What's New in Insight

This is a full list of updates and improvements made to Insight.

Autodesk® Insight, our cloud-based service, provides the necessary tools for a comprehensive analysis of energy and carbon factors in building design. This service facilitates informed decision-making at various stages of your project. The service empowers architects with an intuitive and collaborative workspace. Using this tool facilitates the exploration and interpretation of critical design-performance decisions using open and accessible data and analytics.

July 1, 2025 Update

Enhancements
- For clarity, message updated to read "Embodied Carbon" instead of EC
Issues Resolved
- Resolved issue related to simulation management of base run being duplicated after values were selected multiple times.
- Resolved issue related to 0 values in simulation factors.
- String characters are prevented from being saved in factor values.
- Resolved issue for unauthorized access on carbon and energy breakdowns.
- Resolved issue with Rename button in Manage Factors.
- Ghosted chart now displays Edit for unsimulated metrics.

June 10, 2025 Update

Simulation Factors - This enhancement provides increased control and expands the capabilities of building energy simulation. It enables automatic variation of simulation inputs, with a specific focus on operational and embodied carbon metrics.

Key features:
- Enhanced Control - Adjust various parameters, including Lighting Power Density, Building Orientation, Plug-in Load Efficiency, Operating Schedule, and Infiltration Rate.
- Efficient Experimentation - Experiment with impacts without needing changes to the model in Revit, saving valuable time.
- New Computations - Advanced factors generate new model computations, while simple factors provide instant results without requiring a simulation run.
- Simulation Management - Generate and manage multiple simulation configurations in the Simulation Combination Dialog.
  
  Advanced Factors enable you to modify design parameters that significantly impact project outcomes, offering a more comprehensive and efficient approach to building energy simulation.
Enhancements
- Added dividers for dashboard tabs.
- Included three additional project data in the Tree view:
  - Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR)
  - Lighting Power Density (LPD)
  - Climate Zone This data expansion allows users to read and display this project data on a data display card and custom dashboard.
- Enhanced metric card behavior when a large numerical value is displayed.
- Updated the way we display the breakdown in Bar Chart Cards for metrics that include embodied carbon data.
- Table values are now displayed when duplicating building lifespan factor.
- Updated notifications that appear when creating a metric.
- Updated display of unit symbols.
- Added improvements when handling duplicated values and high numbers for Factors.
- Enhanced formula validation related to a custom metric invalid value depending on factor.
- Enhanced the dropdown card features and calculations to display updated data/metric values instantaneously, or revert to the default factor value if the selected factor option value is deleted.
- Enhanced top navigation bar, buttons and breadcrumb to be responsive based on web-browser page size.
- Added alert state for data display card.
- Enable editing the new dashboard name without manually deleting with backspace.
- Enhanced Top navigation bar responsiveness based on the web-browser page size.
- Updated the styling of the About dialog box.
- Updated the styling of the Privacy dialog box.
- Enhanced Card dialog styling.
Issues Resolved
- Known limitation: Formula box in Manage Metrics does not support copy-paste type of actions.
- Corrected an issue that would appear when two users would be logged at the same time in two different tabs.
- Fixed an intermittent issue related to Card Library tooltip.
- Corrected an issue that would prevent a defined metric to be saved.
- Fixed an issue related to the bar chart legend position when a web-browser page is resized.
- Fixed an issue with breadcrumb path while user switches active dashboard.
- Fixed an issue with the confirmation dialog appearing twice when user clicks on leave dashboard button.
- Fixed an issue with updating an edited unit of a custom metric and displaying it on a dashboard.
- Fixed a styling issue in modals with content that warrants scrolling.
- Fixed an issue with the model's name displayed in the breadcrumb and the model's name.
- Fixed a persisting issue related to the page content across the sessions.
- Fixed a regression issue related to horizontal scrollbar at the dashboard tab level when scrolling arrow appears.
- Fixed an issue with long dashboard names and the way they are displayed on the dashboard tabs.
- Fixed an issue related to the Edit button and its styling behavior when user is switching active dashboard.
- Fixed an issue related to save/leave modal dashboard triggered after renaming a dashboard.
- Fixed an issue related to special characters included into the dashboard name.

