New LCA Software openLCA

New LCA Software

ICT for Environment in Life Cycle Applications

openLCA − A new open source software for Life Cycle Assessment
Andreas Ciroth
GreenDeltaTC GmbH, Raumerstrasse 7, 10437 Berlin, Germany ([email protected])

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1065/lca2007.06.337

This paper is a two-fold introduction. For one, it introduces a new, open source, LCA software. Second, it is to establish a
new section in Int J LCA named 'LCA Software'. Herewith, the editors of the journal recognise the growing possibilities and
the impact of software, meaning both databases and calculation as well as modelling software, for practical applications as
well as for the scientific development in LCA. This section is designed to house a broad variety of papers to be LCA focused
and related to ICT (Information and Communication Technology). In this sense, announcements (as this one), conference
reports, but also peer-reviewed papers on methodology and case studies, are most welcome.

openLCA – A new, open source, LCA software needs, even at runtime, with modules that run, optionally, as
A new LCA software is currently being developed by Green independent software applications. This allows to implement
DeltaTC. The software will be made available as open source a broad variety of different methods and add-ons, yielding a
and designed as a highly modular, flexible framework, al- rich-featured framework while simultaneously keeping the
lowing different plug-ins and modules to be included. Some application small. Further, it provides an intuitive and fast user
of the modules will also run as stand-alone applications. As interface for applications, overcoming an old drawback of Java
a first module, a format converter for the conversion of LCA programs. Additionally, we will integrate other open source
data formats has been released as open source in May 2007. packages and software, for example for visualising the in-
The final release of the framework is scheduled for spring ventory network of processes.
2008, the release of an alpha version for summer 2007.
The format converter (Fig. 1) is part of the framework; it
converts current versions of LCI datasets from EcoSpold
Features (ecoinvent), SimaPro EcoSpold, ISOTS14048/IMI (Chalm-
The openLCA framework is developed in Eclipse, a Java- ers), and ELCD (Joint Research Centre of the European
based Integrated Development Environment from IBM, Commission) from one format into the other and is able to
which is open source itself. Eclipse provides an efficient Serv- produce datasets that are valid against the schema of 'their'
ice Oriented Architecture (SOA) model; in fact, it is the ref- format. The converter runs as a stand-alone application and
erence application for SOA which is frequently implemented can convert multiple data sets in batch mode. Future ver-
in major business software. SOA's practical consequence is sions are expected concerning, e.g., updates of the imple-
a highly modular software which is easy to tailor to specific mented formats.

ISOTS14048 Converter EcoSpold

/ IMI meta-document

SimaPro-
Format NN EcoSpold

ELCD

Fig. 1: The format converter meta-document as a central link between important LCA data formats

Int J LCA 12 (4) 209 – 210 (2007) 209

© 2007 ecomed publishers (Verlagsgruppe Hüthig Jehle Rehm GmbH), D-86899 Landsberg and Tokyo • Mumbai • Seoul • Melbourne • Paris
openLCA New LCA Software

XML
...

Transformation
XML
...

XSLT
...

Fig. 2: The format conversion procedure (explanation see text box)

