Comment by mistermann
5 years ago
> Of course it is considered...
One would certainly hope so, but lots of weird things happen on this planet.
Where could someone who is interested to learn about the degree to which this is true go to read about what is really happening on the ground? Where did you learn about it?
First, Fermi estimate. You can estimate how much something weights, costs, takes to construct etc.
Then you become particularly good in it when you read texts from this area, so you gradually replace your estimates with data. And correct your errors when they disrespect reality too much. It's harder to estimate CO2 emissions from cement production from first principles; but you may have actual numbers from typical plants, which include inefficiencies.
All of that favors data and usually requires calculations, and also often requires understanding of natural sciences - conservation laws, energy conversions, speed of processes - and some economical modeling too.
A collection of links with data and models is on Azimuth Project - https://www.azimuthproject.org/azimuth/show/HomePage .
Sorry, I'm not doubting that it can be done, I'm wondering about how you know it is done. Huge difference.