The open source movement comes from the software world, but has slowly made is way into AEC. The increasing digitization in the industry, but also the slow tempo of that digitization, have created a platform for open source in the industry.
I find it hard to believe that there is a "one-size-fits-all" LCA solution.I believe much more in an array of solutions that covers different aspects, regions and needs that people have. That is why LCAx is created as an exchange format.
In the digital landscape, APIs, or Application Programming Interfaces, play a critical role. They act as connectors, enabling different software applications to interact and share functionalities.
I want to discuss a topic that is very close to my heart: the intersection of open source and sustainability, specifically in the context of the building industry.
EPDx is an exchange format for environmental product declarations (EPDs). It is based on JSON and is designed to be easy to read and write by humans and machines alike. EPDx is an open standard that can be used by anyone without restriction.
Why I chose to write EPDx in Rust: The goal of EPDx was never just to make another EPD format, but rather provide a set of tools that supports AEC professionals working with LCA. An obvious first tool to build were a parse from ILCD to EPDx.