The University of Salford and Corelain Limited KTP 24_25 R5

Building asset managers will use a new digital tool to scan a building, instantly flag defects, and generate retrofit plans without needing a specialist surveyor on site. The problem is straightforward: identifying defects in existing buildings—cracks, damp, insulation gaps—is slow, expensive, and relies on scarce expertise. Asset managers often lack the tools to prioritise repairs or plan energy retrofits efficiently. This delays maintenance, wastes materials, and locks in poor building performance for years. The Digital Surveyor Tool (DST) aims to change that. It combines data capture with automated analysis, giving non-specialists the ability to assess a building’s condition and produce remediation or retrofit designs in hours rather than weeks. If it works, building owners—from housing associations to commercial landlords—could cut waste, reduce energy use, and extend building life without hiring a surveyor for every inspection. The project is applied, not fundamental science. It takes existing sensing and modelling technologies and packages them into a scalable, user-friendly platform. Success would mean faster, cheaper building upgrades across the UK’s ageing stock, directly affecting the cost and carbon footprint of the places people live and work in.