Introduction

TianGong LCA is an open-source LCA data platform built upon the TIDAS (TIangong DAta System) data system. The platform offers flexible usage options, allowing users to either access the online system or implement local deployment. TianGong LCA supports multi-team and multi-user collaboration, enabling team members to work together on complex LCA data preparation projects.

The TianGong LCA platform supports the following key functions:

Creation: Build and manage your life cycle inventory (LCI) data using the TianGong LCA platform, including unit processes, flows, and flow properties, ensuring data accuracy and completeness.

Reference: Access and utilize standardized LCI datasets from the TianGong database, ensuring data consistency and traceability.

Collaboration: Leverage the platform's multi-user collaboration features to enable team members to work together on complex LCA projects, facilitating efficient project management and transparent communication.

Security: Protect your sensitive data with advanced encryption technology and access control mechanisms, ensuring data integrity and security.

Updates: Benefit from regular database and methodology updates, ensuring that you are always working with the latest LCA standards and industry best practices.

The TianGong LCA platform provides comprehensive support for your LCA data management and environmental impact assessment, helping you achieve more accurate results in sustainability research.

Quick Start

The Quick Start section helps new users complete their first essential tasks on the platform:

• Registration & Login: Create an account, sign in, and get familiar with the main workspace layout.
• Demonstrations: Follow guided walkthroughs that showcase common actions such as browsing datasets or triggering sample operations.

User Guide

The User Guide is the core reference for daily work on TianGong LCA. Recommended entries include:

• Interface Essentials: Learn the global top bar, avatar menu, list controls, and common actions.
• TIDAS ZIP Import, Export, and Task Center: Use the global ZIP-package workflow and monitor asynchronous jobs.
• Data Platform Overview: Understand the scope and permissions of Open Data, My Data, Commercial Data, and Team Data.
• Data Creation and Data Use: Move through the everyday create, copy, cite, and reuse workflow.
• Data Review: Understand how authors, review members, and review admins work across different review tabs.
• Process Analysis Workspace and LCIA Calculation & Results: Separate advanced process analysis from direct process/model result reading.
• Permissions & Data Spaces: Compare data spaces, team roles, review roles, and system roles in one place.
• Account Management & API Key: Manage profile data, password, email, and API key generation.
• Team Functions and System Management Workspace: Cover team collaboration and platform-level maintenance entry points.

Data Collection

• Data Collection Instructions: General principles, data sources, workflows, and quality control for data gathering.
• Case Studies: Practical examples showing how to process literature or survey data, including unit process and model construction.

Integrations & Extensions

• TianGong LCA MCP – Local: Set up the MCP server locally and connect it with tools like openLCA or Cherry Studio.
• TianGong LCA MCP – Remote: Authenticate against the hosted MCP service and learn common invocation workflows.
• TianGong Knowledge Base MCP: Link with the knowledge-base tooling to extend search and analysis capabilities.

Deployment & Development

• Self-Hosted Deployment: Launch TianGong LCA and the supporting Supabase stack with Docker.
• Developer Environment: Configure the project locally for customization or contributions.
• Docs / Product Sync Guide: Explain how maintainers should keep the docs site aligned with the product repo.

Changelog

• Feature Updates: Track new capabilities, release dates, and related usage guides.

FAQ

Quickly discover answers organized by topic:

• System Modeling: Guidance on model construction and how TianGong LCA compares to other LCA tools.
• Sources & Citation: Citation practices, traceability, and recommended reference formats.
• More FAQs: Explore the remaining entries for account management, verification, and additional support topics.

Resources & Support

• Resources & Support: Learn about the TianGong Initiative, the TIDAS data framework, and key LCA/carbon footprint standards to deepen your understanding or engage with partner programs.