Carbon Index — RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) Dossier Engine
The RICS WLCA Dossier Engine is the statutory compliance reporting module of Carbon Index. Designed to produce submission-ready documentation for the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) 2nd Edition (2023), BS EN 15978, and regional planning authorities (e.g. Greater London Authority London Plan Policy SI 2), the dossier aggregates project metadata, life cycle stages, elemental decompositions, and data quality audits into a verified statutory report.
RICS WLCA Dossier Interface
The dossier interface provides a clean, printable document view equipped with 1-click Print / Save as PDF and Export JSON Audit Bundle triggers.
6-Section Statutory Report Structure
RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) Dossier
├── 1. Project Context & Assessment Metadata
├── 2. Executive Summary & Benchmarking KPIs
├── 3. Complete Lifecycle Stages Breakdown (Modules A1 to D)
├── 4. RICS NRM Elemental Breakdown
├── 5. Top Material Contributors & Key Carbon Drivers
└── 6. Data Quality, EPD Provenance & Audit Trail
Section 1: Project Context & Assessment Metadata
Documents key project parameters required by RICS WLCA:
- Project Name & iTwin Repository Identifier.
- Assessment Date & RIBA Work Stage (e.g. Stage 2 Concept, Stage 3 Spatial Coordination, Stage 4 Technical Design).
- Gross Internal Area (GIA): Total usable floor area ($m^2$) used as the normalizing denominator.
- Building Typology & Intended Lifespan (Default: 60 years per RICS guidance).
- Lead Carbon Assessor Name & Professional Accreditation.
Section 2: Executive Summary & Benchmarking KPIs
Presents the high-level carbon intensity and national benchmark alignment:
- Upfront Carbon ($A1–A5$): Expressed in total tonnes ($\text{tCO}_2\text{e}$) and intensity ($kgCO_2e/m^2\ \text{GIA}$).
- Whole Life Carbon ($A–C$): Total cradle-to-grave emissions over the 60-year reference period.
- Module D Circularity Potential: Net future reuse/recycling benefits outside system boundaries.
- Benchmark Letter Rating ($A$ to $G$): Visual rating badge indicating standard compliance.
Section 3: Complete Lifecycle Stages Breakdown Matrix
The dossier tabulates embodied carbon across all standard EN 15978 / RICS lifecycle modules:
| Lifecycle Stage | RICS Module Name | Description & Calculation Basis | Emissions ($\text{tCO}_2\text{e}$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Stage | $A1–A3$ | Raw material extraction, transport to factory, and manufacturing. | Calculated |
| Transport to Site | $A4$ | Logistics and vehicle transport from manufacturing plant to project site. | Calculated |
| Construction Installation | $A5$ | On-site plant energy, installation activities, and material wastage. | Calculated |
| In-Use Embodied | $B1–B5$ | Maintenance, repair, component replacement, and refurbishment over 60 years. | Calculated |
| End of Life | $C1–C4$ | Deconstruction, demolition, transport to waste processing, and landfill disposal. | Calculated |
| Beyond Lifecycle | Module $D$ | Reuse, recovery, and recycling potential beyond system boundaries (Reported separately). | Calculated |
Section 4: RICS NRM Elemental Breakdown
Presents carbon totals mapped to the mandatory RICS New Rules of Measurement structure:
1. Substructure2. Superstructure3. Internal Finishes4. Services / MEP5. External Works
Section 5: Top Material Contributors
Ranks the top carbon-intensive material specifications, highlighting where low-carbon alternatives (e.g. GGBS cement replacement, recycled steel, timber structures) deliver the highest carbon reductions.
Section 6: Data Quality & Audit Trail
Summarizes data maturity to prevent greenwashing:
- Tier 1 (EC3 Live EPDs): Percentage of elements backed by third-party verified product EPDs.
- Tier 2 (ICE Benchmarks): Percentage backed by verified industry average baselines.
- Tier 3 / 4 (Heuristic / Unlinked): Residual items with notes on how gaps will be resolved.
Export & Distribution Workflows
- Vector Print to PDF: Formatted with high-resolution vector typography, print page-breaks, and corporate branding headers.
- JSON Statutory Audit Bundle: Machine-readable payload formatted for statutory digital planning portals and BSR gateways.