IfcLCA-blend

Life Cycle Assessment for IFC models in Blender

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IfcLCA-blend is a professional Blender extension that brings Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) capabilities directly into your BIM workflow. Seamlessly analyze the environmental impact of IFC building models with real-time carbon footprint calculations and comprehensive material database integration.

🌱 Sustainable Design Made Simple - Transform your architectural workflow with integrated environmental analysis

Features

• 🏗️ IFC Model Integration: Load IFC models and analyze building elements seamlessly
• 🌍 Environmental Databases: Access KBOB (Swiss) and ÖKOBAUDAT (German) material databases
• 🔗 API Integration: Direct API access to Ökobaudat database (EN 15804+A2 compliant)
• 📊 Carbon Footprint Analysis: Calculate embodied carbon and environmental indicators
• 🎯 Smart Material Mapping: Auto-mapping and manual assignment capabilities
• 📈 Interactive Visualization: Web-based dashboard for results analysis
• 📤 Export Capabilities: Export results for further analysis and reporting

🚀 Installation

For Blender 5.0+ (Extension System)

# Method 1: Via Blender Extensions Platform
1. Open Blender → Edit → Preferences → Get Extensions
2. Search for "IfcLCA Integration"
3. Click Install

# Method 2: Install from Disk
1. Download the extension .zip file
2. Blender → Edit → Preferences → Get Extensions
3. Click dropdown → Install from Disk
4. Select the .zip file

For Blender 4.x (Legacy Add-ons)

1. Install BlenderBIM addon first
2. Download IfcLCA-blend.zip
3. Blender → Edit → Preferences → Add-ons → Install
4. Select the zip file and enable

Prerequisites

• Blender 4.2.0+ (Blender 5.0+ recommended)
• BlenderBIM addon for full IFC support
• Internet connection for ÖKOBAUDAT API (optional)

⚡ Quick Start

1️⃣ Load Your Model Import IFC file via BlenderBIM Or use active BIM model 2️⃣ Configure Database Choose KBOB (Swiss) or ÖKOBAUDAT (German) Set API key if needed 3️⃣ Map Materials Use auto-mapping for common materials Manual assignment via database browser

4️⃣ Run Analysis Click "Calculate Embodied Carbon" Review material mappings 5️⃣ Visualize Results View in interactive web dashboard Export to CSV for reports 6️⃣ Optimize Design Compare material alternatives Reduce environmental impact

Interactive Results Dashboard

The web-based dashboard provides comprehensive visualization of your LCA results with:

• Total Carbon Impact: Overall embodied carbon footprint
• Material Breakdown: Detailed analysis by material type
• Interactive Charts: Pie charts and bar graphs for easy interpretation
• Multiple Views: Analyze by material, class, or individual elements

🌍 Environmental Databases

🇨🇭 KBOB (Swiss) 314+ materials ready to use Indicators: GWP, PENRE, UBP Source: Pre-loaded database Standards: Swiss building standards Usage: Plug-and-play

🇩🇪 ÖKOBAUDAT (German) 1000+ EPDs via API Standards: EN 15804+A2 compliant Real-time: Live database access Optional: API key for full access Auto-bundled: No setup required

📋 Custom Databases: Import your own material data in JSON format - see documentation for details

📚 Examples & Documentation

🔍 Explore Database Examples

# Browse KBOB materials
python examples/explore_kbob_database.py

# Test ÖKOBAUDAT API
python examples/okobaudat_api_example.py

🧪 Running Tests

cd IfcLCA-blend
python -m pytest tests/ -v

🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions! Here's how you can help:

• 🐛 Report bugs via GitHub Issues
• 💡 Suggest features or improvements
• 🔧 Submit pull requests with fixes or enhancements
• 📖 Improve documentation and examples

📄 License

Licensed under GNU General Public License v3.0 - see LICENSE file for details.

Made with ❤️ by LT+ for sustainable construction