Overview
Within the project "Environmental Data Models and Interface Development (JTI-CS-2011-ECO-01-018)”, the partners within the project consortium assessed environmental performance in the aviation sector in order to support ecological improvement. Under the lead of University of Stuttgart, the project took important steps towards the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) in the aviation sector.
The project would:
- Create a methodological framework for LCA application in the aviation sector;
- Create LCA models of most relevant materials and processes;
- Create parameterised models of current and future reference a/c;
- Set up an advisory board, consisting of companies representing the most important supplying industries for the aviation sector (“Material Board”) in order to have access to their expert knowledge;
- Identify the environmentally most relevant parts, processes and materials;
- Perform an impact assessment and sensitivity analysis, based on those models;
- Create datasets according to the ILCD 1.1 requirements;
- Create an easy-to-use user interface and harmonization with the EDA LCA tool;
- Actively communicate progress, findings and results to the CLEAN SKY Eco-Design partners and the topic manager;
- Capitalise on the outcomes of the LCA DATIM project
Modelling was done in the GaBi LCA software tool, thus offering full compatibility with all models, processes and database of the preceding LCA DATIM project. This software tool in combination with the easy-to-use user interface and the underlying ILCD-compatible database was an important step to support improvement of sustainability in the aviation sector.
The ENDAMI project comprised the major aircraft manufacturer among the CLEAN SKY Eco-Design partners and leading material providers to the aviation industry (in the MATERIAL BOARD), covering a wide range of materials used in the aircraft industry, leading to an added value for the CLEAN SKY consortium.
Funding
Results
ENDAMI is another step forward for the introduction of LCA and LCT in the aviation sector. The goal was to use an aviation specific environmental database set up in the LCA DATIM project (containing aviation specific processes) to create environmental data models for current and future aircrafts according to the requirements of the CleanSky Eco-Design project partners and the CleanSky consortium. The results generated in ENDAMI were in line with state-of-the-art EC regulations and the common format, namely the ILCD1.1 format. The ENDAMI project proposal thereby filled a gap in the capability of the aviation sector for analysis of current and future aircraft by developing a methodological framework, based on a consistent database. It provided a comprehensive database, environmental data models for current and future aircraft and a software interface for the Eco-Design project partners and the CleanSky consortium.
The main objectives of the project were the creation of Environmental Data Models, both for current and future aircraft, in order to assess the environmental impacts of production, maintenance and end of life and to develop a methodological framework alongside, which will be used for future LCA studies in the aviation sector. It also set a basis for the import of the companies Bill of Materials into the LCA software for efficient environmental analysis.
Another focus of work was on the extension of the aviation specific environmental database. Data on technologies, materials and processes was collected from CleanSky partners, validated and integrated to what has now become the CleanSky Aviation Environmental Database (AED). This is an important step towards sustainability assessment in the aviation sector, as it provides data required for the quantification of environmental impacts through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
Finally, an interface to the GaBi software was developed and improved within the ENDAMI project. This is the technical connection between the newly developed ENDAMI EcoDesign tool and the GaBi software, an expert LCA software tool with extensive databases. The ENDAMI tool allows carrying out LCA in a quick and easy way for non -LCA experts, while building on solid background data and expert created LCA models. ENDAMI is a web based tool, which enables users to carry out LCA for aviation specific products in a matter of minutes. Due to its innovative design and strong contributions, the ENDAMI tool has been shortlisted as one of the most promising sustainability solutions in Europe in 2014 and is in the race for the sustainia award (http://www.sustainia.me/guides/)