Faster LCAs, Smarter Models: Solving Quantity Data Bottlenecks with Madaster

Blogs 16 sep 2025

You’ve got a model. You’re ready to start the LCA. But the Bill of Quantities is delayed. The IFC is messy. Or you’re stuck cleaning data just to move forward.

For consultants and architects, this bottleneck is all too familiar. LCAs often stall not because of complex calculations, but because the quantity and material data aren’t ready or reliable.

Madaster solves this problem with its Enrichment and Match Elements features. These tools automate data preparation and fill gaps between IFCs and BOQs, so you can move from raw model to actionable sustainability insights much faster.

What is the Enrichment Feature?

Enrichment transforms your building model into an LCA-ready dataset in minutes. You can export IFC models from Autodesk Revit, Graphisoft ArchiCAD, Nemetschek Vectorworks, or any other software that supports IFC, and then upload them into Madaster.

Once uploaded, Madaster automatically extracts the volumes, weights, and product data stored in your model. If anything is missing, the platform flags massing issues or link gaps so you know exactly what needs attention.

The tool also guides you before you even upload. Preparing your IFC correctly with element and property classifications set up and layer information included for sub-elements ensures smoother and more accurate enrichment results.

Enrichment doesn’t stop at automation. It connects your elements to product databases, including external sources like 2BA and Baubook, or even your own custom database. If a match isn’t correct, you can adjust it directly using simple functions like Link, Unlink, or Edit. You can also correct classifications and connect elements to waste codes, which improves both circularity and reporting quality.

What is the Match Elements Tool?

If enrichment prepares the model, the Match Elements tool brings it to life. This feature works with both IFCs and BOQs, so you don’t need to wait for one or the other.

When you upload a BOQ, the tool links material data directly to building elements. If you only have an IFC, it does the same. If you have both, it combines them and resolves inconsistencies between the two. That means you can move ahead with LCAs even when your data is incomplete.

This flexibility sets Madaster apart. Competing tools often lock you into a single workflow. With Madaster, you can start wherever you are in the process and keep moving.

Smart Insights Built In

After enrichment, you get not only a cleaner model, but clear insights into its quality.

The platform tells you what percentage of elements and materials are already linked, which elements still need classification, and which material categories or building layers are missing data. These readiness metrics give consultants a fast way to assess model quality and prioritize what needs attention, reducing the guesswork before starting an LCA.

Madaster also makes the workflow smoother. You can export the enriched dataset into Excel, make edits, and re-import it. A Recalculate button lets you re-run enrichment without re-uploading the model. Even small details, like being able to click on text instead of icons to select elements, add up to a more intuitive experience.

Snapshot of how it works on the platform

1. Start enrichment to automatically extract quantities and product data from your IFC:

2. Track enrichment progress and filter elements by classification or hierarchy:

3. Review material breakdowns across building layers and identify data gaps.

4. Get project-level insights on total mass, material intensity, and unknown elements.

Environmental and Circularity Integration

Enrichment directly powers Madaster’s sustainability outputs. The data feeds into material passports, which can be customized for certification schemes like DGNB, QNG, and EPEA Proca.

Circularity calculations use the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Material Circularity Indicator (MCI), while CO₂ and environmental impact assessments can be run with the enriched dataset. You can even choose which elements to include or exclude from the analysis.

Classification and Customization

Not every project follows the same classification system. Madaster accounts for that by supporting methods like SfB, OmniClass, and DIN 276. You can filter and view elements by IFC class directly in the interface.

You’re also free to use your own databases or pull from verified external sources. This flexibility ensures the platform adapts to your workflow instead of forcing you to change it.

Practical Tips Before You Upload

From the Madaster development team, here are a few must-dos before uploading:

Always check that element and property classifications are set up correctly. This makes automatic matching much more accurate.

Add as much layer and sub-element information as possible to improve the accuracy of quantities.

Expect differences between IFCs and BOQs. Madaster highlights these inconsistencies so you can resolve them instead of being blocked by them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common model issues that delay LCAs?
Inaccurate or inconsistent quantity take-offs are a big one. Another is poor-quality or missing product data, especially Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Fortunately, this is improving as digital product data becomes more widely available.

How has enrichment improved workflow speed?
Tasks that once took days now take minutes. Consultants no longer need to wait for final BOQs to begin their LCAs.

What surprises new users the most?
The upfront insights. Madaster highlights missing or inconsistent data immediately, which helps consultants focus their time where it matters most.

Conclusion

Delays caused by messy IFCs or late BOQs don’t have to slow down your sustainability work. Madaster’s enrichment and matching tools automate the preparation process and deliver faster LCAs, smarter models, and clearer insights.