The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has introduced a landmark global framework to guide the responsible use of AI in surveying practice, marking a major shift in how digital tools will shape the profession. The new standard, effective from 9 March 2026, aims to help firms adopt artificial intelligence safely and ethically while protecting public trust.
This global framework comes at a time when surveyors increasingly rely on AI for valuation, construction monitoring, land records analysis, document summarisation and automated reporting. RICS notes that while AI brings efficiency, it also raises concerns related to bias, data leakage, over-reliance on machine outputs and potential misinterpretation of results. Through the new standard, titled Responsible
The guideline emphasises that AI must complement, not replace, professional judgement. Surveyors are required to assess when AI has a “material impact” on service delivery and to document how they decide whether outputs are reliable. This focus aligns directly with the overall goal of Responsible AI Surveying, ensuring that human oversight remains central.
Key Provisions of the New Standard (Summarised)
As outlined in the document, the new AI in surveying standard includes several core requirements:
- Baseline knowledge – Surveyors must understand AI types, limits, failure modes, data risks and inherent bias.
- Data governance – Firms must secure, anonymise and limit access to sensitive data, and avoid uploading confidential information unless risk-checked and consented.
- System governance – Before adopting any AI tool, firms must document why it is appropriate, assess alternative options, evaluate environmental and stakeholder impact, and maintain a register of AI systems used.
- Risk management – A quarterly-reviewed AI risk register must track bias, errors, data issues and mitigation steps.
- Procurement due diligence – Firms must request detailed information from AI vendors, including training data diversity, compliance, liability and environmental impact.
- Output assurance – Surveyors must document assumptions, reliability checks and concerns behind AI-generated outputs.
- Client transparency – Clients must be informed when, where and why AI will be used, with options to contest or opt out.
- Explainability – Firms must provide written explanations of how AI works, associated risks and reliability decisions.
With the new standard, RICS aims to strengthen global trust in technology-driven surveying, ensuring that the profession advances responsibly. As firms prepare for the 2026 rollout, Responsible AI Surveying is set to define the next chapter of digital transformation in the sector.
The full standard document may be found at this link.
