> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mangrovesystems.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# 1.2: Translating Methodologies to Mangrove Concepts

> Map carbon methodology concepts—activity data, emission factors, quantification equations—to Mangrove's data structures: Datapoints, Static Inputs, Batches, Ledgers, Models, Reports, and Issuances.

<Panel>
  <Card title="Accounting Academy" className="accounting-academy-card">
    <div className="accounting-academy-content">
      <Steps className="my-0">
        <Step title="MODULE 1: Fundamentals" icon="bookmark" iconType="solid" stepNumber={1} titleSize="p">
          * [1.1: Core Concepts & the Data Lifecycle](/accounting-academy/module-1/1-1-core-concepts-data-lifecycle)
          * [1.2: Translating Methodologies to Mangrove](/accounting-academy/module-1/1-2-translating-methodologies-to-mangrove)
          * [1.3: Events and Datapoints](/accounting-academy/module-1/1-3-events-and-datapoints)
          * [Exercise: Design and Build](/accounting-academy/module-1/1-exercise-design-and-build)
        </Step>

        <Step title="MODULE 2: Calculations" icon="bookmark" iconType="solid" stepNumber={2} titleSize="p">
          * [2.1: Calculation Architecture](/accounting-academy/module-2/2-1-calculation-architecture)
          * [2.2: Expanding Your Data Model](/accounting-academy/module-2/2-2-expanding-your-data-model)
          * [Exercise: Multi-Step Calculations](/accounting-academy/module-2/2-exercise-multi-step-calculations)
        </Step>

        <Step title="MODULE 3: Batch Partitioning & LCA" icon="bookmark" iconType="solid" stepNumber={3} titleSize="p">
          * [3.1: What Is a Batch?](/accounting-academy/module-3/3-1-what-is-a-batch)
          * [3.2: Batch Partitioning Strategies](/accounting-academy/module-3/3-2-batch-partitioning)
          * [3.3: Life Cycle Assessment & Emissions](/accounting-academy/module-3/3-3-lca-and-emissions)
          * [3.4: Allocating Emissions to Batches](/accounting-academy/module-3/3-4-allocating-emissions-to-batches)
          * [Exercise: Batch Partitioning & LCA](/accounting-academy/module-3/3-exercise-batch-partitioning-and-lca)
        </Step>

        <Step title="MODULE 4: Mass Balance with Ledgers" icon="bookmark" iconType="solid" stepNumber={4} titleSize="p">
          * [4.1: Introduction to Mass Balance](/accounting-academy/module-4/4-1-intro-to-mass-balance)
          * [4.2: Designing the Ledger Structure](/accounting-academy/module-4/4-2-designing-the-ledger-structure)
          * [4.3: Multiple Batch Types for Different Stages](/accounting-academy/module-4/4-3-multiple-batch-types)
          * [Exercise: Design & Build Mass Balance](/accounting-academy/module-4/4-exercise-design-and-build-mass-balance)
        </Step>

        <Step title="MODULE 5: Integration Testing" icon="bookmark" iconType="solid" stepNumber={5} titleSize="p">
          * [5.1: The Complete Model Assembly](/accounting-academy/module-5/5-1-the-complete-model-assembly)
          * [5.2: Testing Patterns](/accounting-academy/module-5/5-2-testing-patterns)
          * [5.3: Common Integration Pitfalls](/accounting-academy/module-5/5-3-common-integration-pitfalls)
          * [Exercise: Integration Testing](/accounting-academy/module-5/5-exercise-integration-testing)
        </Step>

        <Step title="MODULE 6: Advanced Patterns & Production" icon="bookmark" iconType="solid" stepNumber={6} titleSize="p">
          * [6.1: Model Design Best Practices](/accounting-academy/module-6/6-1-model-design-best-practices)
          * [6.2: Advanced Techniques](/accounting-academy/module-6/6-2-advanced-techniques)
          * [6.3: Production Readiness](/accounting-academy/module-6/6-3-production-readiness)
          * [Exercise: Production Deployment](/accounting-academy/module-6/6-exercise-production-deployment)
        </Step>
      </Steps>
    </div>
  </Card>
</Panel>

<Check>
  **What you'll learn in this lesson:**

  * Map methodology concepts (activity data, emission factors, monitoring cycles) to Mangrove components
  * Identify which Mangrove component corresponds to each part of a carbon methodology
  * Translate a methodology's data parameter table into Mangrove's data structure
</Check>

Carbon accounting methodologies define what to measure, how to calculate, and how to report. Mangrove is built so that these concepts map directly onto its core structures. Once you see the mapping, configuring a project becomes a matter of translating your methodology into Mangrove building blocks.

