Cost Engineering and Quantity Surveying

 Cost Engineering and Quantity Surveying have similar and highly overlapping functions. Quantity Surveying relates more to building design and construction, while Cost Engineering relates more to engineering projects and processes. However Cost Engineers and Quantity Surveyors commonly work in both areas. Cost Engineering and Quantity Surveying differ primarily in the route taken to professional qualification, not to any substantive difference in the two professions. Project Management overlaps both Quantity Surveying and Cost Engineering in the project cost management area to some degree but most Project Management functions are quite different from those of Cost Engineering and Quantity Surveying.


The following document summarizes the conclusions of discussions held at ICEC International Congresses and endeavors to compare the similarities and differences between the three professions, in terms of cost management matters only. A definition of entire scope of Project Management activity is not intended, nor should it be inferred, from this document. 




Cost Engineering (CE) and Quantity Surveying (QS)
Functions.


To provide independent, objective, accurate, and reliable capital and operating cost assessments usable for investment funding and project control.


To analyze investment and development for the guidance of owners, financiers and contractors.


CE and QS include:

• - estimates of capital or asset costs including development costs;
• - estimates of operating and manufacturing costs through an asset's life cycle;
• - risk assessment and analysis;
• - trending of scope and cost changes;
• - decision analysis;
• - financial analysis (eg, net present value, rate of return, etc);
• - project cost control;
• - appraisals of existing assets;
• - project analyses, databases, and benchmarking;
• - planning and scheduling;
• - siting studies, etc.;
• - productive and investment needs assessment;
• - facility management needs assessment;
• - project feasibility and budget assessment; 
• - cost management;
• - procurement management;
• - contract administration;
• - whole-life appraisals;
• - quality audits;
• - value management;
• - dispute resolution.

These are typical functions of the CE or QS but not all practitioners in the field perform all of these functions. Many specialize in a limited number of these functions.


The CE or QS provides information by:

•  estimating costs and analyzing risk,
• - trending and controlling costs and assessing design, and
• - documenting costs.

These are interdependent and feed back to each other. They include:

• - analyzing cost,
• - assessing design,
• - assessing risks,
• - trending costs,
• - advising clients,
• - managing cash flows,
• - preparing feasibility analyses, and
• - assessing life-cycle costs.

www.icoste.org/

Assistant quantity surveyor

Assistant quantity surveyors provide technical assistance to chartered quantity surveyors in costing building projects. They estimate quantities and costs of materials and labour. They also take measurements on-site when a project is underway so that they can calculate actual costs.

Work Activities

Assistant quantity surveyors provide technical assistance to chartered quantity surveyors in costing building projects at all stages from planning to completion.

Before a project begins they use technical drawings to estimate quantities and costs of materials, labour, plant, taxes and the likely maintenance costs for a new building or civil engineering project. Assistant quantity surveyors work out, for example, the amount of steel and concrete required for a bridge, the number of bricks and roof tiles for a housing estate or the quantity of glass for an office block.

They then prepare a bill of quantities. This is a detailed list of the labour and materials needed for a project. Contractors use the bill of quantities to work out their bids.

Assistant quantity surveyors check bids from contractors. They analyze the bills of quantities returned with prices; they check the calculations are correct and that all items have been priced. They make sure that contractors' prices are fair.

When a project is under way quantity surveying technicians visit the construction site at intervals, to measure the work completed. They keep detailed records of all measurements because they are used to calculate actual costs. If there are changes to the project, assistant quantity surveyors measure alterations and adjust values. The client uses these measurements to pay the contractor for completed work.

Contractors use the measurements to pay sub-contractors, such as electricians, plant operators and construction workers.

Measurement work can involve being outdoors in all weather conditions and working at heights.

Assistant quantity surveyors use computers to get prices of materials from suppliers and to store data, such as measurements, costs, budgets and financial reports.

They also carry out the general administration involved in managing the office.

Personal Qualities and Skills

As an assistant quantity surveyor you should enjoy working with numbers. You will need to make calculations quickly and accurately. Attention to detail is important, as is the ability to concentrate and work methodically.

You will need problem solving skills to organize your work and practical skills to undertake measurement work. Estimating costs and quantities involves reading and analyzing technical drawings.

You will need good communication skills to talk with quantity surveyors and other members of the construction team. You should be able to work to deadlines.

Quantity Surveying Books

Construction Technology

 Barry's Introduction to Construction of Buildings 

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Building Construction Handbook, Eighth Edition
Roy Chudley, Roger Greeno BA(Hons.)  








  Measurement of work

Willis's Elements of Quantity Surveying

Sandra Lee, W. Trench, Andrew Willis 

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Construction Economics

Construction Economics: A New Approach

Danny Myers

Building Services

Air Conditioning: A practical introduction

David Chadderton (Paperback - Apr 10, 1998)

    
 building services engineering
Building Services Engineering
by-Taylor & Francis

The Role of the Quantity Surveyor

A Quantity Surveyor typically manages the financial aspects of a building or construction project.

Prior to Construction

• Preparation of Feasibility Studies
• Estimating to define project budgets
• Analysis of the effect of design changes on the project budget
• Cost planning to refine the budget as the design documents develop
• Preparation of Bills of Quantities to assist in the tender process
• Reviews of Builder’s tender submissions

During Construction

• Provision of cost control services during construction
• Assessment of the builder’s progress claims
• Assessment of variation and delay claims

Post Construction

• Determination of the final project cost
• Preparation of tax depreciation reports for investors and property owners
• Expert Witness reports to assist in the settlement of building disputes