COST MANAGEMENT: The Quantity Surveying Profession

A brief history of the QS profession

The profession of quantity surveying has a long-standing history in the construction industry dating back to the 18th century in the United Kingdom when construction projects were measured and valued after they were designed and built. The “measurers” or rather “quantity surveyors” as they are known today, would quantify and assign a value to the work after the building was constructed and then negotiate with the client and architect on behalf of the tradesmen.

By the early 19th century, a new contractor system resulted in the need for construction costs to be estimated and competitively priced before construction. During this time quantity surveyors developed the skill of pre-measuring quantities in a standardized way from design drawings and project specifications and then assembling them into various “bills of quantities” before construction began, and thereby introducing a method of appraising the cost prior to commencement, during construction, and then again upon final completion of the work.

The quantity surveyor has found a way to plan, monitor and control costs throughout each phase of the project lifecycle.

The quantity surveying profession today has advanced greatly (beyond what the title may suggest) and is widely respected as an integral part of the construction and financial management process. Specific functions include cost estimating and forecasting, cost control, payment certification, valuing construction techniques, valuing change, administrating procurement processes and management of contractual matters.

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