A logical first step is to consider advantages you will receive if you participate.

We think there are, basically, five key advantages.

1. First, the software is a superior product. It is easy to use, powerful and quick and allows building simple or complicated models as you need; the software offers superior network and flow visualisation tools, a high performance database, and easy import and export to important LCA data formats.
   
   
2. The software is available for free. You are thus free to make an LCA model in a project and give it together with the software to your clients; you are also free to give the model and software into the peer review process. This will enable the peer reviewers to check your model more easily and more comfortable. This means additional benefit for your clients.
   
   
3. The source code is open. Anybody can inspect and criticise the code. We will provide sufficient documentation for fostering understanding and discussion of the code within a wide and lively community. We will also install feedback mechanisms to ensure that any critique and proposals reach us and that good proposals will find entry in the software. These mechanisms will further enhance the quality of the source code, and you can openly inspect what you install in your IT environment.
   
   
4. A powerful plug-in structure of the software allows for easy extensions and modifications. In sustainability assessment, there is a zoo of different tools and methods, sometimes competing; the software framework is designed to cope with that. Two plug-ins will be implemented initially. Users can add their own modules, and we plan to implement future modules, based on user feedback and own ideas. Since the software is open source, and implemented in a modern, standard software language (Java), you should have no difficulty in finding somebody who implements what addition you need.
   
   
5. Transparent calculation procedures for inventory and impact assessment; these will ease discussion about advantages and differences of different methods, and help to put them on a rational basis, e.g. because intermediate results are easily accessible. It will thus foster scientific discussions about advantages and shortcomings of methods. It will also increase the credibility of methods, and of any model that you build with the software.

You can paticipate via funding, testing, or your own contribution. This is further desribed in the organisation section. IF you are interested in participating, then please send us a note with the form below. Thanks.