The Built Environment: The Past, Present and Future of the Quantity Surveying Profession.

The Built Environment is the human-made space in which people live, work, and interact. It includes buildings, infrastructure, landscapes, and urban planning. The Built Environment has a significant impact on the social, economic, and environmental aspects of human life. It also reflects the culture, values, and aspirations of the people who create and use it.

The Quantity Surveying profession is one of the key players in the Built Environment. Quantity Surveyors are experts in the management of construction costs and contracts. We provide services such as feasibility studies, cost planning, budgeting, tendering, procurement, contract administration, dispute resolution, and project management. Quantity Surveyors work with clients, architects, engineers, contractors, and other stakeholders to ensure that the Built Environment is delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality and standards.

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The Quantity Surveying profession has a long and rich history that dates back over 2000 years ago. The Bible in Luke 14:28,29, says, "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him." The first recorded use of the term “Quantity Surveyor” was in 1669, when Sir Christopher Wren appointed William Leybourn to measure and value the works for the rebuilding of St Paul’s Cathedral after the Great Fire of London. Since then, the Quantity Surveying profession has evolved and adapted to the changing needs and demands of the Built Environment. Quantity Surveyors have contributed to the development of iconic projects such as the Eiffel Tower, the Panama Canal, the Sydney Opera House, the Burj Khalifa, and many more.

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The Quantity Surveying profession is also facing many challenges and opportunities in the present and future of the Built Environment. Some of the key drivers of change include:

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·???????? Data and technology: The rapid advancement and adoption of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, cloud computing, internet of things, and virtual reality are transforming the way the Built Environment is designed, constructed, operated, and maintained. These technologies enable new ways of collecting, analysing, and communicating information, as well as creating new business models and value propositions. Quantity Surveyors need to embrace and leverage these technologies to enhance their skills, services, and competitiveness.

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·???????? Sustainability: The growing awareness and urgency of the climate crisis and the environmental impact of the Built Environment are driving the demand for more sustainable and resilient solutions. The Built Environment accounts for about 40% of global energy consumption, 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, and 50% of natural resource use. Quantity Surveyors have a vital role to play in promoting and implementing sustainability principles and practices in the Built Environment, such as green building, circular economy, life cycle assessment, and carbon reduction.

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·???????? Talent and skills: The Quantity Surveying profession is facing a shortage of qualified and competent professionals, as well as a need to upskill and reskill the existing workforce. The factors contributing to this challenge include the ageing population, the low attractiveness of the profession, the lack of diversity and inclusion, and the changing expectations and requirements of the clients and the market. Quantity Surveyors need to invest in their continuous professional development and lifelong learning, as well as attract and retain the best talent from different backgrounds and disciplines.

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These are some of the main issues and trends that shape the past, present and future of the Quantity Surveying profession and the Built Environment. As a Quantity Surveyor, I believe that we have a unique and valuable contribution to make to the society and the world. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience to deliver the Built Environment that is functional, efficient, and sustainable. We also have the responsibility and the opportunity to shape the future of our profession and our industry. We need to be proactive, innovative, and collaborative in facing the challenges and seizing the opportunities that lie ahead. We need to be proud of our profession and our achievements, and share our stories and insights with others. We need to be the leaders and the advocates of the Built Environment.

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This is why I am a Quantity Surveyor, and this is why I support the NIQS Foundation. The NIQS Foundation is a non-profit organisation that aims to promote and advance the Quantity Surveying profession and the Built Environment in Nigeria and beyond. The NIQS Foundation provides scholarships, grants, awards, research, publications, training, mentoring, and networking opportunities for Quantity Surveyors and other Built Environment professionals. The NIQS Foundation also collaborates with other organisations, NGO's and stakeholders to raise the awareness and the profile of the Quantity Surveying profession and the Built Environment.

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If you are a Quantity Surveyor, or interested in becoming one, I invite you to join me and the NIQS Foundation in our mission to make the world a better place for all using the Built Environment as a platform. Together, we can make a difference in the Built Environment and the society. Together, we can shape the future of the Quantity Surveying profession.

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I hope you find this article interesting and useful. Please let me know if you have any feedback or questions. Thank you for your attention.

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QS Dr Celestina Nkechi Eke, PhD FNIQS FCIArb mni

Director General, NIQS Foundation.

?NIQS Foundation 2024.

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Source:

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(1) Future of surveying - RICS. https://www.rics.org/news-insights/future-of-surveying.

(2) Assessing the expected current and future competencies of quantity surveyors. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/ECAM-01-2021-0091/full/html.

(3) Future of surveying - RICS. https://www.rics.org/news-insights/future-of-surveying.

(4) Sustainable Built Environment: The Role of Quantity Surveyors. https://www.academia.edu/44271360/Sustainable_Built_Environment_The_Role_of_Quantity_Surveyors.

(5) Future of surveying - RICS. https://www.rics.org/news-insights/future-of-surveying.

(6) Assessing the expected current and future competencies of quantity .... https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/ECAM-01-2021-0091/full/html.

(7) NIQS. https://niqs.org.ng/.

(8) NIQS Foundation - Site is undergoing maintenance. https://niqsfoundation.org.ng/.

(9) The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors. https://portal.niqs.org.ng/membership/.

(10) The future of the quantity surveying role - RICS. https://www.rics.org/news-insights/the-future-of-the-quantity-surveying-role.

(11) SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION AND THE IMPACT ON THE QUANTITY SURVEYOR. https://www.academia.edu/1160074/SUSTAINABLE_CONSTRUCTION_AND_THE_IMPACT_ON_THE_QUANTITY_SURVEYOR.