Virtual laboratories and MRIO analysis – an introduction

Figures & data

TABLE 1. IO VL denominations used in this special issue.

Denomination	Explanation
IO VL	An Input–Output Virtual Laboratory is the broad expression used for any kind of collaboration project aimed at constructing input–output databases, and in which a globally accessible computer serves as the virtual meeting point and data processing place for the entire project. Hence, any IO VL that is developed for the purposes of constructing global input–output databases could be considered a project in the spirit of Project Réunion.
MRIOLab suite	The MRIOLab suite is a software package that offers the data processing capabilities for constructing large-scale input–output databases. If made available on a globally accessible computer, the MRIOLab suite can serve as the central data processing engine for an IO VL. It should be noted that the MRIOLab suite presents one possible approach for the data compilation in an IO VL, as other approaches can also serve a similar purpose. However, at the time of writing, the MRIOLab suite was the only software package available on an IO VL.
Global MRIO Lab	The Global MRIO Lab is an IO VL which uses the MRIOLab suite to construct highly detailed global multi-regional input–output databases. The Global MRIO Lab marks the main outcome of Project Réunion, and its use and results are discussed in a number of articles in this special issue (Abd Rahman et al., 2017; Lenzen et al., 2017a; Reyes et al., 2017).
Australian IELab	The Australian Industrial Ecology Lab is an IO VL which uses the MRIOLab suite to construct highly detailed Australian subnational multi-regional input–output databases. In addition to the ability to construct such databases, the Australian IELab has a number of additional features such as an analytical toolbox which offers a number of standard input–output calculation tools, and a web-based user interface (Lenzen et al., 2017b)
Other subnational Labs	A number of additional subnational IO VLs are discussed in this editorial and the articles in this special issue. All of these IO VLs use the MRIOLab suite to construct highly detailed subnational multi-regional input–output databases for their respective country (Faturay et al., 2017; Wang 2017).

FIGURE 1. Schematic of the basic IELab workflow for global MRIOs.

Note: The grey boxes on the left represent example data feeds whose purpose is to transfer the processed raw data into the data repository. The MRIOLab suite then uses these processed raw data to construct the final MRIO in a series of automated steps (white boxes within black rectangle). The automated processes within the MRIOLab suite are shared across all MRIOLabs, whereas the data feeds and the data repository (shown in grey) represent those parts that are specific to any given MRIOLab project.

TABLE 2. List of all MRIOLab projects as of March 2017.

Lab name	Type	Root regions^a	Root sectors^a	Time series	Extensions	Publications/notes
Australian IELab	MR SUT	2214	1284	1990–2015	Various	See publications in Wiedmann (2017)
WIOD-Lab	MR SUT	216	6357	1995–2011		Abd Rahman et al. (2017)
Chinese IELab	IO	30	135	2010	Various	Wang (2017)
Indonesia IELab	MR SUT	1148	1148	1990–2014	Various	Faturay et al. (2017)
Virtual IELab^b	MR SUT	48	163/200	2007	CO2e, land, water,	Reyes et al. (2017)
					material
Global MRIO Lab^b	Various	216	6357	1990–2015	Various	Lenzen et al. (2017b)
Japan MRIOLab	–	–	–	–	–	Development commenced
Malaysia MRIOLab	–	–	–	–	–	In preparation, first MRIO Lab not supervised by a member of the MRIOLab development team
Taiwan MRIOLab	–	–	–	–	–	In preparation

^aRoot classification – maximum sectoral and spatial detail assuming highly disaggregated data were universally available. See Lenzen et al. (2014) for more information.

^bAn outcome of Project Réunion.

Abd Rahman M.D., B. Los, A. Geschke, Y. Xiao, K. Kanemoto and M. Lenzen (2017) A Flexible Adaptation of the WIOD database in a Virtual Laboratory. Economic Systems Research, 29, 187–208.

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Faturay, F., M. Lenzen and K. Nugraha (2017) A New Sub-National Multi-Region Input–Output Database for Indonesia. Economic Systems Research, 29, 234–251.

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Wang (2017) An Industrial Ecology Virtual Framework for Policy Making in China. Economic Systems Research, 29, 252–274.

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