The Evolving Role of Quantity Surveyors in the Age of Digital Construction
With some remarkable results, the construction industry continues to shift key processes into the digital realm. Designers, project managers, and estimators are among the project team members who experience huge benefits in terms of quality, efficiency, and safety. Quantity surveyors (QSs) are a lesser-known specialty. Still, the power of construction software is quickly moving them into the spotlight.
From Estimator to Strategic Advisor
Not to be confused with the tripod-welding surveyors who stake out boundaries and elevations to prepare for site grading, quantity surveyors in construction play a pivotal role by managing contracts, expenses, sourcing issues, and other aspects of a project to ensure accurate and efficient cost estimation and management. Quantity surveyors also interface with clients, assist with bid tendering and procurement, and prepare the bill of quantities (BOQ) to outline the volume, unit rates, and cost for each item.
Advanced quantity surveying software has expanded the scope and importance of this role even further, providing surveyors with the insight necessary to compare complex build options quickly, complete risk management activities, or review cost and carbon side-by-side to determine the most environmentally-friendly building design options.
Integration with BIM and 5D Planning
Forward-looking software tools are quickly changing the number-cruncher reputation, as quantity surveyors become valued project advisors.
Building information modeling (BIM) is best known as a digital 3D design tool, but new software features continue to expand BIM capabilities. Additional dimensions take BIM to the next level and provide a 360-degree view of all project facets, including:
● 4D BIM adds the time element to the digital model to enhance scheduling and resource allocation.
● 5D BIM integrates cost data into the model to create a live link between design, budget, and estimate.
● 6D BIM incorporates environmental factors like energy usage, embodied carbon, and reclaimed materials within the BIM platform.
5D BIM software capabilities allow quantity surveyors to test “what-if” scenarios more easily and understand in advance how various design or material choices can impact the budget. As BIM expands into 6D, 7D (facility management), 8D (health & safety), and beyond, quantity surveyors will leverage these tools to reduce costs and improve project quality.
Automating Routine Work to Focus on Value
The emergence of BIM, quantity surveying software, and other digital tools reflects a shift towards automation in construction that is still in its early stages. Available tools and technologies already allow surveyors to eliminate manual quantity takeoff, estimation, and cost tracking processes, so they can spend more time on value-added tasks and eliminate opportunities for spreadsheet calculation errors.
With this newfound bandwidth, quantity surveyors can focus on scenario planning, resource optimization, and other strategic initiatives to reduce overall project expenses. They can also take on a higher volume of traditional quantity surveying tasks with greater confidence in the accuracy and efficiency of their results.
Collaboration and Transparency in a Connected Ecosystem
Quantity surveyors use their available time and resources to collaborate more closely with designers, engineers, contractors, and other key stakeholders. Once again, cloud-based software tools support the transition by making it easier to communicate and share ideas from multiple locations, and strict version control helps to avoid costly errors and rework.
Purpose-built solutions like RIB Software include a suite of tools designed to enhance collaboration, transparency, and efficiency. With a single source of truth to rely upon throughout the project, quantity surveyors can heighten the value of their estimates, budgets, documentation, and reports as they become an indispensable project resource. Direct links to historical cost and subcontractor performance databases carry the benefits from one project to the next.
Conclusion
The quantity surveyor role has always been versatile and valuable, but modern technology is helping surveyors and their employers transition from reactive and repetitive to proactive and predictable. While many beneficial training and certification programs are available to help surveyors leverage the latest tools, it is up to each construction company to invest in the software they need to maximize their potential.
BIM and cloud-based quantity surveying, takeoff, and estimation software solutions lead the way. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities will continue to improve forecasting, collaboration, and automation in the years ahead. With technology making their roles more valuable and large-scale projects increasing demand for their services, the future looks extremely bright for construction quantity surveyors.
