AI Survey Assistant: clause-cited report wording

DampApp Pro and PropertySurvey Pro include an AI assistant that converts rough observations and site photos into structured, standards-referenced report prose. The surveyor reviews every sentence before it enters the final document.

What the AI does — and what it does not do

The assistant does not diagnose defects. That is the surveyor's job. What it does is take the surveyor's raw field notes ("rising damp to 600 mm, tide mark visible, salts present") and draft formal report text that references the applicable standard where it genuinely applies — for example, "evidence consistent with rising damp. Review DPC condition and assess against BS 8215:2016."

The system prompt instructs the model explicitly not to fabricate standard references. If a citation does not apply to the observed condition, it is omitted. The surveyor then approves, edits or rewrites the draft. The report is signed off by the surveyor, not the AI.

Standards the AI is instructed to cite

The model is given the following citation guidance, region-matched to the surveyor's account settings:

  • BS 5250:2021 — condensation risk assessment and control; ventilation adequacy
  • BS 8215:2016 — design and installation of damp-proof courses and cavity trays
  • BS 8102:2022 — protection of below-ground structures against water ingress (basements, cellars)
  • Approved Document F:2021 — ventilation requirements under the Building Regulations
  • HHSRS (Housing Act 2004) — Category 1 and Category 2 hazard thresholds for excess cold, dampness and mould
  • Awaab's Law (Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, s.10A) — statutory timescales for landlord response to damp and mould in social housing (in force 27 October 2025)
  • RICS Home Survey Standard 2023 — presentation and classification conventions
  • BRE Digest 245 — differential diagnosis of rising, penetrating and condensation damp

For New Zealand properties, the prompt additionally references the Healthy Homes Standards (Residential Tenancies Act 1986) for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage requirements.

OpenAI integration — your key, your data

The AI assistant uses the OpenAI API (GPT-4o as of June 2026). Subscribers supply their own OpenAI API key. The key is stored encrypted on-device and transmitted only to OpenAI's servers when the assistant is invoked. ProSurvey Apps does not receive or log observation text on its own servers for AI purposes.

This design keeps ProSurvey Apps out of the data chain for AI processing and means your API usage is billed directly to your OpenAI account at standard API rates — typically a few pence per survey analysis.

Photo analysis

If you attach a photo to an observation, the app compresses it and passes it to the OpenAI vision API alongside your observation text. The model describes visible signs (surface staining, efflorescence, paint failure, visible mould growth) and incorporates them into the draft wording. The surveyor can accept, modify or discard this.

Voice dictation

Observation fields support voice dictation via the Web Speech API (iOS 14.5+, Android). Tap the microphone button, speak your notes, and the transcribed text appears in the field. You can then run the AI assistant against the transcription, saving time on both data capture and writing.

Professional responsibility

The AI output is a draft, not a diagnosis. The surveyor's professional indemnity insurance, RICS membership obligations and duty of care to the client are not altered by using AI assistance. ProSurvey Apps does not warrant that AI-generated text is accurate, complete or appropriate for any specific property. The surveyor is responsible for verifying every claim in the report before delivery.

Try it in DampApp Pro or PropertySurvey Pro

Both apps include the AI assistant. You need an OpenAI API key (sign up at platform.openai.com — usage costs are typically pennies per survey).

Try DampApp Pro Try PropertySurvey Pro

Frequently asked questions

Does the AI replace the surveyor?

No. The AI generates draft wording from the surveyor's observations and photos. The surveyor reviews and approves every sentence before it enters the report. The professional remains responsible for diagnosis, recommendations and sign-off.

Is my survey data sent to OpenAI?

When you use the AI assistant, the observation text and (optionally) compressed photos are transmitted to the OpenAI API using your API key. OpenAI's data usage policy applies. ProSurvey Apps does not store or process this data on its own servers for AI purposes.

Can I use the app without OpenAI?

Yes. The AI assistant is optional. All survey recording, PDF generation, photo logging and cloud sync work without an OpenAI API key. The AI polish button simply remains disabled until a key is entered in settings.

What happens if the AI produces an incorrect standard reference?

The surveyor is responsible for checking and approving every AI-generated sentence. If a cited standard does not apply to the observed condition, the surveyor should remove or correct it before delivering the report. The model is instructed not to fabricate citations, but AI models can make errors and must be supervised.