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flow on construction projects, the lack of characters per second. Time has
information and process standards, the consequently become more important as
traditional "paper-based" mindset of the people increasingly try to cram as much
industry and yet to be resolved legal and into their days as possible. In Japan,
contractual issues relating to electronic some restaurants now charge customers
documentation and records. by the minute and not on what they
actually eat; customers clock in, clock out
Nevertheless, the past 5 years has seen and the bill is calculated on the actual time
significant advances in addressing these spent in the restaurant. Many examples
problems. Organisations such as the exist of the need to create the illusion that
International Alliance for Interoperability we are saving time. The "door close"
(IAI), backed by major international firms button on building lifts provides a good
and professional associations, are making example; on many lifts these buttons do
major inroads in developing standards to not actually work and are in place merely
offset the problems associated with to "placate those who measure their time
incompatibility of computing systems and in seconds" Spigelman (2000 p.5).
information flow. There are now many
examples of major projects where entire Current personal "off-the-shelf" computers
project teams have been linked with pentium processors are capable of
electronically and all information flow performing 400 million instructions per
carried out electronically; the construction second and, at the current pace of
of the new airports in Hong Kong and development, by 2012 personal
Kuala Lumpur being two good examples. computers will be able to handle 100,000
Major industry clients are exerting million instructions per second. In 1980
increased pressure on industry copper wire phone lines carried less than
participants to more effectively utilise IT one page of information per second whilst,
capabilities. In Australia, the NSW today, optical fibres as thin as a human
Department of Public Works and Services hair can transmit the equivalent of over
(DPWS) is the nation's biggest 90,000 volumes of an encyclopedia per
construction industry client and is currently second (de Valence 1999).
implementing strategies to push the
industry into the electronic era. These In the construction industry, the pace of
strategies are summarised in Section 5. change is gaining momentum. Rapid
changes in the design area alone have
The pace of change in our society is occurred; the drafting board is quickly
having a concomitant effect on the becoming obsolete giving way to the
industry. Gleick (1999 cited in Spigelman computer monitor. Weisburg (2000)
2000) provides historical comparisons with argues that the next few years will see
our current rate of change and adaptation significant changes in how developers,
to new technology. Gleick examined how designers, consultants and contractors
long it took for one-quarter of the manage the entire building process.
population in the United States to adopt These changes will result in not only
new technology; 46 years for electricity, substantial restructuring of how facilities
35 years for the telephone, 16 years for are designed and supported but also a
personal computers and 7 years to be major reengineering of how these players
connected to the internet. The digital do business. Weisburg further contends
revolution is occurring with unprecedented that the process will become substantially
speed. This has been coupled with the more information-oriented with
phenomenon of a decreasing tolerance to participants being required to not only
delay. Delays in certain processing have the technological capabilities to be a
functions (particularly those computer- part of this information flow but also, and
based) quickly become unsatisfactory probably most importantly, be willing to
even though this type of delay may have share their information. The sharing of
been acceptable as little as a year earlier. intellectual property amongst project
Instead of words per minute it is now participants will, in itself, require major
cultural and business shifts as firms are - sharing the learning experience
increasingly asked to "hand over" their between the construction and other
valuable data. industries.
participant. The database will also enable The following section is based on the
access to client databases with generic findings of a major research program
information about their requirements and carried out in 1998 for the Australian
historic data as well as information about Department of Industry, Science and
manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, Resources (DISR) to examine the current
consultants, service providers and their status and future directions of Information
products. Technology use in the construction
industry (DISR 1998). The research was
Electronic Commerce and Electronic carried out jointly by the Fujitsu Centre of
Procurement the Australian Graduate School of
Electronic procurement will require all Management and the Building Research
project participants to conduct their Centre at the University of New South
businesses via electronic commerce. This Wales for the primary purpose of
will necessitate cultural shifts in the way establishing how IT can provide long term
these firms do business and, for many, a benefits for both firms and the industry
major re-engineering of their processes generally. The research included
and practices. To this end, the Australian interviews with managers of 30 firms
Procurement and Construction Council (including Quantity Surveying firms)
(APCC) have developed a "National covering most sectors of the industry to
Framework for Cooperation for Electronic identify the actual and potential benefits
Commerce in Government Procurement" for these firms in adopting IT and the
for the purpose of developing a consistent problems in doing so.
approach to the use of technology in
electronic procurement. 4.2 IT Adoption Phases
The DPWS approach to electronic The study identified 3 main phases in the
tendering is of particular relevance to the adoption of IT by firms in the construction
Quantity Surveying profession. They are industry:
progressively developing systems that go
beyond simple advertising of tenders to Phase 1: Automation
allow the downloading of measurable This phase involves the use of IT to
documents and to enable the entire tender automate technical and specialist tasks
process to be completed electronically. that were previously carried out manually.
