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the data represents. Furthermore, any data that is based on a specific manufacturer
is explicitly labeled as so, but no metadata for any of the specific entries is provided.
In the PDF report generated by Tally, a note about data quality is included. “Data
quality is judged by its measured, calculated, or estimated precision; its completeness, such as unreported emissions; its consistency, or degree of uniformity of the
methodology applied on a study serving as a data source; and geographical, temporal, and technological representativeness.” Later on in the same PDF, the individual
LCI sources are listed by name with the region and date of the data source. If it is
based on an EPD, the number, program operator, and expiration date are also listed.
7.3.5 SolidWorks Sustainability
SolidWorks Sustainability also sources LCI data from the GaBi databases, discussed in Sect. 7.2.3. There is no transparency regarding the data built into the
interface or any of the reporting measures. SolidWorks Sustainability requires more
information on the specific materials, manufacturing processes, and locations, so
therefore the LCI data that the program pulls will be relevant to the part or assembly
being analyzed. However, none of the specifics of the LCI datasets or accompanying
metadata are displayed to the user.
7.3.6 One Click LCA
One Click LCA is the only LCIA tool explored in this book that builds transparency
about LCI data directly into the tool. Next to every material definition in both the
Revit and web interface is a button that reveals all of the metadata about the LCI
data source (Fig. 7.2). This includes the database it comes from, the country it was
completed in, the year it was completed, what standards it follows, what EPD and
PCR it is based on (if any), and other relevant information about the LCI data. This
level of specificity helps to instill additional trust in the user as well as improve the
appropriateness of the data being used and therefore increase the accuracy of the
overall study. Specifics regarding data collection, boundary conditions, allocation
factors, and measured reference flows are not available to the user. Only general
metadata is visible. One Click LCA sources LCI data from all over, and the data
sources vary based on the location of the study and what license the user has
(Bionova n.d.). Among other databases, the information comes from GaBi, ecoinvent, and USLCI. One Click LCA also maintains their own generic construction
material database. More information on LCI data used in One Click LCA can be
accessed at https://www.oneclicklca.com/support/faq- and- guidance/documentation/database/.
7.3 Transparency of LCI Data to Designers
the data represents. Furthermore, any data that is based on a specific manufacturer
is explicitly labeled as so, but no metadata for any of the specific entries is provided.
In the PDF report generated by Tally, a note about data quality is included. “Data
quality is judged by its measured, calculated, or estimated precision; its completeness, such as unreported emissions; its consistency, or degree of uniformity of the
methodology applied on a study serving as a data source; and geographical, temporal, and technological representativeness.” Later on in the same PDF, the individual
LCI sources are listed by name with the region and date of the data source. If it is
based on an EPD, the number, program operator, and expiration date are also listed.
7.3.5 SolidWorks Sustainability
SolidWorks Sustainability also sources LCI data from the GaBi databases, discussed in Sect. 7.2.3. There is no transparency regarding the data built into the
interface or any of the reporting measures. SolidWorks Sustainability requires more
information on the specific materials, manufacturing processes, and locations, so
therefore the LCI data that the program pulls will be relevant to the part or assembly
being analyzed. However, none of the specifics of the LCI datasets or accompanying
metadata are displayed to the user.
7.3.6 One Click LCA
One Click LCA is the only LCIA tool explored in this book that builds transparency
about LCI data directly into the tool. Next to every material definition in both the
Revit and web interface is a button that reveals all of the metadata about the LCI
data source (Fig. 7.2). This includes the database it comes from, the country it was
completed in, the year it was completed, what standards it follows, what EPD and
PCR it is based on (if any), and other relevant information about the LCI data. This
level of specificity helps to instill additional trust in the user as well as improve the
appropriateness of the data being used and therefore increase the accuracy of the
overall study. Specifics regarding data collection, boundary conditions, allocation
factors, and measured reference flows are not available to the user. Only general
metadata is visible. One Click LCA sources LCI data from all over, and the data
sources vary based on the location of the study and what license the user has
(Bionova n.d.). Among other databases, the information comes from GaBi, ecoinvent, and USLCI. One Click LCA also maintains their own generic construction
material database. More information on LCI data used in One Click LCA can be
accessed at https://www.oneclicklca.com/support/faq- and- guidance/documentation/database/.
7.3 Transparency of LCI Data to Designers