not indicate
how these are dealt with

Leave it as it is

RestartCurrently does not restart atsame worksheet

Look at options and feasibility

Currently can only
see on year at atime

Would like to see timeseriesShould be able to see tables of Activity data x Yearand Emission factor x Year. These should beeditable as it will be a way of checking andcorrecting numerical errors.

Export/Import

Can export a category or
sector or entire inventory
for one year and import it
into a new inventory by
REPLACING existing data

Need to optionally be able to add additional row
with new data so the final inventory is the sum of
the import and existing data. Identifiers on theimported records are needed.

Help comments

Currently very limited

Hyperlinks to appropriate sections of theguidelines would be desirable. Implementation,
resource dependant.

Only XML importcurrently available

Need a facility to bulk
upload data in otherformats

This needs to be able to import time series as wellas single year data.

Option should be under Quality Control not
Worksheets.

Export to spreadsheets and import fromspreadsheets desirable.
Import from text files (e.g. csv) an option.

QC (Phase 2)

Not Yet implemented

Time series analysis tools: graphs, outlier
detection

QC (Phase 2/3)

Not Yet implemented

Display value of similar parameters in different
sectors for QC by users.
¾
¾
¾
¾
¾
¾

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Biomass burnt (in Energy & AFOLU sector)
Waste as energy (in Energy & waste sector)
methane recovery from waste (in Energy & waste
sector)Woody waste and HWP (Waste and AFOLU)
Natural gas: combustion and fugitives (Energy)
Non energy use of fuels, (Energy & IPPU) particularly
9
Iron & Steel
9
AmmoniaExpert Meeting on Software for the IPCC 2006 Guidelines

15-17 April 2008
ANNEX

List of Participants

IPCC Expert Meeting on Software for the 2006 IPCC Guidelines
15-17 April 2008
WMO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland

Argentina
Hector D.GINZO
Dirección
GeneraldeAsuntos
Medioambientales (GIGMA)
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores,
Comercio Internacional y Culto de la
República Argentina
Esmeralda 1212, Piso 14.
C. A. de Buenos Aires, C1007ABR
Argentina
Tel: (54 11) 4819 7414
Fax: (54 11) 4819 7413
hector.ginzo@gmail.com
BrazilJoao Wagner da Silva ALVESCETESB-Environmental Agency of Sao
Paulo State
Av. Prof. Frederico Hermann Jr., 345
Pinheiros,São Paulo, SP.05450-900
BrazilTel: (55 11) 3030 6156
Fax: (55 11) 3030 7158
joaoa@cetesbnet.sp.gov.br
Magda Aparecida LIMA
Brazilian
Agricultural
Corporation – Embrapa
Rodovia SP-340, km 127,5
Bairro Tanquinho Velho,
Jaguariúna, SP13820-000
BrazilTel: (55 19) 3867 8745
Fax: (55 19) 3867 8740
magda@cnpma.embrapa.br

Research

Newton PACIORNIKMinistry of Science and Technology ofBrazilPraia do Flamengo 200 7º Andar
22210-901 Rio de Janeiro
BrazilTel: (55 21) 2555 0308
Fax: (55 21) 2555 0306
npaciornik@mct.gov.br

Sonia Maria Manso VIEIRA
Rue Felipe Cavalcanti 95,
Sao Paulo-SP, 05439-090
BrazilTel: (55 11) 3034 1616
Fax: (55 11) 3034 1616
soniammv@terra.com.br
CambodiaThy SUM
Climate Change Office, Ministry ofEnvironment#48,
SamdechPreah
Sihanouk
Chamkarmon,
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Tel: (855 23) 218370
Fax: (855 23) 218370
cceap@online.com.kh
Czech Republic
Dusan VACHA
Czech Hydrometeorological Institute
Na Sabatce 17,143 06, Prague 4
Czech Republic
Tel: (420 2) 44 03 2706
Fax: (420 2) 44 03 2468
dvacha@chmi.cz
Finland
Teemu OINONEN
Statistics Finland
Greenhouse Gas Inventory Unit,
P.O. Box 6A, FI-00022Helsinki
FinlandTel: (358 9) 1734 29 09
Fax: (358 9) 1734 34 29
teemu.oinonen@stat.fi
Hungary
Zoltan SOMOGYIForest Research InstituteFrankel L. u. 42-44,.Budapest H-1023
Hungary
Tel: (36 1) 438 5880, (36 30) 465 2684
Fax: (36 1) 326 1639
som9013@helka.iif.hu

