Unit 1 Quantity Surveyor in Australia

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Job Description

Quantity Surveyors have usually completed an appropriate tertiary degree course and undertaken the work experience which qualify them for membership of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors. TAFE Certificates and Diplomas qualify technicians who assist Quantity Surveyors in the office or on site, where they may specialize in particular aspects of the profession.

Quantity Surveyors work on projects ranging from office blocks, schools, hospitals, factories to bridges, railways, oil and mining development, shipbuilding and large process engineering works such as oil refineries. Anywhere, indeed, that major construction work is carried out. The Quantity Surveyor, also known as a Construction Economist or Cost Manager, is one of a team of professional advisers to the construction industry. Quantity Surveyors estimate all costs associated with construction projects. Most of their time is spent looking at building plans and quantifying the amount and price of construction materials.

After Quantity Surveyors have estimated the cost of a construction, they establish a budget and examine whether the proposed construction methods will be economical and suitable. They do this by examining architectural and engineering drawings and specifications. Then, they prepare Bill of Quantities which lists in detail all the individual work components of the project. Any change in the design or cost of these will be monitored throughout the construction phase.

As advisers, they estimate and monitor the construction costs, from the feasibility stage of a project through to the completion of the construction period. After construction, they may be involved with tax depreciation schedules, replacement cost estimation for insurance purposes and, if necessary, mediation and arbitration.

Quantity Surveyors are employed predominantly on major building and construction projects as consultants to the owner, in both public and private sectors. They may also work as academics in the building and construction disciplines and in financial institutions, with developer and as project manager.

Quantity Surveyors work closely with architects, financiers, engineers, contractors, suppliers, project owners, accountants, insurance underwriters, solicitors, courts and all levels of government authorities.

Quantity Surveyors get their name from the Bill of Quantities, a document which itemises the quantities of materials and labour in a construction project. This is measured from design drawings, to be used by the contractors for tendering, for progress payments, for variations and changes and ultimately for statistics, taxation and valuation.

At the feasibility stage, Quantity Surveyors use their knowledge of construction methods and costs to advise the owner on the most economical way of achieving his requirements. Quantity Surveyors may use techniques such as cost planning, estimating, cost analysis, cost-in-use studies and value management to establish a project budget.

During design, the Quantity Surveyor ensure that the design remains on budget through cost management. Essential additions are offset by identified other savings.

On completion of design and drawings, the Quantity Surveyor may prepare a Bill of Quantities, which is issued with the specification, for use by contractors in submitting tenders. The contractor’s Quantity Surveyors/estimators generally prepare tenders, and may price alternatives for consideration.

The Quantity Surveyor is usually involved in assessing tenders and may also have been asked to advise on the type of contract or special clauses in it.

During construction, Quantity Surveyors are called on to fairly value progress payments at regular intervals. They will also value changes to design or quantities which may arise by reference to appropriate Bill of Quantities rates. The contractor’s Quantity Surveyor or contract administrator will have prepared claims for progress payments and additional work.

When construction is completed, the Quantity Surveyor can produce depreciation schedules of various project components and advise on realistic insurance replacement costs. In the case of construction disputes, the Quantity Surveyor is often called on as an expert witness, and some Quantity Surveyors act as arbitrators. Both contractor’s and owner’s Quantity Surveyors will be involved in this.

In addition to new projects, Quantity Surveyors also use their skills in refurbishment of old buildings, alterations to existing buildings and insurance replacement estimates. In public authorities they maintain cost statistics on a state or nation-wide basis, and there are opportunities for academic careers in the building disciplines.

Quantity Surveyors work in the private sector with consulting firms, in the public sector mainly with the State Government Departments/Authorities and the Australian Construction Service, and increasingly with building contractors, financiers, property developers, project managers and universities.

QS Services

Financial Advisor

● prepares budgets for building projects

● advises on the effects of quality to the budget

● prepares contract documentation (such as Bills of Quantities and Cost Control Documents)

● recommends contract type and delivery process to achieve time and budget

● prepares tax depreciation calculations

Construction Advisor

● advises on the cost of alternative materials

● advises on the cost of construction methods

● advises on the effect of site conditions on budget

● advises on the feasibility of different sites

Contract Administrator

● advises on matters between client and architect or consultants

● advises on matters between client and contractor or project manager

● advises on contract interpretation, payments, changes in scope of works, variations, claims and final accounts

The Independent Quantity Surveyor

● impartial advise

● honest broker

● acheives value for money

● manages the budget and controls cost

● achieves a quality product

● satisfies the client

QS Skills

In addition to technical proficiency in maths and financial accounting, Quantity Surveyors need good communication skills and the ability to work closely with others. They work closely and regularly with architects, engineers, clients, builders and contractors.

