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) based on Project defined or Company/Factory defined LCA Resources. 

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 IMPACT Project Manager.

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 OneClickLCA API (then Local Resource File should be set to No).

Figure 1: Settings for local resource file from Project Properties (available in IMPACT 17.2)

The setting Connect to Producing Factory defines if the Environmental Settings should be specified on Project level or defined on Company or Factory level in IMPACT Resource Manager

Figure 2: Environmental Settings in Resource Manager (available in IMPACT 17.2)

To get a resource dump file to use the following link and login with your OneClickLCA criterias.

Figure 3: 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 4: 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 5: Environmental module in Project Manager

One Click LCA settings

Username and password are inserted for the One Click LCA account. 

Figure 6: 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 8: 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 9: 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 10: 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 11: 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 12 How to copy from another project

The add from OCLID... button leads you add from the OCLID that is displayed inside OneClickLCA.

Figure 13: OCLID from a resource in OneClickLCA

Figure 14: 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 15: Creating a new period to use as base

Figure 16: Defining the time span and the Tonnes produced

Figure 17: Defining the energy 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 18: Defining the components 

If the setting is set to use the settings from Producing Factory none of the LCA data defined on the Project level will be used. Instead the values will come from what is defined on Company or Factory level.

Figure 19: Setting up LCA Resources in Resource Manager on Company or Factory level (available in IMPACT 17.2).  

If the Reinforcement data is defined on Company or Factory level the Reinforcement Qualities can be defined so that it will possible to interlink with the correct qualities.

Figure 20: Setting up Reinforcement Qualities in Resource Manager on Company or Factory level (available in IMPACT 17.2).  

If the LCA Resources are defined on Company or Factory level then it also possible to connect them to the Concrete Mix instead of only linking it to the design Material.

Figure 21: Setting up Concrete compositions in Resource Manager on Company or Factory level (available in IMPACT 17.2).  

It's possible to import the Resources from Excel if you want to avoid typing them one and one. If you like to do that make an Excel file with three columns.

Figure 22: Format of Excel file for importing LCA Resources from Excel (available in IMPACT 17.2).  

Figure 23: Process of importing Resources from Excel file(available in IMPACT 17.2).  

 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 24: Calculate for the whole building 

After the calculation is performed the result will be displayed

Figure 25: 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 26: 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 27: 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 28: Transfer files from the communication with the One Click LCA API

Figure 29: The data points sent to One Click LCA API

Figure 30: 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 31: The Bill of material report from IMPACT