Surveyors & AI: the same messages, getting louder

Surveyors UK

Blog

Technology & AI

18/02/2026

I spent some time last week reviewing the AI4QS Report 2025 alongside a recent podcast discussion hosted by Own The Build, in collaboration with Project Flux. What stood out was not disagreement, but consistency.

Across both, AI is no longer framed as a future efficiency tool. It’s treated as a professional competence issue, with direct implications for accountability, risk, and credibility across surveying.

The AI4QS report sits within the AI4QS initiative, led by academic teams at the University of Westminster and Loughborough University, with contributions from a wide range of academics and industry practitioners, listed in full at the end of this article. Its focus is on how the profession prepares itself for AI, not just adopts it, particularly as standards such as the RICS Responsible AI Professional Standard come into force in March 2026.

While the report is framed around Quantity Surveying, the themes apply across surveying. AI is already embedded into everyday work, often invisibly. Measurement, modelling, forecasting, contract review, sustainability analysis, and risk management. The issue highlighted in both the report and the podcast is not use, but understanding.

Both surface the same concern clearly. Surveyors are increasingly responsible for outputs influenced by AI, without always having the skills, confidence, or governance in place to supervise it properly.

One of the contributors to the AI4QS report is James Garner , who also took part in the podcast collaboration. James is Head of AI & Data at Gleeds and the founder of Project Flux , which brings together a website, podcast, and written resources focused on AI, data, and delivery in the built environment, particularly from a QS and project controls perspective.

The excellent podcast discussion hosted by Own Build owner Paul Heming also featured Chris de Gruben, FRICS , Senior Director and Head of AI at Artefact and co-chair of the RICS AI Working Group, and Matthew Lavy KC , Barrister at 4 Pump Court specialising in technology disputes and AI-related liability.

Across both the report and the podcast, the same skills gap is highlighted. Tools are advancing faster than professional understanding. AI-supported outputs are already feeding into cost advice, commercial decisions, and programme discussions, while accountability remains firmly with the surveyor.

To address this, the AI4QS report introduces the Built Environment Responsible AI Competence Framework (BRIEF). Rather than focusing on technology, BRIEF focuses on what competent supervision of AI looks like in practice.

The framework highlights capabilities surveyors increasingly need:

– Understanding where and how AI influences outputs – Data literacy and data governance – Awareness of bias and ethical risk – Ability to explain and challenge AI-supported conclusions – Clear accountability aligned with professional standards

These same themes are reinforced throughout the podcast discussion. AI is positioned as a support mechanism, not a decision-maker. Human oversight remains essential, particularly where advice may later be tested in dispute or litigation.

Taken together, the message is consistent and its good to see AI featuring more and more across surveying with robust informed professional discussions and insight without hype or hearsay.

AI is and will continue to expose skills gaps, governance gaps, and confidence gaps.

Understanding how AI influences your work is becoming part of professional credibility, regardless of discipline or firm size.

I’d strongly recommend spending time with all three resources. Read the AI4QS Report to understand where the profession is heading and how expectations around AI competence are forming. Listen to the Own the Build podcast episode to hear how these issues are already playing out in real projects and commercial environments. And take time to explore Project Flux, including James Garner’s website and podcast, which offer thoughtful, practical insight into AI, data, and delivery from a QS and project controls perspective. Links below.

Together, they form a strong set of resources for anyone in surveying who wants to engage with AI in an informed, responsible way, rather than ignore it or rush into it blindly.

AI Explained: A Practical Session for Surveyors and Professionals

If you’re reading this and wondering how AI actually fits into surveying work, I’m running a live introductory webinar session titled AI Explained: A Practical Session for Surveyors and Professionals. It’s focused on real-world application and use.

The 2 hour session will cover:

– How surveyors are already using AI in day-to-day work – Practical examples using tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and NotebookLM – Support for report writing, document review, client communication, and admin-heavy tasks – Simple prompting techniques to get better, more reliable outputs – Short case-style examples based on real surveying scenarios – Where caution is needed around data, accuracy, and professional responsibility – What AI can support safely, and where human judgement must stay firmly in place

You don’t need to attend live, but you do need to register. The recording will only be available to those registered and won’t be shared afterwards. Learn more here

AI4QS Report Contributors

The AI4QS Report 2025 was informed by contributions from academics, industry leaders, and practitioners across surveying, data, AI, and professional standards.

Contributors include:

@Dr Abdullahi Saka – University of Westminster Alice Graham MRICS – Procore Technologies Dr Anil Sawhney – Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Dr. Noha Saleeb – Middlesex University Dr Opeoluwa Akinradewo – University of the Free State, South Africa Richard Golding MRICS – Gleeds Dr Aravinda Adhikari, PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons) QS – University of Westminster Dr Afolabi Dania (PhD) – University of Westminster Dr Dr Olayinka Omoboye PhD MRICS MCIOB SFHEA CMBE – University of Westminster Dr Kudirat Ayinla – Loughborough University (Project Team) Professor Franco Cheung – Birmingham City University