Getting started with SDAI tools
Choose the right SDAI tool for Python, MCP, or structured LCA work.
Choose your starting point
SDAI develops open tools for life cycle assessment and engineering analysis. The best place to start depends on whether you want to write Python, connect an MCP client, or add a structured LCA workflow to an assistant.
| What you want to do | Start with |
|---|---|
| Work with openLCA from Python | openLCA IPC |
| Connect an MCP client to openLCA | openLCA MCP |
| Work with Brightway through MCP | Brightway MCP |
| Build process models, TEA, or QSDsan workflows through MCP | BioSTEAM / QSDsan MCP |
| Run municipal-solid-waste LCA workflows through MCP | SwolfPy MCP |
| Run headless process simulation through upstream DWSIM MCP | DWSIM MCP integration |
| Add LCA planning and review workflows to an assistant | LCA Skills |
Use openLCA from Python
openLCA IPC is a Python library that connects to a running openLCA Desktop instance. Use it to search a database, inspect or create model data, run calculations, compare scenarios, and extract results.
Start here
Read the openLCA IPC overview, then install the package and complete the quickstart.
Connect an MCP client to openLCA
openLCA MCP exposes openLCA operations as typed Model Context Protocol tools. Use it when another application or agent needs to search the active database, inspect models, run calculations, or analyze results.
Use a structured LCA workflow
LCA Skills packages LCA planning, scope, inventory, review, interpretation, and reporting guidance for supported agent hosts. It is useful when the study method matters as much as the software call.
What is not part of the public setup
The shared SDAI MCP Stack is internal research infrastructure. You do not need it to install or use the public tools described here.