Some projects have already provided for This has led to many generic benefits
tenderers (and their which include productivity gains,
subcontractors/suppliers) to generate increased business turnover, shorter cycle
automatic linear and area measurements times, the capacity to manage larger and
from documents available on the internet more complex projects and improved
or, where downloading capabilities are accuracy and consistency of
limited, from computer disks. documentation. However, the researchers
found that the leaders in automating their
Eden (2000) states that further processes enjoyed competitive business
developments with 3D object based advantage only over the short term
documents will shortly enable tenderers to because it is relatively easy with
utilise these documents directly from the automation for competitors to adopt the
web to automatically generate length, area technology used by these leading firms. In
and volume measurements as well as many cases, these leading firms act as
detailed quantities for many items. "guinea pigs" for their competitors who
prefer to adopt a "wait-and-see" approach
4. SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTING before investing in technology. The result
IT for the industry has been that automation
has led to increased productivity gains
4.1 DISR Research and lower costs generally across the
board for each profession with little long
term competitive advantage being
Phase 3: Business Process Re- The study examined the main potential IT
Engineering applications and benefits for the Quantity
The third phase is realised by even fewer Surveying profession. The main
firms but it is in this stage where the applications were found to be:
greatest benefits lie. This phase involves
utilising IT to transform (re-engineer) the - increased productivity through
firms core business operations to optimise streamlined data entry and data
the use of IT. This usually requires management
continual investment in technological - increased productivity through
advancement and organisational change. automated quantities and cost
The researchers found that the relatively calculations
few organisations that have re-engineered - increased productivity through the use
their business processes along with the of digitisers for measurement
adoption of IT have experienced - elimination of measurement in many
significant gains in productivity and gained areas through direct extraction of
sustained competitive advantage. This quantities from CAD files
has enabled expansion into new markets, - faster and more efficient transmission
improved ability to manage projects from a of quantity/cost data via email
50 +
20 > 50
1999
1998
10 > 20
5 > 10
1>5
20yrs +
10>20yrs
5>10 yrs
1999
1998
2-5 yrs
<2 yrs
% of respondent firms
5.3 Services Provided (rather than the client) engage and pay
Quantity Surveyors to prepare quantities
The past two decades have seen Quantity have now taken over from the traditional
Surveying firms expand and adapt their Bill of Quantities provided and guaranteed
scope of services to meet changing by the client. Builders Quantities are
industry demands. The use of the usually prepared in a concise form with
traditional "bread and butter" of the firms using their own concise standards;
profession, Bills of Quantities, has no standard concise method of
declined markedly in the Australian measurement has yet been developed.
construction industry over this time to the
point where they are rarely used. Despite Another major change has been that
this, the volume of work carried out by Quantity Surveyors are now used much
firms has increased over the more in the "front-end" stages of projects
corresponding period. Builders Quantities, where their expertise is of most value.
whereby tendering contractors themselves Cost planning and budgeting is becoming
the new "bread & butter" of the profession. results indicate that this trend is likely to
One of the largest Quantity Surveying continue.
firms in Australia1 provides a good
example of these changes; in 1980 Bills of However, the provision of these services
Quantities accounted for approximately does not necessarily mean that these
80% of their total workload whereas in services account for a large proportion of
2000 this had declined to little over 5%. firms' volume of work. Figures 6 and 7
However, rather than leading to the firm's indicate the percentage of income that
demise, the firm has adapted accordingly these non-traditional/non-building services
and now provides a greater volume and provide for firms. The results indicate a
wider range of services. significant increase in these percentages
over the 5 year period. In 1995, non-
This section of the survey targeted the traditional services accounted for less
scope of services provided by firms. than 10% of total income for over 80% of
Figure 3 shows the percentage of firms firms and no firm had a percentage higher
providing traditional services (question not than 50%. Non-building services were
asked in 1995). Estimating/Cost Planning very limited; only 10% of firms carried out
and Contract Administration are the main these services and, even then, they only
services provided by firms. Even though accounted for less than 10% of total
the use of Bills of Quantities has declined income.
