Carbon Index — 3D Embodied Carbon Heatmap & Viewport Engine
The 3D Embodied Carbon Heatmap provides real-time spatial visualization and visual hotspot detection directly within the 3D building information model. By coupling Bentley's high-performance ConnectViewer with calculated lifecycle emission factors, the heatmap enables designers and engineers to instantly identify carbon-heavy structural assemblies, unlinked materials, and optimization candidates.
3D Heatmap Workspace Layout
The Heatmap workspace is composed of:
- Interactive 3D Viewport: WebGL-accelerated model canvas with smooth pan, zoom, orbit, and element selection.
- Thematic Shading Mode Controller: Switch between Carbon Intensity Heatmap and Data Quality Maturity Heatmap.
- Legend & Threshold Controls: Interactive color scales showing emission boundaries and element counts per bucket.
- Camera & Element Action Bar: Instant element lookup by ECInstanceId, camera framing, bounding box highlighting, and surrounding context ghosting.
Thematic Shading Modes
1. Upfront Carbon Intensity Heatmap
Colors physical elements according to their upfront carbon intensity ($A1–A5\ \text{tCO}_2\text{e}$ or $kgCO_2e/\text{element}$):
| Color Band | Hex Code | Category Range | Typical Component Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Carbon (Green) | #2E7D32 |
lt; 0.1\ \text{tCO}_2\text{e}$ | Timber studs, lightweight gypsum partitions, glazing units. |
| Moderate (Yellow) | #FBC02D |
$0.1 – 0.5\ \text{tCO}_2\text{e}$ | Precast hollowcore units, secondary structural steel angles. |
| High (Orange) | #F57C00 |
$0.5 – 2.0\ \text{tCO}_2\text{e}$ | Heavy structural steel columns, intermediate concrete slabs. |
| Severe Hotspot (Red) | #D32F2F |
gt; 2.0\ \text{tCO}_2\text{e}$ | Mass concrete transfer slabs, pile caps, primary steel girders. |
| Excluded Scope (Gray) | #BDBDBD |
Excluded ($0\ kgCO_2e$) | Spatial boundaries, air volumes, boundary zones. |
2. Data Quality & Resolution Maturity Heatmap
Visualizes the statutory confidence and EPD provenance of every element in the building model:
| Color Band | Shading Color | Resolution Tier | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verified EPD | Deep Green (#1B5E20) |
Tier 1: EC3_LIVE_EPD |
Specific third-party verified product EPD mapped. |
| ICE Benchmark | Blue (#1976D2) |
Tier 2: ICE_V3_BENCHMARK |
Standardized University of Bath ICE baseline factor. |
| Heuristic Match | Orange (#E65100) |
Tier 3: HEURISTIC_FUZZY |
Automated string pattern matched rule. |
| Unlinked Material | Magenta / Red (#C2185B) |
Tier 4: UNLINKED |
Unresolved material requiring engineer review. |
Viewport Interaction & Visual Tools
- Element Focus (
ZOOM): Centers the 3D camera and fits the viewport bounding sphere around the selected asset. - Emphasize Context (
EMPHASIZE): Renders the active element in full opaque color while applying a semi-transparent ghosting shader (15% opacity) to the rest of the building model. - Highlight Outlines (
HIGHLIGHT): Pulses a bounding wireframe around the selected element. - Isolate Selection (
ISOLATE): Hides all other elements in the viewport, leaving only elements belonging to the active CBS group or selected category visible.