Precedent: Tally
Tally is a information technology tool which uses data analysis to inform architects of the environmental impacts of their designs as an extension to the digital building tool Revit. Tally was established in 2013 by KT Innovations, a software development company. The LCA Data is provided by thinkstep. The software is supported by Autodesk and Revit, an architectural tool which is used to produce accurate drawings. Tally uses the LCA to predict the ecological impact of the building to the earth. LCA stands for Life Cycle Assessment which produces an in-depth analysis of the materials used in the project and the life cycle of these products. This is in conjunction with the Living Building Challenge which consistutes building design which lowers or eniliates the carbon footprint of the design. The software assesses the build in Revit and calculates the environmental impacts through a Life Cycle Assessment. The ethos of the project is that BIM (building information modelling) can articulate the reflect the volume of materials and material analysis.
This example of information technology explains how the ecological impact of material use can be presented in the building process and not as an external after thought. This example of ecocritical software provides me with a precendee which explores the integration of ecological suffering and acknowledgement of material picking in the process. This is therefore putting the ecological impact as the result of the building beside or at least closer to the projects initiative. The software shows an analysis of the material and the ecological impact which assesses the options chosen for materials and electricity. This brings awareness to the creator and enables them to easily engage with post-human, social ethics of Ecocriticism. This precedent explores the transfer of information in graphs and text which although very useful, could be presented in a way which enables the viewer to look closer at the issues within the material sourcing and help them to choose ecologically sustainable materials.
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