Quantity Surveying Infrastructure

Before a new project commences, clients must understand its feasibility. This helps mitigate the risk of wasting money on design and consultancy fees. Feasibility estimates will typically look at materials and labour costs, and the time required to complete the project at hand. 

Site acquisition studies offer insight into any existing structures on a piece of land. The acquisition study is typically accompanied by a site plan, which will detail the size of the land and what can be achieved in it. 

Effective cost planning is important to ensure value for money. Once an estimated cost has been planned and agreed upon, all parties have a framework and budget to work within. As well as planning the costs, a quantity surveyor will monitor outgoings to mitigate the risk of overspending.

The benefits of effective cost planning include:

• Greater satisfaction with the finished project
• Early identification of high-cost elements
• Provides a basis for comparing with future projects
• Improved construction quality and performance
• Budget and value accountability
• Lower likelihood of bills and costs spiralling

To ensure a project is safe and that those carrying out work have peace of mind, adequate risk assessments and analyses must be carried out. Similarly, contingency planning will help to ensure an effective response is in place should any problems arise.

Risk and contingency planning involves identifying what is most likely to cause disruption to a construction or infrastructure project. Once these risks are assessed, it is the role of the quantity surveyor to define which risk could have the greatest impact on the project.

This is one of the most important parts of quantity surveying as any oversights or missteps can cause work to grind to a halt. Risk and contingency planning ensures that anything that could affect work and cause delays is recognised and addressed.

Once identified, risks should be quantified on the likelihood of them happening and the impact they could have on the project. This makes contingency planning easier as more focus can be put on the risks that have a higher chance of occurring.

A work package is a group of tasks that sit within a larger task. Creating these work packages ensures that large infrastructure and construction projects can be completed efficiently and that progress is not halted. Additionally, by carefully delegating tasks to relevant contractors and/or subcontractors, a quantity surveyor will be able to ensure accountability.

Quantity surveyors act as agents between developers/investors and the contractor carrying out the work.

Having estimated the cost and feasibility of a project and undertaken risk and contingency work, our quantity surveyor (infrastructure) teams are well-placed to liaise with both contractors and developers/investors. The quantity surveyor’s insight into the project and its strategic planning can ensure that the work is completed on time and that safety procedures are followed.

Walker Sime’s quantity surveyor infrastructure team are trained to comprehensively manage projects and collaborate with contractors and developers/investors to come to suitable solutions that work for both parties.

By making a cost model during the estimating and costing process, quantity surveyors can create a detailed plan of how much infrastructure should cost over its whole life, including maintenance schedules.

With regards to contract administration, the quantity surveyor will manage the contracts between developers/investors and contractors. Contract administration is an important part of the quantity surveyor’s role as they are responsible for all parties agreeing to and signing the agreements.

It makes sense for the quantity surveyor to manage the contracts as they have had the most involvement in costing and planning the works. The quantity surveyor is also more likely to be impartial than a developer/investor or contractor too.

Quantity surveying does not stop at ensuring the successful completion of work. Guaranteeing the longevity of new buildings and infrastructure is a key facet of quantity surveying.

The life cycle and longevity of a building are crucial to ensuring value for money, so quantity surveyors will take these into account during the costing and feasibility process.

Quantity surveyors will also be trained to oversee the execution of building contracts between the developer/investor and contractor. By working to understand the developer/investor’s requirements, a quantity surveyor will ensure that work is carried out to a high level using their knowledge of building contracts.

After initially estimating and tendering the project, it is the quantity surveyor’s job to ensure costs are controlled, to: 

• Provide value for money
• Achieve a balance in the costs of the various elements of the project
• Limit expenditure to the amount agreed

By financial forecasting, quantity surveyors can ensure there are no hidden or unexpected costs and that the developer/investor and contractor are working to an agreed budget.

Although the quantity surveyor will agree on a contract with the relevant parties, there may be circumstances where changes are required once the project is underway. In the event of this, the quantity surveyor will review the initial contract and make necessary changes.

In addition to acting as a go-between for contractors and developers/investors, an effective quantity surveyor will be trained in dispute resolution too. Disputes can cost a lot of time and money, so it is important that both parties are encouraged to engage properly to find a resolution. 

Whether acting as counsel or as a mediator for the disputing parties, quality dispute resolution skills are crucial to avoiding potentially expensive and time-consuming delays.

The role of the quantity surveyor is crucial, especially when you’re planning large infrastructure projects. A quantity surveyor ensures that structures meet legal and quality standards and estimates and manages costs for construction projects. Essentially, a quantity surveyor will ensure value for money and that contracts are adhered to. A crucial role when dealing with large infrastructure projects.

At Walker Sime, we work closely with every client to fully understand the project vision, identify requirements and, crucially, find out what represents success. Then, we select and assign a surveyor or team with the right fit of experience and skills for the individual project. Professionals who we know won’t just get the job done, but will care and add value at every stage.

Finally, we move heaven and earth to deliver these projects on time and within budget. A deceptively straightforward approach that makes even the most difficult projects a lot easier to negotiate.

Here, we explore the different facets of the role of a quantity surveyor and how practical quantity surveying is intrinsically linked to successful construction and infrastructure projects.