Quantity surveying is one of the most important disciplines in construction cost management. A quantity surveyor ensures that a project stays within budget while maintaining quality and safety standards.
What is Quantity Surveying?
At its core, quantity surveying is the combination of estimation (calculating the quantities of work items like excavation and concrete) and costing (determining the probable expense to complete those items).
Responsibilities of a Quantity Surveyor
A Quantity Surveyor (QS) is involved in every stage of a project’s lifecycle, from the first drawing to the final handover:
- Feasibility Studies: Before a single brick is laid, a QS identifies if a project is financially viable.
- Bill of Quantities (BoQ) Preparation: This is the most vital document in QS. It lists every single item of work with its quantity and unit rate, providing a fair basis for contractors to bid.
- Tender Management: Assisting in the selection and negotiation of contracts with suppliers and subcontractors.
- Cost Control: Monitoring expenses during construction to prevent “budget creep” and managing variations (changes in design that affect cost).
- Valuation of Work: Visiting the site to verify the work completed so far and arranging payments for contractors.
Quantity Surveying Techniques
If you’re starting out in QS, you must master these two primary measurement methods for building estimates:
- Centre Line Method: All calculations are done based on the centre line of the building layout. It’s the fastest method and works perfectly for complex shapes like circular or hexagonal buildings.
- Long Wall–Short Wall Method: Also known as the “Out-to-Out & In-to-In” method. While it takes more time, it is often more accurate for simple rectangular structures.
Pro-Tips for Aspiring Quantity Surveyors
- Master the Drawings: You cannot estimate what you cannot read. A top-tier QS must be able to interpret architectural, structural, and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) drawings with 100% accuracy.
- Account for Wastage: Never estimate exact quantities. Always add realistic percentages for wastage and contingencies for materials like steel, bricks, and sand.
- Go Digital: While the basics are manual, modern QS professionals use tools like Excel, AutoCAD, and BIM (Building Information Modelling) to increase speed and reduce errors.
- Value Engineering: Don’t just track costs—look for ways to improve value. Can you suggest an alternative material that provides the same strength at a lower cost?.
1. Educational Backgrounds
Most employers require a Bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields:
- Engineering: Civil or structural engineering graduates are highly preferred due to their technical understanding of materials and methods.
- Quantity Surveying: Dedicated degrees in QS or Construction Management provide the most direct route.
- Architecture & Planning: Professionals with a B.Arch or B.Plan can transition into QS with their strong design-reading skills.
- Non-Engineering: Graduates in finance, economics, geography, or mathematics can join, though they may require a postgraduate conversion course or a few years of construction work experience.
2. Career Level & Experience
- Students & Fresh Graduates: Can join through internships or apprenticeships to observe senior surveyors and gain first-hand experience in contract administration.
- Site Engineers: Experienced site engineers often transition into QS roles because their practical knowledge of material types and project sequencing makes cost estimation more accurate.
- Diploma Holders: Students with an ITI or Diploma in Civil Engineering can pursue specialized certification courses to enter the field as assistant surveyors.
3. Professional Certifications.
For those looking to advance or pivot their career into senior roles, joining professional bodies is key:
- RICS: The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors offers the MRICS (Chartered) or AssocRICS (Associate) credentials, which are globally recognized benchmarks of competence.
- Specialised Training: Institutions like NICMAR or RICS SBE offer postgraduate diplomas in Quantity Surveying and Contract Management specifically for engineers with no prior QS experience.
4. Key Trait Checklist
Beyond degrees, you are a good fit to “join” if you possess:
- Numerical & Financial Acumen: Comfort with complex calculations and budget management.
- Analytical Mind: Ability to interpret blueprints and identify potential financial risks before they happen.
- Negotiation Skills: Essential for dealing with contractors and suppliers to keep projects within budget.
Top Global QS & Cost Consultancy Firms
These international giants provide cost management, contract administration, and project advisory services on some of the world’s largest infrastructure and building projects.
- Turner & Townsend: Consistently ranked as the world leader in cost management and quantity surveying.
- AECOM: A global infrastructure leader that integrated the well-known Davis Langdon legacy for its QS and cost management division.
- Arcadis: A major international design and engineering firm with a powerful dedicated cost consultancy arm.
- Currie & Brown: Specialises exclusively in world-leading cost management, project management, and advisory services.
- Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB): A globally recognised independent firm focusing on cost management and quantity surveying.
- Gleeds: One of the oldest independent international property and construction consultancies, established in 1885.
- Faithful+Gould: (now part of AtkinsRealis): Known for its integrated project and programme management consultancy globally
Conclusion
Quantity surveying plays a crucial role in modern construction projects. By combining cost estimation, contract management, and budgeting, quantity surveyors ensure projects are completed efficiently and economically.