They must also have an understanding of the laws that govern construction contracts, the construction process, and the cost and types of materials used. Reading and examining building plans is a significant component of a Quantity Surveyor’s work, therefore, the capacity for intense concentration over long periods is critical, and quick and reliable judgments for handling any necessary change is a must.

By the way, if you are afraid of heights, you will have to overcome your fears. You might find yourself inspecting the roof of a 50-storey building that is still being constructed.

New Words, Expressions

estimate vt. 估计，预算，估价 n. 估价，预算

quantify vt. 确定……的数量，表示……的数量；用数量表示（使量化）

budget n. 预算，预算表 v. 编制预算，安排预算

specification n. 详细说明；分类；[pl. ] 清单；计划书；规范，技术说明

depreciation n. 跌价，减价，贬值；折旧；损耗

mediation n. 调停，调解，仲裁

arbitration n. 仲裁，公断

predominantly ad. 主要地，显著地，大多数地，突出地

sector n. 部分；成分；部门

developer n. 开发商

contractor n. 承包商

supplier n. 供货商

owner n. 业主，物主

itemise vt. 分条细列，详列

tender n. 投标vt. 提出

offset vt. 弥补，抵消

claim n. 索赔

refurbishment n. 整修，翻新

delivery n. 交付，交货

alternative adj. 选择性的，二中择一的

site n. 现场；位置

impartial adj. 公平的；平等相待的；无私的，无偏见的

broker n.（股票债券等的）经纪人；（买卖的）中间人，代理人

proficiency n. 熟练，精通

govern vt. 管理；控制；约束；影响

underwriter n. 保险商；（股份、公债等的）承购人；证券包销人

feasibility stage可行性研究阶段

construction method施工方案，施工组织设计

bill of quantities工程量清单

completion of the construction period竣工

replacement cost重置成本

building and construction discipline建筑与施工业

project manager项目经理

insurance underwriter保险商，保险公司

progress payment进度付款

variation and change变更

cost planning成本计划

cost analysis成本分析

cost management成本管理

submit tenders递交标书

scope of works工程范围

Notes

1. This is measured from design drawings, to be used by the contractors for tendering, for progress payments, for variations and changes and ultimately for statistics, taxation and valuation.

工程量清单根据设计图纸进行计量。承包商将工程量清单用于投标、进度付款和工程量变更，并最终用于统计、计税和价值估计。

2. Reading and examining building plans is a significant component of a Quantity Surveyor’s work, therefore, the capacity for intense concentration over long periods is critical, and quick and reliable judgments for handling any necessary changes is a must.

阅读和检验建筑平面图是工料测量师工作的重要组成部分，因此具备长时期保持精神高度集中的能力十分关键。能够迅速做出可靠的判断以处理任何必要的变动，也是工料测量师的必备品质。

Exercises

I Reading comprehension: read the text and choose the best answer for each question.

1. The Quantity Surveyor is also known as a (　).

A. Project Manager

B. Construction Manager

C. Construction Economist

D. Engineer

2. Bill of Quantities is measured from (　).

A. specification

B. design drawings

C. construction method

D. contract

3. From the feasibility stage of a project through to the completion of the construction period, Quantity Surveyors don’t (　).

A. estimate replacement cost

B. estimate construction cost

C. monitor the changes of design

D. establish a budget

4. On completion of design and drawings, the Quantity Surveyor may (　).

A. advise the owner on the most economical way of achieving his requirements

B. establish a project budget

C. value progress payments at regular intervals

D. prepare a Bill of Quantities

5. The services of Quantity Surveyors are in the field of advise on (　).

A. financing

B. construction

C. technical

D. contract

II Vocabulary: match the explain meaning on the right column to the word on the left column.

estimate ● the state of being restored to its former good condition

claim ● to discover or express the quantity of

refurbishment ● an assertion of a right (as to money or property)

arbitration ● an itemized summary of expected income and expenditure of a country, company, etc., over a specified period, usually a financial year

quantify ● a detailed description of the criteria for the constituents, construction, appearance, performance, etc., of a material, apparatus, etc., or of the standard of workmanship required in its manufacture

budget ● the act, process, condition, or result of changing or varying; diversity

specification ● the hearing and determination of a dispute, esp. an industrial dispute, by an impartial referee selected or agreed upon by the parties concerned

variation ● to form an approximate idea of (distance, size, cost, etc.); calculate roughly; gauge

III Oral practice: discuss with your partners on the following topic.

What should be prepared for being a qualified Quantity Surveyor?