most firms still provide this service albeit
to a limited extent. More firms prepare By 1998/99 this picture had changed
Builders Quantities than Bills of significantly. For over approximately 70%
Quantities. of firms non-traditional services accounted
for more than 10% of total income and
Figures 4 and 5 show the extent of non- over 20% of total income for more than
traditional and non-building services half of firms. For approximately 25-30% of
provided by firms (questions not asked in firms these services actually accounted for
1995). The range of services is now over 50% of total income. Non-building
clearly very broad with taxation advice services were also on the rise accounting
(comprising mainly building Tax for over 50% of total income for one firm
Depreciation Schedules) and valuations and 10-50% of total income for
for insurance purposes the most common approximately 20% of firms. Marked
service. increases were noted even between the
1998 and 1999 surveys.
The role of Quantity Surveyors in
resolving disputes as Expert Witnesses in These results provide evidence that
Arbitration/Litigation actions has escalated Quantity Surveying firms have really taken
markedly. Australia is one of the most on the challenge of diversification to better
litigious countries in the world (measured meet and serve industry demands. This
in terms of legal cases per capita) and its indicates, in part at least, a proactive
construction industry is dominated by a approach to change by many firms.
high level of dispute. Most disputes evolve
around money so the cost expertise of the In order to ascertain current processing
QS is commonly sought. technology capacity, respondents were
asked to indicate their hardware platforms
Many Quantity Surveying firms have now with the results shown in Figure 8. This
also ventured into non-building areas provides the basis for the analysis of the
demonstrating that the cost management survey results.
skills of the Quantity Surveyor can be
applied in other industries just as is the
case with Project Management. The
1
The identity of this firm is not disclosed for reasons of
confidentiality
Contract Admin
Spec Prep
1999
1998
Bldrs Quants
Bills of Quant
Estim/Cost Plan
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% of respondent firms
F ig . 4 N o n - T r a d it io n a l S e r v ic e s
Other
Facility M'ment
Quality M'ment
Value M'ment
Project M'ment
Risk M'ment
Insurance Val
Expert Witness
Arbitration/Med
Tax Advice
Const Planning
Life Costs
Feasibility Stud
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% of respondent firms
F ig . 5 N o n - B u ild in g S e r v ic e s
Other
Research/Publishing
Civil Works
Infrastructure Works
M arine Works
Aeronautical
T ransport
Water Services
Ship Building
Aeronautical
M ining 1999
M anufacturing 1998
PetroChemical
% of respondent firms
F ig . 6 % Incom e -
N o n T r a d i t io n a l S e r v i c e s
50% +
1999
1998
20-50%
1995
10-20%
5-10%
< 5%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% of respondent firm s
F ig . 7 % Incom e -
N o n B u il d in g S e r v ic e s
50% +
1999
1998
20-50%
1995
10-20%
5-10%
< 5%
0%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% of respondent firm s
Laptops
1999
1998
1995
Netw orked P Cs
Stand alon e P Cs
M ulti-User
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% of respondent firm s
F ig . 9 G e n e r a l O f f ic e A p p lic a t io n s
Accounting
Desktop Publ.
1999
1998
Presentation
1995
Database
Spreadsheet
Word Processing
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% of respondent firms
F ig . 1 0 S p e c ia lis t A p p lic a t io n S o f t w a r e
Feasibilities
Cost Database
Project Man
Life Costs
1999
Facilities Man
1998
CAD
1995
Time Man
Cash Flows
BQs
Estimating
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% of respondent firms
F ig . 1 1 U s e o f C A D f or M e a s u r e m e n t
Daily
Frequency of Use
Often
Seldom
Never
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% of respondent firms
CAD for measurement and the time when extremely accurate. Many CAD systems
CAD systems can automatically produce a themselves have digitiser capabilities but,
detailed Bill of Quantities for projects once again, are rarely used by
generally (rather than being set up for practitioners.
