Environmental module
Module workflow
The environmental module in IMPACT Project Manager is a tool where you can analyze the environmental impact of a project with LCA (Life Cycle Assessment).
An EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) consists of 3 modules: A, B and C. The calculation covers steps A1-A3. This is the information that is known about the project in PM.
IMPACT Environmental Settings
In the Project Properties there are settings to either use a local Resource file (as in the example below) or to use the resources directly from the API (then Local Resource File should be set to No).
Figure 1: Settings for local resource file from Project Properties
To get a resource dump file to use the following link and login with your OneClickLCA criterias.
Figure 2: Login for downloading the resource file
Load module in IMPACT Project Manager
In order to be able to run the module you need to load the module in IMPACT Project Manager. When the module is loaded the license check will also be done.
Figure 3: Load the IMPACT Environmental module in Project Manager
Once the module is loaded there will be an extra window in the lower part of IMPACT Project Manager that expands.
Figure 4: Environmental module in Project Manager
One Click LCA settings
Username and password are inserted for the One Click LCA account.
Figure 5: The login procedure with the login from One Click LCA Ltd
Your previous login will be remembered by typing the first letter it will autofill.
Figure 6: Login will be remembered
You need to generate a special API Password to your normal login in One Click LCA
Figure 7: API password for your login
Define materials
First all building parts in the model have to be defined by resources from the environmental data base in One Click LCA. This is performed in 3 steps:
- Concrete composition
- Factory consumption
- Other materials
Clicking the Button Define materials lets you define the above resources.
Figure 8: The Define materials button from IMPACT Environmental module
Concrete composition
To calculate the impact from the concrete, the concrete composition needs to be defined.
Figure 9: Setting up the Concrete composition
Area - Origin country of resource, used to filter the resources
Sub type - List of sub types, used to to filter the resources
Resource - List of resources
Percentage (0-100%) - Share of the resource in the concrete composition
Distance (km) - Distance to the factory
Update - Save the data in data base
Add - Add new resource
The sum of all resources in a concrete composition should be 100%.
Figure 10: Setting up the Concrete composition by Adding the different parts
The Delete Button is for removing a row and the Update button is to change the data in one row.
The Copy Existing... button it's very useful as it let you copy settings from another project.
Figure 11: How to copy from another project
The add from OCLID... button leads you add from the OCLID that is displayed inside OneClickLCA.
Figure 12: OCLID from a resource in OneClickLCA
Figure 13: Input OCLID from a resource in OneClickLCA in IMPACT Environmental
Factory consumption
To calculate the impact from the factory consumption, information about the energy use and the amount of waste produced during the production of the building elements is needed.
Select period - LIst of factory period
New - Name, time period and number of tonnes produced during this time period (M)
Edit - Edit the factory period selected
Resource - List of resources
Amount - Amount of energy or waste during the time period (A)
Unit - The unit changes based on the selected resource. Energy (kWh), waste (kg)
Update - Save the data in data base
Add - Add new resource
The information about the weight of the building elements used in the project is known from the model (m). The amount of energy or waste that was used for the building elements in the project (a) is calculated as a=A*(m/M).
Factory consumption is added to the calculation for the building parts marked as produced in a factory.
Figure 14: Creating a new period to use as base
Figure 15: Defining the time span and the Tonnes produced
Figure 16: Defining the energy and waste for the period
Other materials
The same procedure as in the tab Concrete composition is performed in the tab Other materials to define the composition of the material in the material categories reinforcement, insulation and cim.
Area - Origin country of resource, used to filter the resources
Sub type - List of sub types, used to to filter the resources
Resource - List of resources
Percentage (0-100%) - Share of the resource in the concrete composition
Distance (km) - Distance to the factory
Update - Save the data in data base
Add - Add new resource
The sum of all resources in a material composition should be 100%.
Figure 17: Defining the components
Calculate
After the calculation is performed, the result as CO2 emissions is presented in the module.
Either the whole building can be calculated or a selection of elements.
If no elements are selected only the button for calculating the whole building is visual.
Figure 18: Calculate for the whole building
After the calculation is performed the result will be displayed
Figure 19: Displaying the result from the calculation in IMPACT
It is possible to continue to the One Click LCA web service for further investigation of the result. On their web service, it is also possible to insert more data and calculate for other modules in A-C.
Figure 20: Linking further on the One Click LCA application for a more detailed analysis
If you like to check the input file to One Click LCA and the output file you can navigate to the file archive of your project.
Figure 21: Shortcut to the IMPACT Project files by right clicking on the root node
The location of the file is determined by the Project Folder settings in Standard Admin
In the location where the Planning is pointing (indicated with a blue arrow).
Figure 22: Transfer files from the communication with the One Click LCA API
Figure 23: The data points sent to One Click LCA API
Figure 24: The result comin back from the One Click LCA API
IMPACT "Bill of material" Report
There is a report which specifies the Bill of Materials used from IMPACT
Figure 25: The Bill of material report from IMPACT