Arup and Autodesk Partner to Develop Carbon Management Solutions for AECO Sector: A Step Towards Net-Zero Buildings

In a groundbreaking move, Arup, a leading built environment consultancy company, and Autodesk, a software provider, have partnered to support carbon management within the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) industries. The partnership is being hailed as the "first-of-its-kind" and is set to develop "actionable" tools and frameworks for decarbonisation. The built environment sector accounts for approximately 34% of energy-related carbon emissions worldwide, and the urgency of addressing this issue is underscored by projections that the global building floor area will double by 2060, with three-quarters of the infrastructure existing in 2050 yet to be built. The partnership aims to streamline AECO solutions for decarbonisation in the built environment, aligning with the Paris Agreement goals and targeting decision makers such as asset owners and investors. Key initiatives of the collaboration include the development of building information modelling (BIM) guidelines for carbon assessment through the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The partnership also plans to explore whole life carbon data journey standardisation, integrate BIM automation for Whole Life Carbon Assessment methods, and leverage AI for decarbonisation research and development. Arup's "technical expertise" and insights on whole life carbon data management, derived from its global data schema, will inform Autodesk's continuing development of carbon management solutions. Arup fellow and global sustainable development leader Jo da Silva said: "This work demonstrates our commitment to radical collaboration across the industry to tackle decarbonisation. By combining our technical expertise in whole life carbon assessment with Autodesk's innovative technology platforms, we're creating data-driven solutions that will inform early design decisions focused on reducing carbon and costs." Autodesk chief sustainability officer Joe Speicher added: "Collaboration with industry is critical for accelerating the development of sustainable solutions – such that we can better measure, manage and mitigate carbon impacts associated with the built environment. Engaging with Arup and other industry leaders will allow us to validate carbon management technologies with our customers, so we can collectively accelerate the AECO industry’s transition toward a low-carbon future." Last month, Arup was selected by the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) for the state’s first comprehensive coastal resilience study. The partnership between Arup and Autodesk is a significant step towards addressing the urgent need for carbon management in the AECO sector and is expected to drive a unified path towards net-zero buildings.