https://github.com/IfcLCA/IfcLCA
Open Source Life Cycle Assessment for Built Environment with Industry Foundation Classes
https://github.com/IfcLCA/IfcLCA
ifc ifcopenshell lca pyodide
Last synced: 17 days ago
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Open Source Life Cycle Assessment for Built Environment with Industry Foundation Classes
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/IfcLCA/IfcLCA
- Owner: IfcLCA
- License: agpl-3.0
- Created: 2024-03-15T20:59:45.000Z (about 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-02-15T17:02:14.000Z (4 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-05-15T14:04:43.203Z (29 days ago)
- Topics: ifc, ifcopenshell, lca, pyodide
- Language: TypeScript
- Homepage: https://ifclca.com/
- Size: 2.79 MB
- Stars: 37
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 5
- Open Issues: 8
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
- open-sustainable-technology - IfcLCA - Provides access to environmental impact material data sourced from open data published by Koordinationskonferenz der Bau- und Liegenschaftsorgane der öffentlichen Bauherren. (Industrial Ecology / Life Cycle Assessment)
README
[](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0)
## Overview
IfcLCA leverages **openBIM** and **Open Data Standards** to analyze the environmental impact of construction projects through IFC files using Swiss **KBOB** environmental impact data from [lcadata.ch](https://lcadata.ch).
## ✨ Features
- 🏗️ **Project Dashboard** - manage multiple building projects and track their progress.
- ⚙️ **IFC Processing** - upload and parse IFC files; inspect elements and materials.
- 📚 **Materials Library** - centralize materials data across projects.
- 📈 **LCA Charts** - visualize environmental impacts; export IFC with LCA results and get nice charts.
## 🚀 Typical Workflow
1. **Export your Model**
- IFC version: preferably IFC4 (2x3 works too)
- Include all *Ifc Base Quantities* (NetVolume or GrossVolume)
- Include assembly layers (prefer `IfcMaterialLayerSet`, `IfcMaterialConstituentSet` also supported)
2. **Upload**
- Drop your IFC file in the upload area or click to browse
- Files are processed locally and never stored on our servers
3. **Map Materials**
- Search the full swiss KBOB database
- Combine your materials with environmental impact data
4. **Analyze Results**
- View impact metrics: GWP, PEnr, UBP and material breakdown
- Use charts to identify key contributors
- Enter project EBF (in m²) to toggle between absolute and relative emissions views (explanation below)
5. **Export IFC with LCA Results**
- Upload your original IFC file to embed the LCA results
- LCA data (GWP, UBP, PENRE) is added as IFC property sets for each element
- The exported IFC can be used for further analysis, optimization, and interoperability with other BIM tools
## 🛠 Tech Stack
- **IfcOpenShell WASM** for Ifc parsing
- **Next.js** & **React** for the frontend
- **Tailwind CSS** for styling
- **Clerk** for authentication
- **MongoDB** for database
- **TypeScript** throughout the codebase
## 🌍 Open Source
IfcLCA is and will always be Open Source. Sustainability is a team effort and requires trust and transparency. The project is released under the **AGPL-3.0** license.
## 🔐 Data & Privacy
- **Client-side parsing**: IFC files are parsed entirely in your browser using IfcOpenShell WASM
- **No file storage**: Your original IFC files are never uploaded or stored on our servers
- **Stored data**: Only derived metadata (elements, volumes, materials, classifications, and calculated indicators) is stored in the database
- **Upload records**: Filename and processing metadata are stored to track upload history
- **Deletion**: You can delete uploads and their derived data; orphaned materials are automatically cleaned up
## 📦 Model Requirements
- **IFC version**: IFC4 preferred (IFC2x3 is supported)
- **Base Quantities**: export element volumes via Ifc Base Quantities (NetVolume or GrossVolume)
- **Materials**: include assembly layers when possible (supports `IfcMaterialLayerSet` and `IfcMaterialConstituentSet`)
- **Classification**: provide element classification codes for amortization lookup (see below)
## 🧾 Classification Support
- **Supported systems**: currently **eBKP-H** is supported for amortization years
- **Unknown/missing classification**: falls back to a sensible default amortization period
- Classification is read from your IFC model; set or correct it in your authoring tool or use [ifcclassify.com](https://ifcclassify.com)
## 📐 Emissions Calculation
IfcLCA computes three metrics using Swiss KBOB data:
- **GWP** (Global Warming Potential)
- **UBP** (Environmental Impact Points)
- **PENRE** (Primary Energy Non‑Renewable)
### Absolute emissions
- Computed per material and summed per project
- Formula (per material):
$$
\text{absolute}_{\text{metric}} = \text{volume} \times \text{density} \times \text{factor}_{\text{metric}}
$$
- Useful for total project impacts
### Relative emissions (annual, per area)
- Normalizes absolute emissions by amortization years and area
- Formula:
$$
\text{relative} = \frac{\text{absolute}}{\text{amortizationYears} \times \text{area}}
$$
- Requires a valid calculation area and classification to derive amortization years
### Units
- **Absolute**
- GWP: `kg CO₂ eq`
- UBP: `UBP`
- PENRE: `kWh oil-eq`
- **Relative** (per area and year; area unit defaults to `m²`)
- GWP: `kg CO₂ eq/·a`
- UBP: `UBP/·a`
- PENRE: `kWh oil-eq/·a`
## ⚠️ Known Limitations & Roadmap
- **No built-in 3D viewer**: Currently no IFC geometry visualization
- **Classification systems**: Only eBKP-H is supported
- **Comparative analysis**: Project comparison and benchmarking features are in development
- **Aditional environmental impact data sources**: Ökobaudat coming soon...