This presentation outlines the EcoPlex R&D project's innovative approach, integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) with systems architecture design. It highlights how this method enhances early environmental impact evaluation, crucial for sustainable system development.
Current practices often involve redundant data entry and delayed environmental assessments. Integrating LCA with architecture models promises more efficient, iterative design processes. Prior research underscores the potential of such integrations, but practical implementations are limited.
The EcoPlex project aims to create a comprehensive framework for evaluating the environmental impacts of systems throughout their lifecycle. We seek to understand how coupling architecture models with LCA tools can streamline this evaluation and identify significant ecological impacts early in the design phase.
We developed a software solution enriching system models with detailed information, generating a comprehensive environmental flow inventory. This inventory is processed by LCA software to analyze impacts from raw material extraction to end-of-life. A case study involving the Mobula 8 and Mobula 10 boats, designed to collect ocean plastic waste, demonstrates the approach using the Ecodesign for Capella add-on and OpenLCA.
Our integrated approach saves time by eliminating redundant data entry and enables rapid identification of high-impact components. This facilitates quick modifications to the system model, promoting iterative environmental optimization. The case study underscores the practical benefits and efficiency of our methodology, contributing to the advancement of sustainable system design.