Monitoring in the construction industry
Monitoring is: ‘The systematic observation, recording and evaluation of dynamic processes, in a selective fashion, either continuously or on a periodic basis, for as long as is necessary to capture all the important cycles, trends or permutations. Used, for example, to track structural behaviour, characterise the building environment, identify risks or record rates of decay.’ Ref Stained Glass Windows: Managing Environmental Deterioration, published by Historic England in 2020.
Articles on Designing Buildings Wiki relating to monitoring include:
- Annual monitoring report.
- Authority monitoring report.
- BREEAM Energy monitoring.
- BREEAM Monitoring of Construction Site Impacts.
- BREEAM Water monitoring.
- Cost monitoring.
- Monitoring design progress.
- Project monitor.
- Project monitoring.
- TSI Environmental dust monitoring system.
NB Water safety in buildings, published by the World Health Organization in 2011, defines monitoring as: ‘The act of conducting a planned sequence of observations or measurements of control parameters, to assess whether a control point is operating within design specifications.’
Asset Management – an anatomy, Version 4, published by The Institute of Asset Management in July 2024, defines monitoring as: ‘determining the status of a system, a process or an activity Notes: (1) To determine the status, there can be a need to check, supervise or critically observe. (2) For the purposes of asset management, monitoring can also refer to determining the status of an asset. This is typically referred to as “condition monitoring” or “performance monitoring”. (3) This constitutes one of the common terms and core definitions for ISO management system standards given in Annex SL of the Consolidated ISO Supplement to the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. It has been modified by the addition of Note 2 to entry.’
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.