The Reality Check

Here’s a scenario every built environment professional knows: spending 2 hours researching comparable properties, compiling cost data, or drafting inspection reports. What if I told you that same task could take 12 minutes — with proper AI assistance and human verification?

This isn’t about replacing your expertise. It’s about amplifying it.

The question isn’t whether AI will transform our profession — it’s whether you’ll lead that transformation.

This post accompanies my presentation at the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Digital Connect Conversations webinar on “AI in the Built Environment: Practical Uses, Risks & What Comes Next” on December 10, 2025.

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The R-A-C-F-Q Framework

After training over 10,000 professionals across Sri Lanka, I’ve developed a simple framework that transforms vague AI queries into professional-grade outputs. I call it R-A-C-F-Q:

Letter	Element	What It Means
R	Role	Define AI’s expertise persona — “senior quantity surveyor” or “property valuation specialist”
A	Action	Specify the task — analyze, create checklist, compare, summarize, draft
C	Context	Provide specific details — building type, location, purpose, client requirements
F	Format	Define output structure — checklist, table, report sections, bullet points
Q	Questions	Ask AI to identify gaps — “What additional information would improve this analysis?”

💡 Key Insight: Specificity transforms generic responses into professional-grade output.

Example Prompt for Property Valuation

Here’s how R-A-C-F-Q works in practice:

Role: You are a senior property valuation consultant with 15 years 
experience in commercial real estate in South Asia.

Action: Analyze the key factors affecting commercial property values 
in urban Sri Lanka.

Context: Valuation report for a 3-story commercial building in 
Colombo 03, built 2015, 8,500 sq ft, office space with ground floor 
retail. Client: bank requiring mortgage valuation.

Format: Provide: 
1) Checklist of 10 valuation factors 
2) Comparable property considerations 
3) Risk factors to highlight

Questions: What additional info needed? What local regulations 
might impact valuation?

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Your AI Toolkit

Here are the practical tools I recommend for built environment professionals:

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The Triple-V Framework: Your Professional Safeguard

AI is powerful, but it’s not infallible. Use my Triple-V Framework for responsible AI use:

“AI is your research assistant, not your co-signer.”

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Critical Reminders for RICS Professionals

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Your Next Steps

The professionals who master AI today will define the standards of tomorrow.

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📥 Download Free Resources

I’ve prepared a one-page AI Toolkit handout with:

• The complete R-A-C-F-Q framework
• 5 ready-to-use prompts for RICS professionals
• Triple-V Framework quick reference
• Recommended tools guide
• Critical reminders checklist

📄 Download the AI Toolkit Handout (PDF)

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Connect With Me

Want to bring AI training to your organization? I conduct workshops for companies, universities, and professional bodies across Sri Lanka.

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This presentation was delivered at the RICS Digital Connect Conversations webinar on December 10, 2025, alongside Prof. Prathap Kaluthanthri MRICS (Moderator) and Sr. Prof. Asoka Perera from University of Moratuwa.