Autodesk has developed an embodied carbon analysis tool to be integrated into the software maker’s AI-driven Forma application.
Powered by the C.Scale data model developed by U.S.-based architecture firm EHDD, the tool “enables designers to better understand the carbon impacts from primary material choices and building form during site feasibility and massing studies at the beginning of a project planning process,” Autodesk says.
The tool allows architects working in Forma to subject their early design concept to an AI-powered analysis that can evaluate design concepts and iterate toward reducing carbon emissions.
Located in the ‘analysis’ tab in the Forma web application, the analysis allows users to define site-wide analytical properties as well as those specific to individual buildings. Parameters that can be specified include building function, structural system, and envelope factors such as cladding and window-to-wall ratio.
According to Autodesk, the Embodied Carbon Analysis tool provides “near-instant” results including the lifecycle embodied carbon number, as well as color-coded visualizations providing further breakdowns of carbon sources.
The developers hope that with a better understanding of embodied carbon emissions at early-stage planning, a more inherently sustainable early-stage model can then be transferred from Forma to Revit for detailed design.
“The biggest climate gains are made up front in the project development process when data is scarce, but the solution set is vast,” said EHDD principal Brad Jacobson about the tool. “Integrating the predictive insights of C.Scale early into the BIM workflow puts carbon intelligence into the fingertips of every designer.”
News of the carbon analysis tool comes months after Autodesk launched a VR tool for reviewing BIM models.
Other software-related stories to appear in our editorial recently include ICON's announcement of “AI designer” Vitruvius and Rayon, a Norman Foster-backed design tool for developing architectural plans.
4 Comments
Pointless. How about AI code-check tools instead?
Agree. I don't know why Autodesk is obsessed with automating pre-design and conceptual tasks. This particular tool seems to emanate from an echo chamber of Autodesk's development team and a handful of giant firms that can spend the time to chase embodied carbon. They need to make AI assisted solutions for the tedious production stuff that employees don't want to do.
Why is nearly every new software feature labeled "AI"? This new feature is simply an analysis tool.
Isn't this just a database? GIGO if the source is suspect.
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