Classic Import Process in One Click LCA

Note: Interested in trying our new import process? Read more here: Updated Import Process in One Click LCA

This guide will walk you through the process of importing data into One Click LCA for streamlined Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) calculations.

Before you start:

• Account and Project: Make sure you have a One Click LCA user account and an existing project with a valid license that allows automated imports (Business or Expert).
• Import Preparation: Review the import guidance and choose your preferred automated import option.

1. Choose Your Import Method:

• BIM Modeling Software: If using BIM software, download the appropriate plugin, open your model, and locate the One Click LCA button.
  
• Excel or gbXML: Click 'Import Excel or gbXML files' within One Click LCA. You can find Excel import templates in the Import from Excel guidance.

2. Set Import Target and Settings:

• Project and Design: Select the project and design where you want to import the data. Choose 'New design' to avoid overwriting existing data.
• Calculation Tool: Choose the relevant LCA calculation tool. This is crucial for accurate material mapping and ensuring your analysis aligns with certification requirements.
• Filtering Settings: Filter materials to be imported by material group/class, based on your certification or specific needs.
• Existing Data Preservation:
  • Replace existing data: Overwrites any previous data.
  • Add import to existing data: Import data in sections without overwriting.
  • Only update the quantities: Update quantities from a revised BIM model or Excel file.
• Remove empty data: (Recommended) Removes data without material names or quantities for faster import.
• Unit System Conversion: Convert all units to metric or imperial based on your account settings.
• Manual Review Phases: Choose which import phases you want to review and adjust manually.

3. Classify Your Materials:

Review and adjust the classification/category assigned to your materials to ensure accurate categorization within your project.

4. Filter Your Imported Data:

Exclude any unnecessary building elements from your LCA calculations to streamline the analysis.

5. Combine Your Data:

Combine data based on criteria like Class, Material, and Quantity Type to simplify your calculations and reduce the imported data volume. The software provides recommendations on combining rules.

6. Review Your Data:

Review the imported data, making any necessary changes to classifications and quantity types.

7. Model Checker (Business and Expert licenses):

Identify and address any issues with your imported model. Find more information on the model checker here. 

8. Mapping Your Materials:

This step ensures your materials are accurately linked to environmental data for your LCA calculations.

• Identified Data: This section lists materials the software automatically mapped based on their descriptions.

  • Review Mappings: Carefully confirm that the suggested mappings are appropriate for your project. You can sort rows by clicking on column headings.
  • Material Details: Click the green sheet icon to see detailed information about the data in each row.
  • Adjustments: If needed, change the material class for each row. Use the 'Comment' field to add notes or mark materials as "Composite."
  • Quantity and Share: Pay attention to the 'Quantity' and 'Share' columns. These indicate the significance of each material in your LCA. You can discard materials with a share of less than 1%, up to a maximum of 5% total, according to the EN 15978 standard.
  • Resource Name and Mapping Basis: The 'Resource name' column shows the automatically selected environmental data. Click the arrow to see alternative mappings or search the entire database. The 'Mapping basis' column explains why a specific mapping was chosen (e.g., your own previous mappings, colleague mappings, AI mapping).
  • Mapping Actions:
    • Report bad mapping: If you encounter an incorrect mapping, use the 'Report bad mapping' function to help improve the system for other users.
    • Decide later: Choose this option to import the row without a mapped resource and address it later in the 'Building materials' query.
    • Delete: Removes the row from the import
      
      

• Unidentified or Problematic Data: This section lists materials that weren't automatically mapped or have potential issues (e.g., generic names). These issues are also listed in the Model checker.

  • Manual Mapping: Use the 'Target resource' field to find and assign suitable environmental profiles to these materials. The filter ribbon can help narrow your search.
  • Guidance: Consult One Click LCA's guides for assistance with material selection, finding EPDs, understanding average quantities, and selecting specific resources like concrete, metal, and building technology. 
    • Material selection
    • Finding EPDs
    • Average material quantities
    • Selecting concrete resources
    • Selecting metal resources
    • Selecting building technology resources

9. Updating Previously Imported Data:

Select the "Only update the quantities from the import" option in the Settings stage to update quantities for previously imported data.

10. Analyze Your Results:

• Refer to One Click LCA's guidance on reporting LCA results.
• Edit imported data in the 'Building materials' section.

Tips and Tricks:

• Download Excel: Download your data in Excel format at any stage to review or modify it.
• Composite Materials: Several options exist for importing composite materials:
  • Map to one component and note it as "Composite" in the comment.
  • Select "Decide later" and map after import.
  • Delete the row and add the composite materials manually.