September 24, 2024 Update

Enhancements
- General
  - Reporting to AIA DDX, enables seamless automated data sharing between Insight and AIA DDX for firms dedicated to the AIA 2030 goals.

August 23, 2024 Update

Enhancements
- Metrics
  - Users are able to see the performance of a metric relative to a set benchmark. It enables the comparison of the measured performance of a building model to itself or established norms, with the goal of informing and motivating performance improvement.
    
    Note: Benchmarks are available across models and cannot be assigned per model.

July 8, 2024 Update

Enhancements
- General
  - Updated display of unit symbols.
- Cards
  - Added alert state for data display card.
  - Enhanced the dropdown card elements to instantly display updated data/metric values based on the selected factor option or revert to the default factor value when the selected factor option value is deleted.
  - Enhanced formula validation related to custom metric invalid values depending on factor.
  - Enhanced card dialog styling.
  - Enhanced Metric card behavior when large values are displayed.
- Charts/Graphs
  - Enhanced top navigation bar responsiveness based on the web-browser page size.
  - Enhanced top navigation bar buttons and breadcrumb responsiveness based on web-browser page size.
- Dashboards
  - Edit the new dashboard names without manually deleting string using backspace key.
- Factors
  - Table values are displayed when duplicating building lifespan factor.
- Metrics
  - Improvements related to handling duplicated values and high numbers for Factors.
- Logon
  - Updated the styling of the Privacy dialog box.
  - Updated the styling of the About dialog box.
Issues Resolved
- General
  - Fixed an issue related to special characters included in dashboard names.
- Cards
  - Fixed an issue related to save/exit dashboard when renaming a dashboard.
  - Fixed an issue with the confirmation dialog appearing twice when leaving a dashboard.
  - Fixed an issue with breadcrumb path while switching the active dashboard.
  - Fixed an issue related to the bar chart legend position when a web-browser page is resized.
  - Fixed an intermittent issue related to Card Library tooltip.
- Charts/Graphs
  - Fixed an issue related to the Edit button and its styling behavior when switching the active dashboard.
  - Updated the display of the breakdown in Bar Chart Cards for metrics that include embodied carbon data.
- Dashboards
  - Fixed an issue with long dashboard names and the way they are displayed on the dashboard tabs.
- Embodied Carbon
  - Corrected an issue that is caused when two users are logged at the same time in two different tabs.
- Model Viewer
  - Fixed an issue with the model's name displayed in the breadcrumbs and the model's name rendered in the model viewer.
- Metrics
  - Fixed an issue with updating an edited unit of a custom metric and the display of it on a dashboard.
  - Corrected an issue that would prevent a defined metric from being saved.
  - Known limitation: Formula box in Manage Metrics does not support copy-paste type of actions.
  - Updated notifications that appear when creating a metric.
- Model Details
  - Fixed an issue related to the page content across sessions.

