IfcLCA leverages openBIM and Open Data Standards to analyze the environmental impact of construction projects through IFC files using Swiss KBOB environmental impact data from lcadata.ch.
- 🏗️ Project Dashboard - manage multiple building projects and track their progress.
- ⚙️ IFC Processing - upload and parse IFC files; inspect elements and materials.
- 📚 Materials Library - centralize materials data across projects.
- 📈 LCA Charts - visualize environmental impacts; export IFC with LCA results and get nice charts.
- Export your Model
- IFC version: preferably IFC4 (2x3 works too)
- Include all Ifc Base Quantities (NetVolume or GrossVolume)
- Include assembly layers (prefer
IfcMaterialLayerSet,IfcMaterialConstituentSetalso supported)
- Upload
- Drop your IFC file in the upload area or click to browse
- Files are processed locally and never stored on our servers
- Map Materials
- Search the full swiss KBOB database
- Combine your materials with environmental impact data
- Analyze Results
- View impact metrics: GWP, PEnr, UBP and material breakdown
- Use charts to identify key contributors
- Enter project EBF (in m²) to toggle between absolute and relative emissions views (explanation below)
- Export IFC with LCA Results
- Upload your original IFC file to embed the LCA results
- LCA data (GWP, UBP, PENRE) is added as IFC property sets for each element
- The exported IFC can be used for further analysis, optimization, and interoperability with other BIM tools
- IfcOpenShell WASM for Ifc parsing
- Next.js & React for the frontend
- Tailwind CSS for styling
- Clerk for authentication
- MongoDB for database
- TypeScript throughout the codebase
IfcLCA is and will always be Open Source. Sustainability is a team effort and requires trust and transparency. The project is released under the AGPL-3.0 license.
- Client-side parsing: IFC files are parsed entirely in your browser using IfcOpenShell WASM
- No file storage: Your original IFC files are never uploaded or stored on our servers
- Stored data: Only derived metadata (elements, volumes, materials, classifications, and calculated indicators) is stored in the database
- Upload records: Filename and processing metadata are stored to track upload history
- Deletion: You can delete uploads and their derived data; orphaned materials are automatically cleaned up
- IFC version: IFC4 preferred (IFC2x3 is supported)
- Base Quantities: export element volumes via Ifc Base Quantities (NetVolume or GrossVolume)
- Materials: include assembly layers when possible (supports
IfcMaterialLayerSetandIfcMaterialConstituentSet) - Classification: provide element classification codes for amortization lookup (see below)
- Supported systems: currently eBKP-H is supported for amortization years
- Unknown/missing classification: falls back to a sensible default amortization period
- Classification is read from your IFC model; set or correct it in your authoring tool or use ifcclassify.com
IfcLCA computes three metrics using Swiss KBOB data:
- GWP (Global Warming Potential)
- UBP (Environmental Impact Points)
- PENRE (Primary Energy Non‑Renewable)
- Computed per material and summed per project
- Formula (per material):
- Useful for total project impacts
- Normalizes absolute emissions by amortization years and area
- Formula:
- Requires a valid calculation area and classification to derive amortization years
- Absolute
- GWP:
kg CO₂ eq - UBP:
UBP - PENRE:
kWh oil-eq
- GWP:
- Relative (per area and year; area unit defaults to
m²)- GWP:
kg CO₂ eq/<area>·a - UBP:
UBP/<area>·a - PENRE:
kWh oil-eq/<area>·a
- GWP:
- No built-in 3D viewer: Currently no IFC geometry visualization
- Classification systems: Only eBKP-H is supported
- Comparative analysis: Project comparison and benchmarking features are in development
- Aditional environmental impact data sources: Ökobaudat coming soon...