specific projects) is still probably a long
way off. But the reality is that most CAD The results indicate that the profession is
systems have the capabilities to, at the generally not utilising and evolving with
very least, automatically generate basic systems that can automatically produce
quantities in terms of areas, volumes and quantities. There is tremendous scope
numbers of items. here for quantity surveying practices to
improve productivity and cost efficiency by
Even the use of digitisers for utilising such systems.
measurement has been very low in the
profession. 79% of firms never use Electronic Communication
digitisers, 13% seldom use them, 3% use
them often and only 5% use them daily. Not surprisingly, the level of external
Even then, with the firms using digitisers, electronic data exchange, other than by
they are not available to all staff with no telephone or fax, is very limited. Figure 13
firm having more than 3 in the office. shows that over 90% of firms still do not
Similar findings were made in the receive design drawing documentation in
1995/1998 surveys. Digitisers have been this form. There have only been minimal
around for nearly two decades and are increases in this area since the 1995
considered by many to already be survey. The 1999 survey shows in Figure
obsolete due to the advances in CAD yet 14 that, even with the firms that do
Quantity Surveying firms still resist their transfer drawings electronically, the level
use. Inaccurate results are cited by many of transfer is very low. 3% of firms transfer
as being the main reason for non-use but, 1-5% of drawings electronically, 5%
in the author's experience, digitisers transfer 5-20% and the rest transfer no
(particularly those that have been on the drawings electronically.
market over the past 5-10 years) are
F ig . 1 2 U se of D I G I T I S E R S f or
M easurem ent
Daily
Frequency of Use
Often
Seldom
Never
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% of respondent firms
F ig . 1 3 E le c t r o n ic D a t a E x c h a n g e
Cost Data
Product Info
Contract Admin
1999
Specifications 1998
1995
Consult Dwgs
Eng Dwgs
Arch Dwgs
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% of respondent firms
E le c t r onic a lly
50 - 100%
% dwgs transferred electronically
20 - 50%
5 - 20%
1 - 5%
0%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% of respondent firms
F ig . 1 5 O n - L in e S e r v ic e s
Cost Data
1999
1998
1995
Product Data
E m ail
Web Site
Internet
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% of respondent firm s
Some consolation though is that there has The predominant response categories
been a steady increase in the proportion were largely the same for each year. The
of firms transferring cost data, product responses clearly indicate that the
information, contract administration majority of practitioners believe that
information and specifications information technology will have a
electronically. significant influence on their future
working environment. Over 74-82%
Inter-office communications were also agreed that greater use of IT will enable
shown to be limited. Whilst the majority of Quantity Surveyors to provide better
affiliated practices had direct electronic services for their clients. Despite this, the
links, firms demonstrated little electronic survey results indicate a relatively low
communication with clients, consultants commitment to the use of IT advances.
and contractors. In 1995, only 7% had
links with consultants and only 1% with The main disparity in results between
contractors. This had only increased to survey years lay in two questions relating
14% and 11% respectively by 1998. to the possible demise of the technical
measurer and the decline in practitioner
Access to on-line services has improved numbers. In 1995 opinion was relatively
as shown in Figure 15. In 1995 only 17% evenly divided on the impact that IT
of firms had e-mail facilities which advancement will have on the technical
indicated that the profession was QS whose main function is measurement
generally not embracing information but in 1998/1999 only 26% and 32% of
technology. This percentage has firms respectively agree with this
increased to 85% which is encouraging. proposition. This may be prompted by
Additionally, use of the internet has continuing problems with the development
increased markedly and close to 30% of of CAD automated quantities.
respondent firms had web-sites by 1999.
This figure is likely to have increased Nevertheless, approximately 60% of firms
further by now. believe that CAD networking facilities and
knowledge will be necessary in the next
Videoconferencing/Telecommuting five years and approximately 70% believe
that the profession should be actively
Less than 20% of respondents to all the involved in promoting, developing and
surveys had staff working outside their utilising CAD automated quantities. This is
office using direct electronic links such as clearly at odds with what firms are actually
via a modem. The majority of those doing with the survey results show a low
involved employees or contract Quantity level of CAD usage by quantity surveying
Surveyors working from home. Less than firms.
