AI in Surveying: What our recent event confirmed.

Surveyors UK

Blog

Technology & AI

18/02/2026

I recently hosted the first AI Explained session for surveyors.

Going into it, I expected a mix of curiosity, scepticism, and probably a bit of overwhelm. That’s the reality of AI right now. What I didn’t expect was how consistent the feedback would be. Not just positive, but thoughtful, practical, and grounded in real surveying work.

A lot of people said the same thing in different ways. That the session helped them understand where AI actually fits, rather than feeling like noise or hype. That it challenged their thinking. And that they’ve already started using what they learned, whether in day-to-day work, APC preparation, or simply sense-checking decisions.

Some of the feedback that really stood out:

“Fantastic seminar on AI, especially for the surveyor. Content was extremely detailed and well delivered. One of the best CPD events I have attended. Thank you, Nina and the team, for taking the time to prepare for this. I would thoroughly recommend further events that you are hosting. Invaluable to the surveying profession.” Stephen Root, Chartered Surveyor

“This was a very good introduction to AI and very useful in understanding how AI can be utilised to support our work and decision-making.” Michael Kelly

“Great event, lots of information to take in and plenty of practical examples that make AI feel much more accessible.” Samuel Field

“Really insightful and ran my professionals with the content. Made AI far more understandable and applicable.” George Godfree

“Having not really understood exactly how AI works or how it can help within my role, this seminar really opened my eyes. I now feel more confident in how AI can be used to support my work.” Robert Jupp

“A great training session for those at the start of their AI journey, with lots of real-world examples of how AI can be used practically within surveying.”

What encouraged me most was how many people talked about confidence. Not confidence in a particular tool, but feeling more confident in understanding where AI fits, how it can support professional judgement, and how to approach it sensibly.

For some, the session was an eye-opener. For others, it raised new questions and ideas to explore. Both are exactly where I’d expect people to be.

AI isn’t something you “get” in one session. It’s something you build confidence with over time, in context, and in a way that fits your role, responsibilities, and risk profile.

If there is the demand, we will look to provide further sessions – for individuals and firms

The RICS AI Standard and the gap I’m seeing

I’ve spent a lot of time understanding the RICS professional standard Responsible use of artificial intelligence in surveying practice, which comes into force on 9 March 2026.

But, what I’m seeing and hearing from surveyors is a concern.

Some aren’t aware the standard exists. Some know it exists but haven’t looked at it yet. Many know they need to do something, but have no idea where to start or what “doing something” actually means. I think a lot of this comes down to where surveyors are with AI right now – some hate it, some don’t understand it, some ignore it, some are using it, but it’s early days, some are building workflows and their own software solutions. Broad levels of understanding and adoption mixed with fear and sceptisism.

It’s messy and now we have a standard coming into force in under 5 weeks.

Because of this, I’m now looking at producing a one-hour practical webinar and other tools for surveyors and firms to help them get ready for the standard in a sensible, proportionate way, with a clear focus on risk, governance, and compliance.

Since I posted about this on LinkedIn last week, I’ve had a lot of interest and several good conversations. If this is something you’d like to discuss, run past me, or register interest in, please do get in touch. Even brief messages are helpful, as they help shape what’s actually needed.

Independence, collaboration, and what I’m trying to build

I want to be clear about where I’m coming from with all of this.

I’m independent. I’m not tied to one type of surveying specialism. I don’t have a software product to sell. I’m not approaching this from a regulatory standpoint, and I don’t have an agenda.

My role here is to connect dots and support surveyors

I want to bring together people in the surveying space who have deep knowledge in specific areas, whether that’s professional practice, risk, compliance, technology, data, or firm operations. Not to tell people what to do, but to share insight, challenge assumptions, and help firms make sense of what AI actually means in their context.

A lot of the best thinking in surveying still happens in silos. Across disciplines, firm sizes, and roles. I think there’s a real opportunity to do this better, collaboratively, and at a practical, firm-level.

That’s the approach I’m taking with everything I’m working on around AI.

A practical next step

Alongside the webinars and content, we’re also seeing more and more surveyors joining The Surveying Room, where we have a dedicated space for AI & Tech.

It’s informal, peer-led, and practical. If you haven’t joined yet, I’d genuinely recommend it. It’s free to join, and it’s becoming a useful space to learn from others without pressure or noise.

AI readiness assessment for surveyors.

I have created a free tool that assesses your AI readiness, and so far, over 100 people have already completed it, and the results are genuinely interesting. It’s giving a clear picture of where surveyors actually are right now, not where we assume they are.

It takes a couple of minutes to complete, it’s confidential, and there’s no judgment attached. Even if you’re unsure about AI, it’s a useful way to sense-check where you are today.

I’ll be sharing the findings with those who complete it, so if you haven’t yet, I’d encourage you to give it a go. Start here

Until next week, thank you for reading