What is a Portfolio?
A portfolio allows you to create complex criteria and filtering rules for building-level data, which can be shared with other users and utilised across various features in the platform such as Projects.
If you prefer video-based learning, here's a video tutorial:
What's the difference between normal filters and Portfolios?
Normal filtering:
In the Data Explorer, you can currently filter and export datasets. However, each dataset must be filtered separately, meaning they don’t interact with one another. For example, if you filter for Rooftop PV by Overall Suitability and then filter for EPC ratings of C, D, and E, the results will be:
Properties deemed suitable for Rooftop PV will be visible regardless of their EPC rating.
Buildings with EPC ratings of C, D, and E will be visible regardless of their suitability for Rooftop PV.
While filtering in Data Explorer is useful during investigation and planning, the filters created here are only visible within the Data Explorer itself.
Portfolios:
Portfolios enable you to collate a list of buildings that meet specific criteria by setting complex filters. This criteria is easily customisable, and is created by selecting one or more datasets, then applying a range of filters that meet your needs. Both simple and complex filters are supported. Once completed, your portfolio can be shared with others and used across the platform in features like Projects.
By creating complex filters in portfolios, you can determine how datasets interact with each other using AND or OR operators and group various datasets. For instance, you can create a filter to display properties suitable for Rooftop PV that also have EPC ratings of C, D, and E.
This article will guide you through creating portfolios so that you can add specific criteria to other features, including your projects. We’ll use the following use case as an example:
Creating a Portfolio
Use case example
Imagine you have a project to identify the best locations to install Ground Source and Air Source Heat Pumps. Properties with low EPC ratings won’t efficiently retain the warmth generated by heat pumps, so you’ll only want to include properties with EPC ratings of A-C. Additionally, due to funding considerations, you'll need to differentiate between homes more likely to afford heat pumps and those that would benefit most from financial support.
Step 1: Navigate to Portfolios
To access portfolios, go to the black sidebar on the left and select "Building Portfolios."
Step 2: Portfolios Homepage Overview
On the Building Portfolios page, you can view your previously created portfolios. Here, you can see your portfolio results and manage them by editing, sharing via email, or deleting portfolios.
To create a new portfolio, select "Create New Portfolio."
Step 3: Creating a Portfolio
Once you select "Create New Portfolio," you’ll be directed to the page where you can apply your filters. Start by giving your portfolio a title and description (similar to the example below), then begin applying rules to match your criteria.
Definitions of Key Terms:
Rules: Filters applied to building-level datasets. These can be added individually or in groups.
Geospatial Rule: Filters applied to geospatial datasets via field or through the map functionality. These can also be added individually or grouped.
AND: Used when you want to find buildings that meet all specified criteria.
OR: Used to include buildings that meet at least one of the specified criteria (e.g., Domestic Rooftop PV OR Non-domestic Rooftop PV).
Group: Groups allow you to organise your rules in a structured way, using the AND/OR operators. Within each group you can only use one operator (AND or OR).Rules: Filters applied to building-level datasets. These can be added individually or in groups.
Example: Creating Rules for Heat Pumps
The first Rules you want to make are
EPC Rating of A, B,C
AND
ASHP OR GSHP suitable properties.
To do this you can create combinations of rules and groups, so that you can switch between operator functions AND and OR. This can be done using the renewable potential datasets.
Select "+Rule," and a dropdown list of datasets will appear. Select "Insulation Potential," and filter for 'EPC' > 'id' > 'A, B, C'.
Next, Select ‘+Group’ and a new box will appear inside the form. Select ‘+Rule’
Choose the "Ground Source Heat Pump Potential" dataset, and filter for 'Overall Suitability' > 'is' > 'true'.
Select "+Rule" again, and change the AND/OR operation to OR.
Select "Air Source Heat Pump Potential" dataset. This will ensure all buildings selected for your Portfolio are suitable for either a Ground Source OR Air Source heat pump.
Tip: You can save time by using the 'copy' icon to duplicate a rule and make necessary edits.
Geospatial Rule:
Adding a Geospatial Rule allows you to filter buildings based on location data. For example, in this use case, we want to differentiate between homes less likely to afford heat pumps but that meet the other criteria.
Select "+Geospatial Rule" from the top of the form (outside of the group you just created) and choose 'Intersects' > 'Dataset Filter' > 'English Indices of Deprivation' > 'Income Rank is less than' > '3'.
You can also filter visually by selecting areas directly on a map.
Once you open the draw on map functionality you can choose to 'draw polygon', or pick polygon. Both options are illustrated below:
Draw on map - visualisations of pre-sets under 'Pick Polygon'
Step 4: Viewing Your Results
After creating your portfolio, return to the portfolio homepage and select "View Results."
Here, you’ll see your filtered data both geospatially and in a table format, accessible via the top-right of the left-hand panel. You can export this data as a .csv file if needed.
The table view includes columns showing the Overall Suitability for Ground and Air Source Heat Pumps (True/False) and the associated EPC ratings (A-C). You’ll also see the total number of buildings included in your portfolio at the top of the page
Step 5: Applying Your Portfolio to a Project
To apply your portfolio to a project, go to the "Projects" section from the left-hand sidebar. Once inside your project, locate the "Selection Tools" section under Technology Assets and select "Select Building Portfolio."
This will open a page where you can choose the portfolio to add to the project.
From here, you can add the assets you wish to deploy. Select Ground Source Heat Pump, assign an Asset Size (in this case we will use the recommended asset size option, meaning the size will be taken from the Ground Source Heat Pump Suitability dataset), and deploy on all buildings in the portfolio.
You'll see the assets appear on the map in aggregated balloon icons, but if you zoom in closer you'll be able to see exactly which buildings have had assets deployed onto them.
You can repeat this process to deploy other assets to your project at any time.
Portfolios allow you to apply complex filtering rules to tailor datasets and share insights across the platform. This functionality allows for more advanced data interaction compared to normal filters, providing you with the flexibility to address specific project needs, such as identifying suitable properties for renewable energy technologies.