The Features of SimaPro
SimaPro has all of the features you would expect from a professional LCA software package.
A unique set of features to suit your needs
- An intuitive user interface; guides you through a streamlined or ISO 14040 LCA
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Easy modelling with powerful tools
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Several inventory databases and impact assessment methods to choose from
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Allocation of multiple output processes
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Transparent; trace back your results in a few mouse clicks
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Weak point analysis; identify the ‘hot spots’ in your life cycle using the process tree
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Filtering options available for all results
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Analysis of complex waste treatment and recycling scenarios
- Monte Carlo analysis for data uncertainty
Below you will find an overview of some of the advanced features of SimaPro 7.
Parameters
Using parameters in your model simplifies your work and gives you the flexibility to easily change values or assumptions in your model.
- Set switches between different parameters in a sensitivity analysis
- Create a scenario analysis by specifying a range of values for a parameter
- Define non-linear relationships in your model
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Evaluate uncertainty in parameter values
Monte Carlo
SimaPro allows you to calculate uncertainty in your inventory results using a Monte Carlo analysis. A Monte Carlo analysis gives you an indication of how reliable, complete and representative your results are.
- In SimaPro you can add uncertainty values to parameters and you can set different uncertainty ranges or distributions in your scenario analysis for every impact category and emission.
- SimaPro uses advanced process coupled sampling techniques when comparing the uncertainty in two LCA models. This means that if a certain process exists in both models, the same variation for this process is used for both models.
- SimaPro considers correlations in a very sophisticated way; it will not show two overlapping distributions, instead, SimaPro shows the number of calculations in which product A has lower indicator scores or LCI results than product B.
Grouping
The grouping function allows you to define one or more processes that you want to belong to a group. This gives you the possibility to choose how to present the outcome of your analysis.
- By selecting the corresponding processes in the network that you want to belong to a group you can create your own graphs for inventory and impact assessment. The grouping can also be shown in the results tables.
- This allows you to assess the contribution of different processes and life cycle stages to the overall results. The grouping can be saved as a calculation setup for later reuse.
Hybrid LCA
With SimaPro you can combine environmental IO data with process based LCA data to create hybrid LCAs.
- SimaPro includes a number of Input Output (IO) databases based on national economic and environmental statistics. Environmental IO data expresses the environmental load per unit value of an economic sector.
- The advantages of using IO data is that it is no longer necessary to make cut-offs, i.e. to exclude part of the product system. This is because IO data allows for a complete allocation of all activities related to a product.
Data Management
In SimaPro you can adapt data to reflect your company's specific circumstances.
- All the data in SimaPro is transparent. You can track impacts down to individual processes. This helps you understand where the impacts are actually occurring.
- SimaPro's data export features allows you to share data with other users.