WC3 Carbon App

User Guide

Welcome to the WC3 Carbon App. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up, populating, and analysing a project from start to finish.

Understanding Your Plan

The WC3 app has multiple tiers. This guide covers all features, some of which may require an active Pro Plan or 30-Day Pro Trial. Pro features include:

  • Cloud Projects: Saving your work to the cloud in "My Projects."

  • Scenario Comparison: Saving and comparing multiple project versions, saved to each cloud project.

  • AI Analysis: On-demand AI-powered input checks and analysis.

  • PDF Reporting: Exporting a professional, branded PDF.

  • Unlimited Inputs: The free student plan is limited to 20 material rows.

You can manage your subscription, start a trial, or enter a student access code from the "Account" icon in the header.

Understanding A1-A5

WC3 is an "upfront" carbon calculator, which means it focuses on the A1-A5 lifecycle stages as defined by international standards like EN 15978. This scope covers all emissions generated from the raw material extraction ("cradle") up to the point of the project's completion ("practical completion").

These stages are:

  • A1-A3: Product Stage: All "cradle-to-gate" emissions from raw material supply, transport to the factory, and manufacturing of the products (e.g., concrete, pipes, steel, asphalt).

  • A4: Transport Stage: Emissions from transporting the finished products from the factory gate to your project site.

  • A5: Construction Stage: All emissions generated from on-site construction and installation processes, including deforestation, fuel for earthworks, energy for paving, and general site power.

By focusing on A1-A5, the app provides a comprehensive and actionable assessment of the embodied carbon you have direct control over before the project becomes operational.

1. The App Header and Core Actions

Your main controls are in the header at the top of the page.

  • Project Name: Click on "Untitled Project" to name your project. This is auto-saved.

  • My Projects (Pro Feature): Click to open your list of cloud-saved projects. You can load a project, create a new one, or delete old ones from this modal.

  • Save Status (Pro Feature): An icon shows the status of your project ("Saving...", "Saved", or "Unsaved changes") when cloud saving is available.

  • New Project: Creates a new, blank project. This will clear your current workspace (your existing project is auto-saved if you are a Pro user).

  • Scenarios: Click to save a snapshot of your entire project at its current state. This is the first step for using the "Comparison" tab.

  • AI Analysis (Pro Feature): After you have data, click this to generate an AI-powered review of inputs, summary of hotspots and opportunities on the "Summary" tab.

  • Import/Export:

    • Export: Saves your entire project (all tabs) to a .json file on your computer. This is the primary way to save your work on the free/student plan.

    • Import: Click to load a project from a .json file. This will overwrite your current workspace.

  • Print Report (Pro Feature): Generates a multi-page, branded PDF of your project's summary and data tables.

  • Account Menu: Click the "person" icon to manage your subscription, access the Student Plan modal, find help links, or log out.

2. Data Entry Workflow

You can populate your project in two primary ways:

Option A: Civil Site Design Import

This feature is available in the December 2025 update to Civil Site Design. This is the fastest way to get started and is available to all users.

  1. From Civil Site Design (CSD): In your CSD software, generate the "WC3 Export." This creates a .json file.

  2. From a Previous WC3 Save: Use a .json file you previously saved using the "Export Project" button.

  3. Import the File: In the WC3 App header, click the "Import Project" button. This will overwrite your current workspace. Select your .json file, and the app will automatically populate all tabs with your project data.

  4. Review Your Data: Your model is now 90% complete. You must still review the imported data and select your desired Energy Sources in the A4 and A5 tabs to complete the calculation.

Option B: Manual Data Entry

Use the main navigation tabs (A1-A3, A4, A5) to enter your quantities manually. Click the + Add Row button in any card to add a new item.

3. A1-A3 Materials Tab

This is where you will input all the physical materials for your project. If importing from Civil Site Design, this tab will be pre-populated for review.

  1. Data Entry: Fill in the white cells (like "Layer" name and quantities). The grey cells are auto-calculated.

  2. Using an EPD: Click the "EPD" button on any row to override the default material data with your own verified EPD factors.

  3. Pro Tip: Use the "Duplicate" button (two squares) to quickly copy a row. Use the "X" button to delete a row.

A key feature of the A1-A3 tab is the ability to use your own custom materials. Before you can select a composite mix like reinforced concrete or a custom material, you must first create it. This is done in the "Data Sources" tab (see Section 7).

4. A4 Transport Tab

This tab calculates the emissions from hauling materials.

Transport Mode: Select your primary haulage vehicle (e.g., "Articulated Truck").

Energy Source:

  • To use the standard diesel calculation (t.km), select "Diesel Fuel".

  • To use the electric calculation (kWh/t.km), select your state's electricity grid (e.g., "Electricity: NSW/ACT") or "Renewable Energy".

