AI tool predicts building emissions from simple text descriptions

Researchers at the University of Bath have developed the first artificial intelligence (AI) tool that predicts the carbon footprint of buildings from simple text descriptions, giving architects real-time feedback on sustainability at the earliest design stage. From a conversational description of a proposed building, the tool uses machine learning and natural language processing to predict the embodied carbon, the carbon emissions associated with materials and construction throughout the building's life cycle. It provides architects with instant feedback on the sustainability of their plans right at the start of the design process, where the potential for carbon saving is greatest.