What is Condition Monitoring?

A Practical Guide to Condition Monitoring

Condition monitoring (CM) is the process of monitoring and tracking the health and performance of built assets (i.e. buildings, infrastructure, and equipment) over time. In the context of property asset management it means tracking the condition of buildings, structures and surfaces (e.g. warehouses, roofing, HVAC and carparks) to detect signs of wear and tear, deterioration and damage before they become a safety, compliance or costly maintenance issue.

Put simply, condition monitoring provides the data and insights for proactive asset management. Rather than waiting for something to go wrong or fixed maintenance schedules - allowing asset and property managers to make informed decisions based on real-world asset data and performance.

How Condition Monitoring Works

Condition monitoring in the context of property asset management traditionally involved manual on-site inspections and manual reports. Modern condition monitoring has evolved and the process is increasingly digital and data-driven, powered by technologies like:

• Imaging and visual inspections, using drones and high-resolution imagery to detect visible issues, defects and deterioration.
• Digital twins, which create 3D models (i.e. photogrammetry) of physical assets for real-time monitoring and scenario testing. Plus, the ability to create and maintain a asset register - down to a component level.
• IoT sensors, continuously record metrics such as temperature, vibration, moisture and usage.
• Software analytics, compile and analyse data trends and insights about an asset, and flag defects or degradation patterns.

These tools provide visibility into asset health and performance. When integrated into an asset management platform, they give asset and property managers total visibility across an asset or portfolio of assets allowing them to see when performance starts to drop below normal levels - so they can respond before issues get worse, or fail.

Why Condition Monitoring is important

Condition monitoring is not just a technical function; it’s a strategic approach that turns property data and intelligence into actionable insights, driving efficiency, safety, and sustainability. The benefits of condition monitoring include:

• Early maintenance and defect detection – Identify issues before they cause downtime or a critical failure.
• Proactive and optimised maintenance – Focus resources and budgets where they’re needed most, avoiding unnecessary repairs and budget blowouts.
• Extended asset lifespan – Regularly monitored assets last longer and perform more reliably, which keeps tenants happy.
• Improved safety and compliance – Documented condition data supports inspections, certifications, and audit trails, and contributes to achieving ESG goals.
• Smarter investment planning – Accurate and reliable insights into asset performance provide asset owners with confidence to deliver long-term capital planning and renewal strategies.

Condition monitoring is not just a simple maintenance tool, it’s a strategic approach that turns property data and intelligence into actionable insights. Allowing organisations to move from reactive maintenance to a predictive, proactive, and performance-based operating model - that reduces costs, improves safety and optimizes asset value.

The Future of Asset Intelligence

As property portfolios grow more complex, condition monitoring becomes essential for sustainable asset performance and meeting tenant expectations. Platforms like Asseti integrate condition data, visual intelligence, and analytics into a single view -empowering asset owners to understand not just what's happening, but why. This enables them to extend asset life, manage CapEx with confidence, and optimize overall performance.