  • You may also add a custom fuel in the Data Sources tab.

Distances: Enter the one-way distances from your suppliers to the project site. The app will automatically calculate the full return journey.

Haulage Calculations: This table is auto-calculated based on the material masses from A1-A3 and the variables you just set.

General & Site Haulage: This table is for manual, distance-based transport. Use this for items not tied to bulk materials, like floating an excavator to the site or daily site vehicle travel. You can select the vehicle type and energy source for each entry.

5. A5 Construction Tab

This tab calculates the emissions from on-site construction activities. It is split into four sections.

Site Clearing

This calculates the biogenic carbon release from removing biomass.

  1. Vegetation Type: Select from "High-Density Forest" (high impact) or "Grassland" (low impact), or enter a custom factor if you have a specific ecological assessment.

  2. Area: Enter the clearing footprint in hectares.

Earthworks

  1. Select your Energy Source (Diesel or Electric).

  2. The table header will dynamically update to show "Total Fuel (L)" or "Total Energy (kWh)".

  3. Enter the Volume (m³) (in-situ) for your Cut/Fill activities. The app will use proprietary productivity factors to automatically calculate the total fuel or energy consumed.

Construction Activities (Trenching & Pavement)

This section is auto-calculated based on your inputs in the A1-A3 tab.

  • For every "Pipe" you add, a "Trenching" activity is created.

  • For every "Pavement" layer you add, a "Grading & Compaction" activity is created.

  • The fuel/energy consumption is determined by the "Energy Source" dropdown at the top of this section.

General Site Activities

This section is for manually adding other on-site emissions. A default row is provided for site sheds/offices. You can add extra rows for specific equipment (e.g., Cranes, Generators).

  1. Select an "Energy Source" (e.g., "Diesel Fuel" or "Electricity: NSW/ACT").

  2. The "Unit" column will update automatically.

  3. Enter the total Quantity (L or kWh) of energy used for that activity (e.g., "Site Office Power").

6. Analysing Your Results

As you add data, your results are calculated in real-time on the "Summary" and "Comparison" tabs.

Summary Tab

This is your main project dashboard.

  • KPI Cards: At the top, you'll see the high-level totals for A1-A3, A4, and A5, giving you an instant overview.

  • AI Analysis (Pro Feature): Click the "AI Analysis" button (in the header) to get a plain-English summary of your results, key hotspots, and data anomalies, which will appear in this section.

  • Embodied Carbon Distribution: A doughnut chart showing the breakdown of carbon across the A1-A5 lifecycle stages.

  • Project Summary and Benchmarking: This card displays your total footprint.

    • Click "Configure Benchmark" to set your project type (e.g., Urban Road) and size (m²).

    • The app will calculate your Carbon Intensity (kgCO₂e/m²) and compare your performance against industry baselines (e.g., "15% below benchmark").

    • You can also set a Target Reduction goal to track your progress.

  • Results by Category: A detailed list showing the percentage and total CO₂e for each category, with an in-line bar chart for a quick visual scan.

  • Top 5 Contributors: A ranked list of the specific materials driving your carbon footprint.

Comparison Tab

Pro Feature: Pro users will have scenarios saved to each cloud project.

Student Plan: Student users can save up to 2 scenarios in their browser.

This tab allows you to compare different design options head-to-head.

  1. Save Scenario A: First, finalise your "Baseline" design. Click the "Scenarios" button in the header and save it (e.g., as "Baseline Design").

  2. Make Changes: Go back to the A1-A3 or A4 tabs and make your changes (e.g., swap virgin rock for recycled, or change transport distance).

  3. Save Scenario B: Click the "Scenarios" button again and save your new version (e.g., as "Low-Carbon Option").

  4. Compare: Go to the Comparison tab. Select "Baseline Design" in the first dropdown and "Low-Carbon Option" in the second.

  5. Analyse: The tab will instantly update with a bar chart and table showing the exact kg CO₂e and % difference for every category.

7. Your Material Library

The Data Sources tab shows a read-only list of all default EC factors used in the app. It also allows you to create two types of custom materials:

  • Add Custom Material: This allows you to add a simple material from a known EPD or data source. You can define it by mass (kgCO₂e/tonne), volume (kgCO₂e/m³), or as a fuel (kgCO₂e/litre).

  • Create Composite: This is a powerful mix builder. It lets you combine multiple base materials by their % by Volume (e.g., 97% Crushed Rock + 3% Cement) to create a new, reusable material. The app automatically calculates the blended density and EC factor for your new composite.

Once you save a Custom or Composite material, it appears in the "Saved Materials" table and becomes available in all material dropdowns on the A1-A3 tab.

8. Methodology

The Methodology tab explains the app's calculation logic and scope. It also contains a "User Notes" section where you can add assumptions or notes that will be saved with your project and included in the PDF report.