NMD Platform as a dynamic background report
Stichting NMD is further developing the NMD Platform into a dynamic background report. This makes the underlying information of category 3 data more accessible, up to date and easier to trace. The information that is now contained in separate PDF reports will soon be directly visible in the platform and the NMD Viewer, ensuring that LCA practitioners, LCA reviewers, policymakers and other professionals working with environmental performance calculations can always work with the most current information.
Why a dynamic background report?
The current background reports, particularly for the civil engineering sector, are static. They become outdated quickly because calculations are carried out manually in software such as SimaPro or Excel and then published as PDF files.
When the underlying process database in the NMD Platform is updated, these reports should ideally be recalculated and revised — something that does not always happen in practice. As a result, discrepancies can arise between what is stated in the reports and what is used in the calculation tools.
By designing the platform itself as a dynamic background report, the information becomes directly linked to the most current data in the database. Users no longer need to search through separate documents for specific assumptions or underlying principles.
What is changing?
Het NMD Platform wordt stap voor stap uitgebreid, zodat het de functies van de huidige PDF-rapporten volledig overneemt.
The main changes:
- Centre-of-gravity analyses: graphs that provide insight into the structure of the Environmental Cost Indicator (MKI) per phase, per material and per impact category.
- Data visibility through the NMD Viewer: the data in the platform becomes directly visible to users, including explanations and background information.
- New text fields and structure: information on assumptions, functional units, service life, scenarios and data sources becomes part of the platform itself.
In this way, background reports become living documents that automatically update in line with changes to the database.
Benefits for users
The update offers three key benefits:
- Improved accessibility: all background information for category 3 data is directly available through the NMD Viewer.
- Greater consistency: the results in reports, the platform and calculation tools are always aligned.
- More efficient maintenance: duplicate work is eliminated, enabling Stichting NMD to update more category 3 data within the same budget.
Project approach and planning
The further development consists of three subprojects:
- Centre-of-gravity analyses — adding interactive graphs and explanations
- Expansion of the NMD Viewer — making all data fields from the platform accessible
- Dynamic background report — replacing the static PDF reports with direct online information
The delivery of these subprojects will take place in phases:
| Subproject | Planning | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. First centre-of-gravity analyses visible in the platform | delivered | |
| 2. Input data visible through the NMD Viewer | delivered | |
| 3. New reporting function live — replacement of the static PDFs | januari 2026 |
Collaboration and quality
The project is being carried out by Stichting NMD in collaboration with Fluxility (software development) and with substantive input from a sounding board group that includes Rijkswaterstaat, recognised LCA practitioners and reviewers.
During development, interim results are continuously reviewed and tested to ensure that the final functionality aligns with practical needs.
Further development
From January onwards, the reporting function will become available within the NMD Platform. This will give LCA practitioners additional fields to enter all information from the background report digitally. At the moment the functionality goes live, it will not yet be populated for existing environmental declarations. New declarations will be entered using this approach from that point onwards. For existing declarations, the current PDF reports will remain available for the time being, meaning this application will continue to exist alongside the viewer for several more years.
After completion of this project, the platform will be further expanded with features that strengthen transparency and quality even more, such as:
- a feedback function allowing users to submit questions or comments on specific data fields
- a log function to ensure traceability of changes to environmental declarations over time
Relevante nieuwsberichten
