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Research . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Research . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Quantifying the Environmental Footprint of Curating Datasets with LLMs

Authors: Lang, Sarah; Pitawanik, Wishyut; Belouin, Pascal; Sevink, Emma; Olszynko-Gryn, Jesse; Freeborn, Alfred; Benson, Etienne;

Quantifying the Environmental Footprint of Curating Datasets with LLMs

Abstract

This study evaluates the environmental trade-offs of using large language models to curate cross-collection oral-history datasets in the Commoning Oral Histories of Knowledge (CORAL) project. Manual screening of 2,606 interviews was benchmarked against a workflow that tested four instruction-tuned LLMs and two prompt designs. Environmental impact was approximated using token-based inputs to EcoLogits, although implementing such assessments remains non-trivial. Ultimately, we conclude that the environmental impact of our project's use case could be considered moderate compared to common academic activities such as traveling to conferences. However, such impacts should be monitored closely, as they may vary significantly across different research setups and are likely to scale with larger datasets and broader adoption of LLMs in the field. Finally, the paper urges sufficiency-oriented practices and transparent carbon reporting in Computational Humanities research. 

Keywords

Digital Humanities, Environmental sciences, Critical Digital Humanities, oral history, Large Language Models, Environmental footprint

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
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