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If you can’t (or don’t want to) stream your model through Speckle, you can upload an IFC export instead. Real-Time LCA reads the IFC entities, groups them into BIM types, and exposes their quantities for material mapping — just like a Speckle stream.

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When to use IFC upload

  • Your authoring tool doesn’t have a Speckle connector available.
  • You’re working with a model handed over by an external consultant.
  • You want a quick one-off LCA from a static export rather than a live design link.

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Prepare the export

  • Use IFC 4 (or IFC 2x3) when possible.
  • Include the property sets that carry your type identifier (the parameter Real-Time LCA uses to group elements, by default BIMTypeCode).
  • Export quantities (BaseQuantities) so Real-Time LCA can read areas, volumes, and lengths directly from the file.

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Open the upload menu

Open the project and switch to the Material Mapping tab. Click the upload icon next to Select above the Building Component Inventory to open the menu, then choose IFC upload.
Material Mapping page with the upload icon expanded showing Excel upload and IFC upload options.

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Choose the model

The Upload IFC file modal opens. Use the Upload to model dropdown to pick which Speckle model the IFC should be attached to — the file’s BIM types will be added to that model’s slice of the Building Component Inventory.
Upload IFC file modal with the Upload to model dropdown set to architectural and a drag-and-drop area for the .ifc file.
The dropdown lists every model configured on the project. Pick the one that matches the discipline of the IFC export (for example, structural for a structural engineer’s hand-off).
Upload to model dropdown open showing architectural, ifc, and structural model options.

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Upload the file

Drop your .ifc file in the Click to upload or drag and drop area, or click to browse. The file appears in the drop zone once it has been added.
Upload IFC file modal with the ifc model selected and an Office_STR.ifc file staged in the drop zone.
Click Upload to start the import. Use Cancel or × to abort without changes.
Watch the linked tutorial video in the modal before your first upload if you’re unsure how to prepare the IFC export.

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Wait for processing

Real-Time LCA parses the file, groups elements into BIM types, and reads their quantities. You can keep using the app in the background — the project updates automatically when processing finishes.
Processing IFC file dialog with a success toast confirming the file was imported.
When the import is complete you’ll see a confirmation. Click Close to return to the Building Component Inventory.
Import Complete dialog confirming the IFC file has been processed and the project has been updated automatically.

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Review the imported BIM types

Each BIM type from the IFC now appears in the Building Component Inventory. Click a type to open its properties — Real-Time LCA shows the quantities it read from the file (square meters, cubic meters, meters, pieces) and the classification it inferred. From here, map the type to a material or construction the same way you would for a Speckle stream.
Type properties panel for an imported IFC BIM type showing classification, type name, description, and quantity fields populated from the IFC file.

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Updating the model

Uploading a new IFC creates a new version of the model’s data. Existing material mappings carry over for BIM types that still match by identifier.