Page 160 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

144 LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT HANDBOOK

- Software -

Data ► Model * "Result" ► Decision

Figure 6.1 LCA software "transforming" data via a model that is generated within the
software to a result that is then finally used to support a decision [Ciroth 2006].

software that does not meet many of the criteria mentioned above. Currently,
2
some working groups use mathematical modeling software such as Matlab .
As the other chapters in this book demonstrate, LCA is an approach to com-
pile and evaluate all inputs, outputs, and potential environmental impacts
3
related to a product or service, over its entire life cycle . There is not one single
approach to do so, as is also demonstrated in the remainder of the book. LCA
software has a high influence on the approaches that are possible and easily
available for performing an LCA; software "transforms" data into a model,
and provides results to the user that are then used, generally, in decision sup-
port (Figure 6.1) - in other words, there are no LCA results without software.
This chapter explores LCA software, its relevance for LCA method develop-
ment and application, the LCA software market, and discusses future and past
trends in this rather technical field.

6.1.2 Characteristics of LCA Software Systems
LCA software systems differ a lot - there are complete systems and LCA soft-
ware that is an add-on to other software, there are closed and open source
tools, and so forth. It is worth to look into some of the main differences more
in detail.

6.2.2.2 Web Tools versus Desktop Tools

Traditionally, software had to be installed locally, on a desktop; using it required
access to this desktop computer. Since the emergence of the internet, software
can also be installed on a web server, and accessed by any user that has access
to this web server. The web server does not need to be publicly available on the
internet, a local, in-house server is possible too.
Recently, several LCA packages have been launched as web application, for
example greenfly [Greenfly 2012] in Australia or the Quantis Suite by Quantis
international [Quantis 2012]. With e-DEA, a web application add-on to classic,
desktop or client-server LCA software systems has been created. e-DEA links
to SimaPro. SimaPro can be installed on a local server or on a web-server, or
even on a desktop [e-DEA 2012].

2
For example the industrial ecology group at NTNU in Trondheim, Norway, www.ntnu.no/
indecol.
3 Following the definition provided by ISO 14040.