March 25, 2024 Update

Explore Factors - Added the ability to configure factors using an initial set of data to expand the analysis. Factors are additional data points Used to expand the analysis scope used in determining Metrics.
Out-of-the-box Factors - Users can inspect the factors that are used to calculate the following metrics:
- Operational Carbon
- Operational Energy
- Annual Operational carbon - Fossil Fuel
- Annual Operational Carbon - Electricity
Factor Variables editor - Added the ability to configure the factors by using a maximum number of 5 Values. If the factor is used in a metric, then varying the values will update the result of the metric.
Error messaging and Error States - Notifications and errors are delivered in web page errors or toast notifications when you encounter simulation, platform errors, or component errors.
Links to Help documentation - Access Help documentation on key topic and feature areas through links in the platform.
Access points for Manage Metrics and Manage Factors - Buttons to access Manage Factors and Manage Metrics are located in the navigation bar.
New Overview Dashboard - Overview dashboard has been re-configured.
Embodied Carbon Warning - Embodied carbon card on the overview dashboard is marked with a warning when embodied carbon definition mappings are missing. use the embodied carbon details to configure missing mappings.
New default Metrics
- Annual Operational Energy - Fossil Fuel: This metric represents the annual energy needed to run building systems. The calculation of Operational Energy can be determined by categorizing fossil fuel types, considering the HVAC and MEP systems used.
- Annual Operational Carbon: This metric represents the yearly carbon emissions linked to the use of fossil fuels necessary for operating building systems.
- Annual Operation Carbon - Electricity: This metric represents the yearly carbon emissions linked to the use of electricity necessary for operating building systems.
New default Factor
- Building Lifespan: The lifespan of a building refers to the duration between its initial design or construction and eventual replacement.

February 26, 2024 Update

Enable editing of dashboard and cards - Build customized dashboards displaying the information important to your analysis.
- Duplicate dashboards - Duplicate the Analysis Overview Dashboard and duplicate user created dashboards.
- Add card-based dashboards - Create a new card-based dashboards. Add, rearrange, and delete the cards from the available in the Card Library (Data Display, Bar Chart, Dropdown, 3D View and Text Card). Create up to a maximum of 10 dashboards.
- Rename and delete dashboards - Rename and delete dashboards. You are prohibited from renaming a dashboard with a name previously used.
- Dashboard Edit mode - Access the edit mode to make a change to a custom dashboard. The 'Overview' dashboard cannot be edited, but you can duplicate it and make edits. Save the changes made to the dashboard by clicking 'Done' and return the view mode or leave the dashboard without saving the changes. If you leave the dashboard without saving, your changes will be lost.
- Add, Configure and Delete cards - Add, delete, and configure cards from those available in the Card Library (Data Display, Bar Chart, Dropdown, 3D View and Text Card). Each card displays data or information based on your needs. Save edits and changes made to cards on each dashboard so they persist across multiple sessions. Data Display, Bar Chart, Dropdown and Text card are added to the dashboard in an empty state so they must be configured individually. If an issue occurs at the simulation level, cards will display an error state. You can only include one bar chart card and dropdown card associated with the same metric and factor. You are not able to include more than one bar chart card associated to the same metric and more than one dropdown card related to the same factor on a single dashboard.
- Create Text cards - Add or edit a text card's content according to your requirements. There is no restriction on the number of cards allowed on a dashboard.
- Add a data display - Configure a Data Display Card to showcase analysis results, metrics, or model data. There is no restriction on the number of cards allowed on a dashboard. Tooltips help you understand the data displayed in the cards.
- Dashboard warnings and notifications - You are notified of unconfigured cards on a dashboard in Edit Mode. Edit the cards before saving the dashboard. If a dashboard experiences a problem a warning message is displayed so you can address the issue.
Variable Factor Cards
- Add and configure dropdown cards - Configure dropdown cards to display different Factors.
- Change factor values - Adjust the Factor value in the dropdown card to observe its impact on a connected metric in both view and edit modes. Changes made in view mode are not retained throughout the session, changes made and saved in edit mode are.
- Card notifications - You receive a notification in case of a failed card operation (add, configure, delete a card and interactions with cards).
Explore Metrics - Added the ability to configure metrics using an initial set of data to expand the analysis. Metrics are key performance indicators used to target, track and trade-off different aspects of the design.
Out-of-the-box Metrics - You can inspect the data used in the formula for calculating Total Carbon, Embodied Carbon, Operational Carbon, Operational Energy and Energy Use Intensity.
Data Points List - Users can now choose the data that can be used to define the metric:
- Model Data contained in a model uploaded to Insight.
- Analysis Results generated by simulation and analysis engines such as Energy Plus.
- Factors used as additional data points to expand the analysis scope used in determining metrics.
- Metrics used as key performance indicators used to target, track and trade-off different design performance decisions.
Formula Editor - Added the ability to configure and evaluate a formula using Data Points from the list, numerical values and simple operators and parenthesis (+, -, *, /).

