Introduction
The Vizcab Excel add-in allows users to search for and associate EPDs based on various databases such as INIES, ECO Portal, EPD Norway, MRPI, etc. This functionality is crucial for users looking to match the most appropriate EPDs to their products.
EPD Search in the INIES Database
The search in the INIES (French) database is currently the most precise and operates on three levels:
- Keywords: The add-in searches for keywords and their position in the product name. This allows it to find relevant EPDs even if the product descriptions are vague or approximate.
- Materials: Identification of specific materials mentioned in the product description helps refine the results based on the materials used.
- Construction Systems: Recognition of the construction systems to which the product may belong offers a more targeted search.
This three-level approach allows for very precise recognition, ensuring that even vague component names can lead to relevant and well-suited EPDs for the products being searched.
EPD Search in Other Databases (ECO Portal, etc.)
For other databases like ECO Portal or EPD Italy, the search is still in the beta phase and requires increased precision. Users must be very precise in the terms used for the search because the results depend directly on the exact match of the words with those present in the EPDs. It is important to note that the search is primarily based on the product name.
- Different Languages: The databases can contain EPDs in different languages. The precision of the terms used is therefore essential to obtain relevant results.
- Current Limitation: If the entered keyword does not appear in any EPD in the database, no results will be returned.
Future Improvements
The Vizcab development team is continuously working to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the search in other databases. Future updates, planned in the next few weeks, will likely include more sophisticated recognition of materials and construction systems, similar to that of the INIES database.
Conclusion
The search functionality in the Vizcab add-in for Excel is a powerful tool for associating EPDs with products. Currently, the search in the INIES database offers exceptional accuracy thanks to its three-level system. For other databases, although the search is less sophisticated and requires precise terms, improvements are underway to provide a better user experience.
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