Professional Practice

History of QS Profession

HISTORY OF THE QUANTITY SURVEYOR PROFESSION IN UK

Construction specialized new professionals namely, Architects, Quantity Surveyors were needed for the advancement of construction industry in the beginning of 19th century (1820s). Thus, so called professionals, Quantity Surveyors, were demanded in UK construction industry as professional who can calculate cost, loss or damages. In 1959, Quantity Surveyor was recognized as a Measurer, Custom Surveyor or Surveyor. Therefore, in early days Quantity Surveyor acted for the master trade men by measuring the work after completion and frequently submitting the final account to the building owner. Consequently, building owner tend to execute their work by calling tenders. Then Architects were appointed to design the building while drawings and specifications were distributed to select master builder who would submit the tender for total building. Measuring the quantities of labour, material and plant, required for the completion of work, is been assisting to arriving of accurate estimate. Thus, Quantity Surveyors initially involved with preparation Bills of Quantities. Thereafter, they have provided their consultancy service to the building owner at tendering stage. Subsequently, builders were identified that occupying of single Quantity Surveyor for measuring the work would be economical. Accordingly now Quantity Surveyor work as a Cost Engineer to the Construction. Today he involves in construction industry by working on following areas; Estimating and Measurement of construction work prior to tendering Produce Bills of Quantities Produce Tenders and control of tender process Tender Evaluation Interim Bills Variation Control Assessment of Claim

Later, most English speaking Quantity Surveyors are affiliated in UK based professional institution called Royal Institute Chart Surveyors (RICS).

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History of QS Profession

HISTORY OF QUANTITY SURVEYOR PROFESSION IN SRI LANKA

The history of the Quantity Surveyors in Sir Lanka can be traced back to the British era. However until 1965 there were not professionally qualified Sri Lankan Quantity Surveyors. It is recorded that five numbers of British Quantity Surveyors were employed during colonial period in the Public Work Department of Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan construction industry was suffered from lack of professionally qualified Quantity Surveyors with the departure of British Quantity Surveyors. Thus, Engineers, Architects, Builders and Technical Officers performed some duties of Quantity Surveyor. Seminar on Surveying and Land Economy in Sri Lanka held at the BMICH in October 1974 which was organized by the Common wealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE) titled bearing in mind the importance of the construction industry to the social and economic development of Sri Lanka was make provision of proper education and training facilities for Quantity Surveyors and Quantity Surveying Technicians at the universities and technical institutions. With the increase of high demand for the Quantity Surveyors, IQSSL was established in 4 July 1983. However 18 April 1986, the Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka was incorporated as a limited liability company under the companies Act No 17 of 1982. In 2007, Institute was incorporated by an Act of Parliament as the first charted professional body solely representing the Quantity Surveying practices. However, currently Quantity Surveyors admitted to international professional bodies namely Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE), Pacific association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) and International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC) while having reciprocity agreement with the Australian Instituted of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS). Builders Quantities course at Ceylon Technical College was the only course available for Quantity Surveying studies in early days. However today, there are number of Quantity Surveying programmes, in Sri Lanka such as four year B. Sc. Honors in Quantity Surveying at University of Moratuwa (stared in 1985), a three

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History of QS Profession

year part time National Certificate of Technology course conducted by technical college throughout the country while other courses are counted in private sector.

REFERENCES
History of the institute of quantity surveyors, Sri Lanka [online]. Available from: http://www.iqssl.lk/history.php [Accessed 21 February 2012]. Seneviratne, L.D.I.P., Perera, B.A.K.S. and Yapa, B.S., 2008. Assessment of demand and supply of quantity surveying professionals to the Sri Lankan construction industry, Proceeding from international conference on building education and research (BEAR) Building Resilience. Salford 11-15 February 2008. Salford: University of Salford, 1776-1787. IQSSL Sri Lanka [online]. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SMDzGzPeEs [Accessed 21 February 2012]. Quantity surveyor [online]. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantity_surveyor [Accessed 21 February 2012].

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Definitions

PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY
Oxford Dictionary meaning of the Integrity is; The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles Integrity is a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes. In ethics, integrity is regarded as

the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions. A professional is one who willingly "adopts" and consistently applies the knowledge, skills, and values of a chosen profession. Integrity may be the most appropriate word used to describe the person who willingly and consistently acts in accordance with social standards or moral values of society. Professional integrity thus defines the professional who consistently and willingly practices within the guidelines of the mission of a chosen profession under the obligation of a Code of Ethics.

NEPOTISM
Dictionary meaning of the Integrity is; Patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of familyrelationship, as i n business and politics

REFERENCES
Professional integrity defined [online]. Available from: http://www.northgeorgia.edu/2010_11%20Graduate%20Catalog/3948.htm [Accessed 21 February 2012]. Oxford Dictionaries Available from: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/integrity?q=integrity [Accessed 21 February 2012]. Integrity [online]. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrity [Accessed 21 February 2012]. Dictionary.com [online]. Available from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nepotism [Accessed 21 February 2012].

Department of Building Economics