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
    subgraph Methodology["Methodology Concepts"]
        AD["Activity Data"]
        EF["Emission Factors"]
        MC["Monitoring Cycle"]
        CoC["Chain of Custody"]
        QE["Quantification Equations"]
    end

    subgraph Mangrove["Mangrove Components"]
        DP["Datapoints"]
        SI["Static Inputs"]
        BA["Batches"]
        LE["Ledgers"]
        MO["Models"]
    end

    AD --> DP
    EF --> SI
    MC --> BA
    CoC --> LE
    QE --> MO

    style AD fill:#42a5f5,stroke:#1976d2,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
    style EF fill:#42a5f5,stroke:#1976d2,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
    style MC fill:#42a5f5,stroke:#1976d2,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
    style CoC fill:#42a5f5,stroke:#1976d2,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
    style QE fill:#42a5f5,stroke:#1976d2,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
    style DP fill:#66bb6a,stroke:#388e3c,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
    style SI fill:#66bb6a,stroke:#388e3c,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
    style BA fill:#66bb6a,stroke:#388e3c,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
    style LE fill:#66bb6a,stroke:#388e3c,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
    style MO fill:#66bb6a,stroke:#388e3c,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
```

## Methodology concepts and Mangrove structures

Methodologies typically specify data parameter tables or monitoring tables in their MRV section. The required inputs, factors, and equations align with the following Mangrove components.

### Datapoints ↔ Activity data and measurements

**In the methodology:** Activity data and measurements — fuel consumption, area surveyed, energy readings, mass delivered, moisture content — are the raw inputs required to run the quantification.

**In Mangrove:** These become **datapoints**. Datapoints live inside:

* <a href="/production-accounting/fundamentals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Events</a>

  — for ongoing, batch-varying measurements
* <a href="/production-accounting/data-inputs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Static inputs</a>

  — for values that stay constant over time

<Note>
  The data parameters your project needs are determined by your models and often correspond directly to the methodology's monitoring or data parameter tables.
</Note>

**Examples:** feedstock quantities, sequestration rates, energy usage, transportation distances, baseline data.

### Static inputs ↔ Emission factors and factor libraries

**In the methodology:** Emission factors, conversion factors, and constants (e.g., tCO2e per kWh, tonnes per pound) applied across many calculation periods.

**In Mangrove:** These are **static inputs** — datapoints that remain constant over time and feed into calculations across multiple batches. Configure them in <a href="/production-accounting/data-inputs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Data Inputs > Static Inputs</a>

.

**Examples:**

* Grid electricity emission factor (e.g. 0.00043 t/kWh)
* Conversion factor (e.g. metric t/lb)
* Facility-level parameters (e.g. "% of facility electricity related to carbon production")

<Tip>
  **Resource library inputs** are a variant — they come from Mangrove's Resource Libraries (e.g. global warming potentials) and provide shared, science-based variables.
</Tip>

### Batches ↔ Monitoring cycle and reportable units

**In the methodology:** The monitoring cycle defines how often data is grouped for quantification — per delivery, per day, per month — and what the reportable unit of production is.

**In Mangrove:** These become **batches**. Each <a href="/production-accounting/fundamentals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">production batch</a>

groups datapoints and calculations for a defined time period or boundary, mirroring the monitoring cycle.

Two partitioning approaches exist:

* **Time-based** — MRV within a production period (e.g., daily injections)
* **ID-based** — MRV for a specific unit of production (e.g., a delivery)

See <a href="/production-accounting/accounting-101" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">time-based vs ID-based accounting</a>

for details. You <a href="/production-accounting/generate-batches" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">generate batches</a>

by running the accounting dataflow over the desired period.

### Ledgers ↔ Chain of custody and mass balance

**In the methodology:** Chain-of-custody and mass balance rules define how material moves between stages (e.g., feedstock received → production → delivery).

**In Mangrove:** These are **ledgers** (mass accounts). <a href="/production-accounting/mass-balance-accounting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mass balance accounting</a>

uses ledgers to track accumulation and use of material at each stage. Batches credit or debit ledgers, and allocations between ledgers support traceability.

<Tip>
  Not every project needs multiple ledgers — a single ledger is often sufficient when there is only one reportable stage.
</Tip>

### Models ↔ Quantification equations and logic

**In the methodology:** The equations and logic that combine activity data and emission factors to produce gross and net emissions or removals.

**In Mangrove:** These become **models**. A <a href="/production-accounting/models" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">model</a>

is a set of calculations built as a tree of nodes — inputs, operators, and outputs. Two types:

* **Production models** — operational calculations
* **Quantification models** — apply <a href="/production-accounting/accounting-101" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LCA and methodology equations</a>

  for net carbon accounting

Models are the digital version of your methodology's formulas.

### Reports ↔ Standardized output for the reporting period

**In the methodology:** A standardized package of data and documentation for a reporting period (e.g., quarter, year).

**In Mangrove:** That package is a **report**. A <a href="/reporting/fundamentals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Report</a>

shows a project's activities, carbon accounting, and outcomes for a reporting period. Reports are submitted for verification and credit issuance.

### Issuances ↔ Verified credit volume

**In the methodology:** A verified volume of credits that can be held, traded, or retired.

**In Mangrove:** That outcome is an **issuance** — a group of active, tradable credits in your <a href="/inventory/fundamentals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">inventory</a>

, representing verified carbon production for a specific period.

***

### Check your understanding

<Accordion icon="circle-question" title="What Mangrove component corresponds to a methodology's emission factors?">
  **Static Inputs.** Static inputs hold values (like emission factors and conversion constants) that remain constant over time and feed into models across multiple batches.
</Accordion>

<Accordion icon="circle-question" title="What is the difference between time-based and ID-based batches?">
  **Time-based batches** group data by production period (e.g., daily injections). **ID-based batches** group data by a specific unit of production (e.g., a single delivery or production run).
</Accordion>

***

In the next lesson you will work concretely with events and datapoints — defining event types, required and optional fields, and attaching evidence.