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Expert Meeting on Software for the IPCC 2006 Guidelines
India
Amit GARG
IndianInstituteofManagement,
Ahmedabad
Wing 16B, Indian Institute of Management
Ahmedabad, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad
380015India
Tel: (91 79) 6632 4952
Fax: (91 79) 6630 6896
amitgarg@iimahd.ernet.in
Jagdish MUTHARIAThe Energy and Resources Institute(TERI)New Delhi
Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex,
Lodhi Road New Delhi - 110 003
India
Tel: (91 11) 2468 2100 / 415 049 00
Fax: (91 11) 2468 2144 / 2468 2145
mjagdish@teri.res.in
Nijavalli H. RAVINDRANATH
Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES),
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore 560012
India
Tel: (91 80) 2334 1838 / 2360 1455
Fax: (91 80) 2360 1428 / 2360 0683
ravi@ces.iisc.ernet.in

15-17 April 2008

Russian Federation
Veronika GINZBURG
Institute of Global Climate and Ecology
Roshydromet and Russian Academy of
Science
20-B Glebovskaya Str. Moscow
Russian Federation
Tel: (7 495) 1605862
Fax: (7 495) 1600831
v.ginzburg@rambler.ru
Slovakia
Katarina MARECKOVA
consultant
Osuskeho 32, Bratislava 851 03
Slovakia
Tel: (421 2) 6231 6316
Fax: (36 26) 3111 281
kama26@chello.sk
Sudan
Ahmed Hassan Ahmed REHAB
Second National Communication project,
Higher Council for Environment &Natural Resources
Khartoum, P. O. Box 10448
Sudan
Tel: (249 122) 782059
Fax: (249 183) 787617
rehabkhatmi@hotmail.com

Netherlands
Tinus M.P.J. PULLESTNO Built Environment and Geosciences
Princetonlaan 6
PO Box 80015
3508 TA Utrecht
The Netherlands
Tel: (31 88) 866 20 67
Fax: (31 88) 866 20 44
Tinus.Pulles@tno.nl

USA
Keith PAUSTIAN
Colorado State University,
Department of Soil and Crop Science &NaturalResource Ecology Laboratory
NESB, NREL,
Ft. Collins, CO 80523
USA
Tel: (1 970) 491 1547
Fax: (1 970) 491 1965
keithp@nrel.colostate.edu

Qatar
Azhari F.M. AHMED
Corp. Environ&Sustainable Development
Dep.,
Qatar Petroleum
P.O.Box 47, Royal Plaza, Doha
Qatar
Tel: (974) 413 8398
Fax: (974) 429 1059
ahmed@qp.com.qa

Jeffrey COBURN
RTI International
P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park,
NC27709
USA
Tel: (1 919) 316 3407
Fax: (1 919) 541 7155
cob@rti.org

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Expert Meeting on Software for the IPCC 2006 Guidelines
Zimbabwe
Norbert NZIRAMASANGASouthern Centre for Energy andEnvironment
P.O. Box 6427 2S Fundai House,
70 Fourth St.,Harare
Zimbabwe
Tel: (263 4) 795242, (263) 912 422 668(Mobile)Fax: (263 4) 795243
scentr@ecoweb.co.zw
UNFCCC
Mike ELHADDADUNFCCC
Reporting, Data and Analysis Programme
Haus Carstanjen,
Martin Luther King Strasse 8
P.O.Box 260 124, Bonn 53175
Germany
Tel: (49 228) 815 1369
Fax: (49 228) 815 1999
MElhaddad@unfccc.int

15-17 April 2008

Jozef SKAKALASPIRIT a.s.
Kubaniho 12, 811 04, Bratislava
Slovak Republic
Tel: (421 2) 54789744
Fax: (421 2) 54789745
skakala@spirit.sk
TFI Co-ChairJapan
Taka HIRAISHIIPCCNational
Greenhouse
Gas
Inventories
Programme
c/o Institute for Global Environmental
Strategies
2108-11 Kamiyamaguchi,
HayamaKanagawa, 240-0115
Japan
Tel: (81 46) 855 3750
Fax: (81 46) 855 3808
hiraishi@iges.or.jp
Technical Support Unit

Dominique REVET
UNFCCC
Financial and Technical Support (FTS)
Programme
Support to National Communications(SNC) Unit
Haus Carstanjen,
Martin Luther King Strasse 8,
P.O. Box 260 124, Bonn 53175
Germany
Tel: (49 228) 815 1334
Fax: (49 228) 815 1599
DRevet@unfccc.int
SPIRIT
Peter GREGUS
SPIRIT a.s.
Kubaniho 12, 811 04, Bratislava
Slovak Republic
Tel: (421 2) 54789744
Fax: (421 2) 54789745
gregus@spirit.sk

Simon EGGLESTON
eggleston@iges.or.jp
Kyoko MIWA
kyoko.miwa@iges.or.jp
Nalin SRIVASTAVA
srivastava@iges.or.jp
Kiyoto TANABE
tanabe@iges.or.jp
IPCC NGGIP TSU
c/o IGES,
2108-11, Kamiyamaguchi,
Hayama Kanagawa 240-0115
Japan
Tel:(81 46) 855 3750
Fax:(81 46) 855 3808

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