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#SurveyorsHouse launch _ "Responsible use of AI in Surveying practice" - Professional Standard

  • Writer: Digital Twin Skills Academy CIC
    Digital Twin Skills Academy CIC
  • 3 days ago
  • 6 min read

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"Back in September, the RICS released the 'world’s first' mandatory professional standard on the responsible use of #AI in surveying, which EVERY practicing professional must adhere to and adopt. A conversation that has engrossed the CIC Digital Forum, this is a pivotal milestone for our global profession. With full implementation due from 9th March 2026, the time has come for the entire profession, to step-up and reinvent itself!"

_ Dr Bola Abisogun OBE



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The 'introductory' welcome address, by Nigel Clarke, was met with a 'very sobering' silence ........... I'm unsure of how many QS's were present, but it was time to hear (yet again) of our fate, straight from the 'horse's mouth' as many practitioners, sat and quietly observed!



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Nigel, then proceeded to introduce one of the Co-Chairs of the new 'mandatory' requirement ...



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Credit: AI-QS




My own overview of the likely implications was shared following the initial launch back in September 2025 _ seen here via LinkedIn on 10.09.25



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By fusing 'policy, technology and the law' _ Sophia, took the audience on a 'verbal' and quite bullish (upbeat) journey of what future 'RICS' compliance could and should look like, whilst articulating and making the case for this new 'mandatory' professional standard..........



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The aims of this new professional standard set out a fairly fluid mandate of compliance which seeks to encapsulate the new landscape of risk emerging across the built and managed environment, including but not restricted to:


  • Technological advancement (of AI) at RICS (between 2017 and 2025)


  • Pace of change _ AI is moving, incredibly quickly


  • Lack of legislation and regulation _ generally in construction / real estate


  • Low levels of AI literacy across RICS Membership _ wrt Consultants


  • Risks and Opportunities (for the Chartered Surveyor); and


  • Consideration of the Public Interest, of which we all have a duty to uphold




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Preparation of the panel discussion followed, with an introduction to members of the Expert Working Group .........


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Established in February 2003 ......... my own 'Human-in-the-loop' platform AI-QS, a registered, RICS Tech Partner the details and key features of which, were noted in the panel discussion.



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......... the panel conversation was succinctly moderated by James Garner, and referenced a number of key points, all of which have been adopted and implemented at AI-QS ....


Paul Beeston (RLB):

Empathy (EIQ)

New skillsets

Critical thinking

People and Skills

New ‘Business Models’ more value-based models (biggest shift, since fee scales were abolished!)


Nella Pang (Omega RE)

Sustainability

Social Value

Interrogating / validating data


Onur Demirci (exited VC venture)

Privacy and Data Risks

AI Risk Register / Governance

Data Hygiene / Authentication

Explainability of AI outcomes




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With the panel discussion concluded, final thoughts were requested from all, just ahead of the refreshments / networking .........



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 .... and then we all shifted .... to receive the closing remarks from the RICS SEO, Chris Alder. It was at that moment - that I left the building, in pursuit of a new dawn and a new chapter!




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Now let's recap ....... and go back in time ........... all the way back to 1993 ...... and then jump forward, by a decade to 2003 when I 'finally' set up and incorporated AI-QS Limited .......



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At the request of RICS (via Isioma Daniel) back in July 2025, kindly supported by Alice Graham MRICS, we convened the 'first-ever' global conversation on AI _ called “AI for the Construction Industry: Global Opportunities & Responsible Practice,” 



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...... co-curated with my fellow industry colleague and ally .....



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...... which has since been recorded and retained as a digital asset .... aka digital assetisation (now offered as a 1hour CPD, commercial product); please use the links below .......



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...... the finer details of which, are below .......



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Whilst RICS began their own journey 'of true exploration' into this space back in 2017, my journey began during my time at the University of Wolverhampton in 1993, culminating in a thesis that was 'finally' submitted in 1994 .......... thank you Prof Issaka and Prof Olomolaiye



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A summary of what was discussed, during our 1hour webinar, is provided below ........


Key Points

📝 08:56 AM - Microsoft Teams meeting November 6 Notes

🕞 Started at 8:56AM on 06 Nov, lasted 1h 3m


  • Dr Bola Abisogun OBE introduced himself as the founder and CEO of AI-QS Limited _ established in February 2003, today focusing on 5D digital twins and using data intelligently to 'enhance' traditional quantity surveying services with more efficiency, transparency, and real-time client information.


  • Alice Graham presented herself as a solutions specialist at ProCore Technologies with six years in construction, starting as a quantity surveyor and now working in construction technology with interest in AI efficiency and responsible usage.


  • Four key topics were outlined for discussion: (1) AI context and basic definitions, (2) risks and regulation including the new RICS professional standard, (3) opportunities and use cases for quantity surveying, and (5) future outlook on AI's impact on the profession.


  • ChatGPT's launch in November 2022 became an inflection point for AI democratisation in construction businesses, giving junior and senior quantity surveyors access to AI tools for daily work, prompting the RICS to recognise the need for a "responsible usage" guideline for members (i.e. the new professional standard).


  • RICS launched their "Responsible use of AI in Surveying practice" global standard in September 2025 with four key pillars: (1) governance and risk management, (2) professional practice guidance for surveyor judgment, (3) transparency in client communication about AI usage, and (4) ethical development standards.


  • Compliance with the 'new' RICS AI standard becomes mandatory by 9th March 2026, requiring firms (and individuals) to demonstrate how they meet the standard's requirements, within the next few months.



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  • Key risks identified include data quality and provenance as the most critical concern, since incorrect data leads to wrong computations and client advice, along with skills gaps, vendor dependencies, and reputation risks for firms and individuals.


  • Material use of AI must be clearly defined by each organisation to distinguish between core quantity surveying service delivery versus secondary activities, with examples including cost forecasting models presented to clients versus 'intelligent' diary management or project planning tools.


  • Organisations must catalogue all AI use including unofficial 'shadow AI' usage by employees, establish AI governance policies, maintain risk registers, and prepare for insurer requirements in a continuous iterative process.


  • AI opportunities span across RIBA plan of work stages including automated takeoffs, tender analysis, cash flow forecasting with predictive AI, and various solutions that can transform the industry and address skills shortages.


  • Business models will be disrupted as AI technology can complete tasks that previously took a week in just one day, forcing quantity surveyors to reconsider pricing structures and value propositions for clients.


  • Professional relevance must be maintained by focusing on data interpretation and client advisory services, as clients are becoming more intelligent and may use AI to check quantity surveyor outputs, demanding real-time updates rather than monthly reports.


  • Standardisation through AI could help with governance and insurer trust, similar to how ICMS provides cost representation frameworks, though the challenge lies in whether standards can remain stable long enough given rapid AI evolution.


  • Data collection challenges require significant upfront effort for cleaning, validating, and standardising data, with larger firms having advantages through dedicated resources while smaller firms need creative approaches and strong standard operating procedures.



And, on the increasingly concerning topic of "Shadow AI" _

Shadow AI" is the term for the use of artificial intelligence tools and applications by employees within an organisation without the knowledge or formal approval of the IT or security departments. Driven primarily by a desire to increase productivity and efficiency, this practice is widespread but introduces significant security, compliance, and ethical risks _ Source: Google AI (09.12.25)



Webinar ended; 10am on 6th November 2025




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