Bentley Systems Enhances Carbon Analysis Capabilities to Tackle Infrastructure’s Carbon Footprint

Chris Bradshaw

Vancouver, B.C.— In a decisive step towards making infrastructure more sustainable, Bentley Systems announced the launch of its new Carbon Analysis capabilities at the Year in Infrastructure Conference. The enhancements, available in the iTwin Experience platform, are aimed at simplifying carbon impact assessments, enabling engineers to systematically integrate carbon analysis into their design processes. The new features promise to streamline the traditionally complex task of carbon reporting by automatically aggregating data, integrating carbon metrics, and offering 3D visualizations of carbon impacts.

Chris Bradshaw, Bentley’s Chief Sustainability Officer, unveiled the Carbon Analysis capabilities at the conference, underscoring their role in addressing a critical aspect of global emissions—embodied carbon. “Given that up to 80% of today’s greenhouse gas emissions are linked to infrastructure, it’s essential that we find ways to significantly reduce the carbon impact of new construction projects and renovations,” said Bradshaw during an interview. “Our new capabilities help engineers visualize carbon data and make informed decisions early in the design process.”

Tackling Embodied Carbon

Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gases emitted during the construction of an asset, accounting for everything from material extraction to manufacturing. These emissions represent a significant portion of infrastructure’s environmental impact—often well before an asset is even put into operation. As Savina Carluccio, executive director of the International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure, highlighted, “By 2050, embodied carbon from new infrastructure could account for nearly half of the world’s carbon footprint.”

Bentley’s Carbon Analysis capabilities provide a “cradle-to-gate” assessment of embodied carbon, offering a more comprehensive understanding of an infrastructure project’s environmental cost. The system simplifies the integration of carbon data by linking Bentley’s iTwin platform with third-party carbon assessment tools, such as EC3 and One Click LCA. This approach allows users to dynamically visualize carbon impact changes across different design iterations, facilitating real-time decision-making.

Simplifying Complex Calculations

While calculating embodied carbon is straightforward in theory—requiring only basic arithmetic—the process becomes complex in practice, especially for large infrastructure projects. Engineers typically face multiple challenges: disparate data formats, evolving design changes, and time-consuming data management. “You can certainly calculate carbon using spreadsheets, but the effort required to keep all the data up-to-date is enormous,” noted Bradshaw. “Our iTwin platform automates this process, continually updating material quantities and recalculating carbon impacts as designs evolve.”

The new capabilities automatically aggregate data from various software sources, organizing them into a digital twin of the infrastructure asset. This integrated model then calculates material volumes and quantities, presenting them as carbon output heat maps within a 3D visualization. The color-coded maps allow engineers, stakeholders, and even the broader community to easily understand the carbon implications of different design choices without delving into complex numerical data.

Beyond the Numbers: Addressing Social and Environmental Impacts

Bentley’s approach to sustainability extends beyond merely reducing carbon. Bradshaw emphasized that achieving sustainable infrastructure involves balancing economic, environmental, and social factors. He pointed to historical infrastructure projects that had inadvertently created social inequities—such as railways and highways that divided communities—highlighting the need to consider social outcomes alongside environmental ones.

“Today, infrastructure projects cannot be undertaken without accounting for their social impact,” said Bradshaw. “Public expectations have evolved, and there is a demand for transparency and inclusiveness in decision-making processes.” The 3D visualization capabilities of the iTwin platform facilitate such conversations by making trade-offs between cost, carbon, and other factors more transparent.

A Commitment to Accessibility

In a move that reinforces Bentley’s dedication to sustainability, the company announced that the Carbon Analysis capabilities would be available at no additional cost to iTwin Experience users. “We are not charging extra for this feature because we believe that helping the industry reduce greenhouse gas emissions is not just good business—it’s the right thing to do,” said Bradshaw. By making carbon analysis tools accessible, Bentley aims to encourage widespread adoption across the industry, setting a standard for integrating sustainability into infrastructure projects.

The iTwin platform’s open API also allows users to incorporate proprietary materials and custom carbon libraries, providing the flexibility to accommodate a range of requirements. For larger organizations, this enables the use of company-specific data that may not be available in common databases like EC3.

Industry Adoption and Future Directions

Bentley’s new capabilities have already garnered attention from industry leaders such as WSP, who participated in an Early Access Program. Kelvin Saldanha, associate director at WSP, praised the platform’s ability to streamline carbon calculations and improve transparency. “The feedback loops in our carbon assessments have gone from months or weeks to just days,” Saldanha noted.

While the current Carbon Analysis capabilities focus on embodied carbon, Bradshaw acknowledged that operational carbon—emissions generated during the use of infrastructure—remains an important consideration for future updates. The company intends to address this aspect, enabling comprehensive lifecycle assessments that cover both construction and operation phases.

Bridging the Gap to the Next Generation

As the conversation shifted to Bradshaw’s own role at Bentley, he reflected on his passion for sustainability and education. With a career that spans roles in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, Bradshaw is dedicated to shaping the future through initiatives that engage young minds. He serves on the boards of two STEM education organizations, believing that solutions to today’s environmental challenges will emerge from the creativity and drive of future generations.

“The problems we face today won’t be solved by my generation; we created many of them,” he said. “It’s essential that we empower young people to address these issues, as they bring a fresh perspective and the courage to try new approaches.”

A Catalyst for Change

Bentley’s new Carbon Analysis capabilities mark a significant step forward in sustainable infrastructure design. By automating data integration, simplifying carbon reporting, and offering intuitive visualizations, the company is making it easier for engineers and designers to incorporate sustainability into their projects. The availability of these tools at no extra cost signals Bentley’s commitment to leading the charge towards a more sustainable future—one project at a time.

As infrastructure around the world continues to evolve, Bentley’s efforts to make carbon analysis a standard practice could prove to be a game-changer. The next decade will likely see not only a transformation in the tools used to design and build infrastructure but also a shift in the values that drive these decisions, with sustainability at the forefront.

Tags: Bentley Systems, carbon analysis, digital twin, embodied carbon, iTwin Experience, sustainable infrastructure

Category: Bentley Systems

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