Bentley Systems introduced a new tool for carbon analysis at the company’s Year in Infrastructure event. The tool works within its iTwin Experience platform to show where in the whole project the carbon footprint is the greatest so engineers and designers can do something about it at the design stage.
The tool aims to streamline the process of calculating embodied carbon, which is indicative of how much carbon emissions will result from a project’s structures from conception to cradle to grave.
Before such integration of a carbon analysis tool, anyone attempting carbon analysis would have had their patience tested. They had to leave their favored application, open some unfamiliar program, tap into a materials database, enter all parts of the BIM model manually (no way, there can be thousands!) or try to import them, then have the program churn through all that and dump a massive report in your inbox.
Who got time for that?
It’s enough to deter the most environmentally gung-ho engineer. But Bentley Systems, bless their souls, have integrated a carbon analysis tool in Bentley’s iTwin, effectively slicing through the Gordian knot that is today’s carbon analysis. iTwin users can see their BIM model in a carbon light, so to speak, all parts now lit up in a color that indicates their carbon impact. Blue is good and red is bad. It’s that simple. [I would have preferred green for good and black for bad; it is more analogous to environment flags, but blue to red follows traditional analysis color mapping.]
Don’t you like how much red you see in your project? Reach into the Carbon Analysis tool and change the material. You could also change the shape and reduce the volume, reducing the amount of environmentally offending material used, but we don’t know if Bentley’s Carbon Analysis takes volume into account.
“Using Bentley’s new Carbon Analysis capabilities helps transform the tedious task of carbon reporting into a smooth, automated process,” says Chris Bradshaw, a year into his role as Bentley’s Chief Sustainability Officer, in Bentley’ press release.
“And the best thing about it: it’s free,” he adds from the conference stage at Year in Infrastructure.
WSP, a global leader in sustainability consulting, has participated in the early access program for these new tools. Kelvin Saldanha, an associate director at WSP, highlighted how the integration of Bentley’s capabilities has improved the transparency and speed of carbon analysis. “With Bentley’s new Carbon Analysis capabilities, our design team has better transparency to calculate, analyze, and report meaningful carbon footprint impacts within any design change—in real-time with the click of a button, which has greatly reduced feedback loops from months or weeks to days,” he stated.
What Exactly Does the Carbon Analysis Tool Do?
Automated material quantification: It automatically reads the Bentley BIM model and related files and data, including those created by another vendor, and aggregates them all into a digital twin. The carbon tool automatically calculates the volume and types of materials used in the project, quantifying materials like concrete, steel, and other building components using data linked to specific material libraries or databases.
With all data under one roof, volumes (needed for material amounts) quantities (read from BOMs and parts lists) and material specifications, combine for a total carbon footprint. No external carbon analysis app to learn, no Excel spreadsheets to be rounded up, no structure in the projects overlooked.
The tool uses predefined carbon factors from third-party databases or user-specified data and considers the entire lifecycle of materials, from extraction to production.
Users can adjust material choices, design shape and quantities or design parameters to explore how different alternatives impact the overall carbon footprint. For example, users can substitute concrete types or adjust structural elements and immediately see changes in the carbon output.
Updates are no problem. Carbon Analysis will update its calculation automatically based on changes made to BIM, files, or data. The tool uses quantified data to assess the embodied carbon of materials using predefined carbon factors from third-party databases or user-specified data. This calculation considers the entire lifecycle of materials, from extraction to production.
A key feature is the automated material quantification, which aggregates data from various project sources, providing a comprehensive digital twin view. This automation simplifies data collection, reduces the need for estimations, and enables accurate tracking of carbon impacts. Additionally, the 3D visualization capabilities offer an intuitive way for users to see carbon impacts, represented through heat maps, directly within their design models. This feature aids in making more informed decisions quickly, ensuring that sustainability remains a priority throughout the project’s lifecycle.
If you want a detailed report, you can have it – with one click of a button. Use it to impress at internal reviews, regulatory compliance, or communication with other stakeholders.
In-content 3D visualizations: With all models and the apps and data under one roof, you can view it all in one window. Instantly see embodied carbon in a 3D heat map overlaid on 3D geometry. As design changes are made, the tool automatically updates carbon calculations and visualizations. This allows for a dynamic and iterative design process where sustainability remains in its rightful place, on top from start to finish.
Users can share the digital twin, including the carbon calculations and visualizations, with anyone and everyone. All sharers are accessing a single source of truth, one dataset for all. Now ends outdated carbon analysis, done once because of the massive effort it exacts, being passed off as reflecting the project as it finally is.
Engineering teams that are able to integrate sustainability into their workflow in this manner are enabled to make data-driven decisions that can reduce the overall carbon footprint of infrastructure projects.
Bentley’s announcement of an integrated carbon calculator reflects its commitment to supporting the infrastructure sector in achieving global decarbonization goals. Bentley has shown concern for the environment before green was cool and, despite the distraction of a world whose attention swivels to the shiny object du jour, stays focused on matters of existential importance.
The Carbon Analysis tools are now generally available to users of Bentley’s iTwin Experience, though a license from a third-party carbon assessment tool is required for detailed analysis.