5% had electronic links with staff working
on site. Videoconferencing facilities are Although 67-77% of respondents believed
not used by any of the firms surveyed. that the QS is well placed to take
advantage of the increased use of IT in
5.4 Future Expectations the construction industry, the survey
results show that the profession is clearly
The next section of the surveys asked not exploiting this advantage and is largely
firms to give their opinions on a series of taking a reactive rather than proactive
propositions relating to the possible future approach.
impact of general industry changes and
Information Technology advances. The Finally, with perhaps unfounded optimism,
propositions and results are shown in 76-83% of firms are of the opinion that the
Table 1. The predominant response for QS will be a key player in the construction
each year is shown in bold. industry in 5 years time. The current level
of IT usage in the profession does not
parallel such optimism.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
The impact of IT on the construction industry
will be minimal in the next 5 years 0% 3% 0% 20% 5% 3% 18% 3% 3% 49% 49% 60% 13% 40% 34%
6 IT STRATEGIES FOR QUANTITY directly to do with IT. Firms need first and
SURVEYING FIRMS foremost to ensure that their quantity
surveyors have sufficient professional
The following strategies flow from the expertise in the core competencies and
findings of the research underpinning this skills of the profession and continue to
paper. These strategies are not intended develop this expertise. Adequate "on-the-
to be exhaustive and do not provide job" training should be in place for
detailed examples of how these strategies inexperienced employees and to also
might be achieved. Rather they are aimed complement tertiary education. Too much
at providing "food for thought" for Quantity focus on the use of IT may lead to the
Surveying practitioners to assist in deterioration of fundamental professional
determining the IT approaches that best skills that will increasingly become
suit their particular firm and necessary as technological advances
circumstances. continue to automate technical activities
thus requiring practitioners to operate at a
6.1 Maintain and Develop more highly skilled and professional level.
Professional Expertise in Core The danger of inexperienced or
Competencies incompetent staff utilising sophisticated
but "user friendly" software is obvious.
The first strategy for firms has nothing
Nevertheless, practitioners need to be far utilise and gain expertise in CAD sooner
more adaptable and willing to change their rather than later. CAD systems will be at
standard work practices than in the past. the centre of future information
The pace of change will make this management system and virtual projects
increasingly important. Weisberg (2000) and, consequently, professionals will need
points out that the most significant CAD capabilities and expertise just to be a
problems that firms are likely to face in player.
implementing new technology and
business changes will be people Whilst 2D CAD currently predominates in
management, not technology. This may the industry, the industry is moving
particularly be the case with older towards 3D object oriented CAD and
practitioners who worked through the smarter firms looking to the future will
relatively stable work environments of the embrace this CAD format. 3D CAD also
1970s and 1980s and are now confronted offers far more possible uses for the
with unprecedented change in the Quantity Surveyor.
workplace.
The most obvious benefit for Quantity
In contrast, many young (but Surveyors lies in the use of automated
inexperienced) construction professionals quantities with enormous productivity
are extremely computer literate and gains already possible. The preparation of
adaptable and, in many firms, are relied quantities in the traditional paper-based
upon to lead the development of mode is tedious and time-consuming and
technological change within the typically accounts for over 80% of the total
organisation. The time is not far off when time spent in preparing tenders, budgetary
school leavers/university graduates estimates and cost plans. Lend Lease,
entering the industry will have spent their one of the largest contracting
whole schooling and education lives organisations in Australia, have
surrounded by computers and advanced ascertained that their estimators spend
technology with the result that this approximately 80% of their time
technology will be second nature to them. measuring and only 20% of their time
However, Wesiberg (p. 12) contends that actually pricing and compiling their
these computer "whiz kids" and the tender/budget prices. Their objective is to
experienced "old heads" of the industry turn those percentages around with their
will have much to learn from each other. estimators spending only 20% of their time
"Successful companies will recognise that measuring. CAD generated quantities are
today's graduates know more about seen as the means of achieving this (Legg
computers than most of their more 1998). Rather than being a threat,
experienced professionals. On the other automated quantities actually have the
hand, these young people probably have potential to provide tremendous
disturbingly little knowledge (about the opportunities for the profession. Removing
application of their professional training) in much of the technical drudgery, albeit the
the real world. Experienced professionals traditional "bread and butter", of the
and new computer hotshots have much to profession will provide practitioners with
learn from each other. Companies that are more time to focus on developing
going to win tomorrow's competitive sophisticated cost management systems
struggles are the ones that recognise how and a wider range of value-added
to meld their experienced staff with the services. This will provide the potential for
computer-hip newcomers". firms to be able to provide a wider range
of value-added services on a larger
6.2 Learn, Utilise and Evolve with number of projects. The important thing is
CAD not who or what prepares the quantities
(as long as they are accurate) but more
There is no question, in the author's mind, what is done with the quantities.