The procedure for converting the formats from one into the other are providing feedback. In the near future, external contribu-
is as follows (Fig. 2): When the source file and the target format is tors will be included as well. In January 2007, PRé Consult-
selected by the user, the converter identifies and validates the for- ants was the first to join the funding consortium, and PE
mat of the source file and then creates, as first step in the conver- International followed in March. We hope to announce fu-
sion, a meta-document where, via XML and XSLT, all information ture members soon. One motivation to join is 1. to support
from the source file is mapped into a tree structure. The meta-
document is a XML file itself, with an own schema, which imple-
the open-source idea for LCA applications, 2. to foster the
ments a meta-format that is a unification of all implemented for- application of LCA worldwide, and 3. to improve data ex-
mats so far. This meta-document is saved. It contains all information change; another motivation may be the practical advantage
in one file, also for formats such as ELCD which distribute the in- that consortium members can receive the software licensed,
formation for a process data set among several files. In a next step, which allows the combination with other software products
the meta-document is transformed according to the target format,
more easily (for details please consult the project website).
mapping content and, for some, attributes also the used nomen-
clature. Finally, the transformed meta-document is cleaned up, re- And finally, consortium members receive the releases in ad-
moving content not necessary for the target file, and rearranging vance, hence being able to provide feedback and give sug-
XML branches according to the target format. These steps are gestions for the implementation (for example, the batch mode
performed in memory and not in the saved file. The result of this of the converter is such a suggestion).
step, however, is saved as data set in the target format. For the
ELCD format, for example, the whole directory structure for the
ELCD database needs to be created. Getting involved...
If you are interested in either contributing, funding or test-
Implications ing, then please let us know. We, in turn, hope to get institu-
The project will have implications on several levels, from tions and individuals involved, in order to make the openLCA
the open-source nature of the tool and its modularity to the project and software a lively, shared, 'peer' undertaking.
specific features of the format converter.
Resources
The open-source character of the software allows, actually
everyone worldwide, to modify and adapt the software to Ciroth A (2006): A new open source LCA software. 7th Ecobalance Con-
ference, Tsukuba 2006, Proceedings
specific needs. This implies more independence and flexibil- Project website: http://openlca.org
ity for users and requests the project to be responsible for Download site for public releases: http://sourceforge.net/projects/openlca
the provision of clear documentation and source code; fur- Newsletter: Send an email to [email protected] with the theme line
ther, it provides the software development more indepen- "openLCA: please send newsletter"
dence from the initiating group.
Publications by Andreas Ciroth in Int J LCA
The software is free to use opening applications where li-
cence fees are critical. Due to its modular architecture, dif- Ciroth A, Becker H (2006): Validation – The Missing Link in Life Cycle
Assessment. Towards pragmatic LCAs (Editorial). Int J LCA 11 (5)
ferent plug-ins can be provided by different parties. 295–297
Choosing a dataset format for LCA with the format con- Ciroth A, Fleischer G, Steinbach J (2004): Uncertainty Calculation in Life
Cycle Assessments: A combined model of simulation and approxima-
verter is not any longer only a matter of 'philosophy'; rather, tion. Int J LCA 9 (4) 216–226
users can, quite rationally, select the format that stores best Ciroth A (2004): Announcing the New Section 'Uncertainties in Life Cycle
the data they need for a special purpose. This in turn will Assessment'. Int J LCA 9 (3) 141–142
improve the workflow in conducting LCAs where, accord- Ciroth A, Fleischer G, Gerner K, Kunst H (2003): A New Approach for a
Modular Valuation of LCAs. Int J LCA 8 (5) 273–282
ing to our own experiences, data set conversion is one of the Ciroth A, Hagelüken M, Sonnemann G, Castells F, Fleischer G (2002):
least wanted but often necessary tasks, and error-prone when Geographical and Technological Differences in Life Cycle Inventories
done manually. By providing the converter, we look forward Shown by the Use of Process Models for Waste Incinerators. Part 2:
Technological and Geographical Differences. Int J LCA 7 (6) 363–368
to improving data availability by easier data exchange, and Ciroth A, Hagelüken M, Sonnemann G, Castells F, Fleischer G (2002):
to making LCA model quality benefit from better data. Geographical and Technological Differences in Life Cycle Inventories
Shown by the Use of Process Models for Waste Incinerators. Part 1:
Technological and Geographical Differences. Int J LCA 7 (5) 295–300
Organisation Ciroth A (2002): Error Calculation in Life Cycle Assessments (New LCA
The project consists of a core project team, a funding con- Theses). Int J LCA 7 (5) 310
Huijbregts M, Norris GA, Bretz R, Ciroth A, Maurice B, von Bahr B, Wei-
sortium, advisors, testing institutions and individuals, and, dema BP, de Beaufort ASH (2001): Framework for Modelling Data
quite basically, users having downloaded the software and Uncertainty in Life Cycle Inventories. Int J LCA 6 (3) 127–132

210 Int J LCA 12 (4) 2007