December 7, 2023 Update

New Metrics added to the Overview Dashboard - The following metrics can now be added to your Overview Dashboard:
- Total Carbon - This metric is the sum of operational carbon and embodied carbon.
- Embodied Carbon - Based on the Embodied Carbon analysis configuration. To view the details, click Embodied carbon details on the right of the top navigation bar.

October 23, 2023 Update

New Analysis Overview Dashboard - A new "Overview Dashboard" provides a simple and transparent workspace to visualize key design-performance decisions using open and extensible data. Data is organized into three clusters:
- Model Data
  - Building location
  - Building Type
  - Building Area
  - Reference Study period
- Analysis Results
  - Annual operational energy breakdown by end users
  - Annual operational energy breakdown by energy type
- Metrics
  - Annual Energy Use Intensity (EUI) breakdown by end users
  - Annual operational carbon emissions (OC) breakdown by energy type
Energy Results and Operational Carbon Emissions - Enable users to identify the contribution of different loads, end-uses and energy sources in terms of annual consumption and total operational carbon emissions. Users can analyze:
```
 * Annual energy consumption by end users.
 * Annual energy consumption by energy sources.
 * Annual operational carbon emissions by energy source.
```
Display Operational Carbon Emissions for the Base Run Energy Results and Operational Carbon Emissions - Perform energy simulations of the base run to calculate operational energy, energy use intensity, and operational carbon based on carbon coefficients* by electricity or different types of fossils fuels.

Reference: EnergyStar Program: "Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Tracking in Portfolio Manager"

Reference: US energy Information Administration (US EIA) database

October 5, 2023 Update

Extended coverage of the Embodied Carbon domain - Ability to calculate and explore the embodied carbon for a subset of architectural elements based on the data included in the Energy Analytical Model. Depending on the Energy Analytical Model data, several or all of the following analytical categories are included:
- Roofs
- Underground Slabs
- Slabs on Grade
- Raised Floors
- Exterior Openings
- Underground Walls
- Shades
- Exterior Walls
- Interior Walls
- Interior Openings
- Interior Floors
- Underground Ceilings

September 25, 2023 Update

Embodied Carbon in Openings - Ability to calculate the embodied carbon for curtain wall component types and doors in a building's facade. Additional embodied carbon definitions have been added under the Openings Label.

July 10, 2023 Update

Embodied Carbon in Windows - Ability to calculate the embodied carbon for windows in a building's facade.
Increased Accuracy - Calculations omit the surface areas of openings (windows and doors) from the total surface area of walls.
Usability Improvement - Quick search displays a list of embodied carbon coefficients declared units that match the available quantities of model elements.
Extended Access - Users who are using Flex Tokens to access Insight will not consume tokens when performing a carbon analysis.

Features include:

Breakdown table view of the exterior walls and their constituent materials including a minimum set of attributes and quantities.
Selecting a construction in the table isolates all its instances in the Model Viewer.
Automatic assignment of embodied carbon definitions to schematic constructions and materials.
Manual assignment of embodied carbon definitions to detailed constructions and materials.
Ability to assign embodied carbon definitions using Quick Search.
Ability to assign and manage embodied carbon definitions using Advanced Search.
Creating/editing/deleting user-created embodied carbon definition.
Adding new labels to embodied carbon definitions.
Dashboard components can interact with other components.
Inspecting embodied carbon results in 3 graphs: Total EC by Construction, Total EC by Material, EC Intensity by Area.
Persisting embodied carbon assignments from the previously uploaded model, if the models share identical materials.