that Quantity Surveying firms, and indeed
all construction professionals, need to Many practitioners are sceptical, with
6.5 Be Prepared to Share Information risk for firms without the necessary skill
and expertise to carry out the new
As construction processes become services. Accordingly, many Quantity
increasingly automated and information Surveying firms are now employing
management systems become more construction professionals from a variety
sophisticated the whole construction of “non-QS” backgrounds to augment their
process will become substantially more services. A multi-skilled and qualified
information-oriented as we head towards workforce will also provide firms with
virtual electronic procurement patterns. greater opportunities to expand their
Participants will not only need the scope of services.
technological capabilities to be a part of
this information flow but will also be 6.6 Continuing Professional
increasingly required to share their Development
information. The cultural shift that will be
required of Quantity Surveying firms to Continuing Professional Development
allow access to their valuable cost data (CPD) is a requirement for members of
bases (often compiled over many years if most professional associations and the
not decades) will be considerable. This construction industry is no exception.
will not only be a major issue for Quantity Rather than relying solely on their
Surveyors but for most construction employers, practitioners need to also take
professionals. responsibility for their own professional
development. IT is a classic area for CPD
6.8 Diversification/Specialisation of due to the regularity and speed of change
Services and such personal development can be of
enormous benefit to a firm.
The survey results outlined earlier indicate
that Quantity Surveying firms are CONCLUSION
diversifying their scope of services to
better meet industry/client demands and Information Technology presents the
to secure their long term future. The DISR profession with many challenges, threats
research described earlier considered and opportunities. Whatever direction the
such diversification to be critical to the profession and IT advances take, the
future of the profession as a whole. The financial management expertise of the
survey results show that the proportion of Quantity Surveyor will remain in demand.
income obtained from non-traditional and The uncertainty really lies in what capacity
non-building work has risen markedly in and for whom the Quantity Surveyor will
the past 5 years. Facility Management and be working and whether the individual
the push for more sustainable independent Quantity Surveying firm will
development in the built environment continue to exist in its current form. It is
represent two huge new growth areas for clear that computing and information
the profession in terms of new services. management expertise will be a
The financial management skills of the necessary component in the tool kit of the
Quantity Surveyor can be applied in many future Quantity Surveyor. Information
different areas both within and outside the Technology advances will continue to
property industry and many firms are automate technical processes thus raising
beginning to realise the opportunities that practitioners to a higher professional plane
this creates. whereby their professional skill and
expertise will be of paramount importance.
6.9 Multi-Skilled Team The need for highly developed IT skills will
also become a concomitant requirement
Such diversification and specialisation will but the former will need to precede the
require firms to have employees (or latter before the future Quantity Surveyor
consultants) with a very broad range of will be in a position to provide services of
skills, expertise and professional training. value. Before IT can be used at a
Diversification represents considerable professional level, practitioners must
develop the relevant core competencies in Spigelman, J.J. (2000), "Just, Quick and
their chosen areas. Cheap - A Standard for Civil Justice",
Australian Construction Law Newsletter,
Nevertheless, the surveys do indicate that Issue 70
the Quantity Surveying profession has
enormous room for improvement in terms Weisberg (2000), "In Building Design The
of embracing and utilising Information Young Need the Old and Vice Versa",
Technology advances in smarter ways. Chartered Building Professional, March
The Quantity Surveyor is not alone in this
respect with the rest of the industry
generally in the same boat. However, due
to the relatively small size of the
profession, perhaps independent Quantity
Surveying firms stand to lose more than
most if they fail to keep in touch with
developments and do not embrace the
opportunities and meet the challenges as
they arise.
References