Configuration

VoLCA is configured through a TOML file, typically named volca.toml. Pass it to any command with --config volca.toml.

Top-level scalar fields (such as geographies) must come before any [section] or [[array-of-tables]] header. After a header, every key is parsed as a member of that section — and keys the schema does not recognise are silently dropped, so watch field names closely.

Geographies

geographies = "data/geographies.csv"   # required for regionalized LCIA lookups

Server

[server]
port = 8080
host = "127.0.0.1"      # bind address; use "0.0.0.0" to listen on all interfaces
password = "secret"     # optional — if set, all API requests require auth

Field	Default	Description
port	8080	HTTP port
host	127.0.0.1	Bind address; "0.0.0.0" exposes the server on all interfaces
password	—	If set, requires Authorization: Bearer <password> or --password flag

Databases

Each database is a [[databases]] entry. VoLCA supports EcoSpold 2, EcoSpold 1, SimaPro CSV, ILCD, and Brightway Excel formats. The format is detected from the file extension and contents — there is no format field.

[[databases]]
name = "ecoinvent"            # identifier used in the --db flag
path = "/data/ecoinvent-3.10" # directory or archive with the data files
load = true                   # load at startup (false = available but not pre-loaded)

[[databases]]
name = "agribalyse"
path = "/data/agribalyse4.csv"
load = true
depends = ["ecoinvent"]       # cross-database linking (flows resolved against ecoinvent)

Field	Description
name	Unique identifier; used as --db NAME in the CLI
displayName	Human-readable name (defaults to name)
path	Directory or file path to the data
load	true = load at startup; false = available on demand
default	true marks this as the default database
depends	List of database names for cross-database flow linking

Supported formats

Format	Extension / structure
EcoSpold 2	Directory or .7z/.zip of .spold files
EcoSpold 1	.xml file (older format)
SimaPro CSV	.csv or .csv.zip file
ILCD	Directory with processes/ and flows/ subdirectories
Brightway Excel	Single .xlsx file (Brightway/bw2io layout)

Methods (LCIA)

Methods are uploaded separately via volca method upload or pre-configured here.

[[methods]]
name = "EF3.1"
path = "/data/EF3.1"   # directory or .zip of ILCD method XML files
active = true          # default true; set false to keep it unloaded

Flow synonyms

Flow synonyms help VoLCA match biosphere flows across databases and methods that use different naming conventions. Each CSV has a name1,name2 header and one synonym pair per row.

[[flow-synonyms]]
name = "default"
path = "/data/flow-synonyms.csv"
active = true

Compartment mappings

Maps compartment names to a canonical set for cross-database flow matching.

[[compartment-mappings]]
name = "default"
path = "/data/compartments.csv"
active = true

Unit definitions

Custom unit conversion tables.

[[units]]
name = "default"
path = "/data/units.csv"
active = true

Chemical synonyms

A vendored PubChem snapshot that widens the flow-mapping suggester’s recall. See Flow Mapping Audit.

chem-synonyms = "data/chem_synonyms.csv"

Classification presets

Named filter shortcuts that appear in the Activities search dropdown. Each preset applies one or more { system, value, mode } classification filters (mode is "exact" or "contains").

[[classification-presets]]
name = "food"
label = "Food products"
filters = [
    { system = "ISIC rev.4 ecoinvent", value = "01", mode = "contains" },
    { system = "ISIC rev.4 ecoinvent", value = "10", mode = "contains" },
]

Complete example

geographies = "data/geographies.csv"

[server]
port = 8080

[[databases]]
name = "ecoinvent"
path = "/data/ecoinvent-3.10-cutoff"
load = true

[[databases]]
name = "agribalyse"
path = "/data/agribalyse4.csv"
load = true
depends = ["ecoinvent"]

[[methods]]
name = "EF3.1"
path = "/data/EF3.1"
active = true

[[flow-synonyms]]
name = "default"
path = "/data/flow-synonyms.csv"
active = true