Cost Engineering (CE), Cost and Commercial Management (CM) and Quantity
Surveying (QS)
Functions
To provide independent, objective, accurate, and reliable capital
and operating cost assessments usable for investment funding and project
control across buildings and infrastructure; and
To analyse investment and development for the guidance of owners,
financiers and contractors across buildings and infrastructure.
CE, CM and QS duties and responsibilities include:
estimates of capital or asset costs including development costs;
estimates of operating and manufacturing costs through an asset’s
life cycle;
use of new technologies (e.g. BIM) to optimise the economic
solution;
risk assessment and analysis;
trending of scope and cost changes;
decision analysis;
financial analysis (e.g., net present value, rate of return, etc);
project cost control;
appraisals of existing assets;
project analyses, databases, and benchmarking;
planning and scheduling;
siting studies, etc.;
productive and investment needs assessment;
facility management needs assessment;
project feasibility and budget assessment;
cost management;
procurement management;
contract administration;
whole-life appraisals;
quality audits;
tax advice;
value management; and
dispute resolution.
These are typical functions of the CE or QS but not all practitioners in
the field perform all of these functions. Many specialize in a limited
number of these functions.
Project and Construction Management (PM/CM)
Function:
To set project objectives in line with the purpose(s) set up by
general management and to manage the resources necessary to meet the project
objectives
PM/CM should:
set a project vision and project organisation structure;
ensure that a realistic reference (scope, cost, time) is set up for
further control and is in line with the client objectives;
ensure that appropriate management tools are set up to help the team
control the project;
create a problem-solving, collaborative atmosphere within the team;
make decisions on what should be done in case of variance; and
ensure that the project objectives remain in line with business
needs.
PM/CM delivers the project by:
managing resources; • delegating tasks;
making decisions;
receiving information;
setting goals;
motivating people;
understanding design, methodologies and cost engineering and
quantity surveying;
managing the schedule and make decisions in case of variance;
managing quality and work methodology.
Mission Statement
The mission of Commission 10 is:
The promotion of the practice of QS/CM/CE and PM/CM globally.
The promotion of “best practice” for QS/CM/CE and PM/CM globally.
The promotion of dialogue between member organizations engaged in
QS/CM/CE, and PM/CM.
Fostering of research appropriate to the better understanding of
project and cost management practice around the world.
The promotion of cooperation among FIG Members organisations
involving QS/CM/CE and PM/CM for their mutual well-being and that of
their individual members.
The advancement of QS/CM/CE, PM/CM, by education and research and
continuing professional development
To secure uniformity in education, standards and methodology by
QS/CM/CE, PM/CM throughout the world
To facilitate and assist in development of formal education
framework and competencies in the profession of QS/CM/CE or PM/CM among
member organisations that may not have a formal education or
professional development in QS/CM/CE or PM/CM
To achieve the above mission objectives, FIG Commission 10 will
collaborate with other international or regional organisations such as
RICS, ICEC, PAQS, CEEC, AAQS, PMI and other similar organisations and
promote the use of international standards such as ICMS
(www.icms-coalition.org).
General
This work plan covers the development of the profession of QS/CM/CE and
PM/CM and framework for best practices and standards. Commission 10 intends
to leverage on FIG’s network of members organisations to promote the
profession of QS/CM/CE and PM/CM which are either non-existent or lacking in
many countries especially the under-developed and developing countries.
There are also developed countries that do not the profession of QS/CM/CE or
PM/CM. Specific activities aimed at these countries include development of
standards, such as ICMS, to appropriate Continuing Professional Development
programmes.
Following initial publication in 2017, the second edition of ICMS,
incorporating life cycle costs, will be published in 2019. This is a seminal
moment for the profession and the standards require wide professional
support to encourage their worldwide adoption. The standards can be used
through the project life cycle from benchmarking, cost prediction,
procurement and facilities management.
Technology is advancing rapidly in construction. As well as the
efficiencies and potential greater integration of design, cost and
operational information using BIM, blockchain and artificial intelligence
offer opportunities in data analysis and manipulation, payment transactions
and information exchange processes.
Professions in construction need to engage with the technologists to both
improve the technology solution and ensure key workflow processes are
maintained.
The profession of QS/CM/CE is new or non-existent in some countries, both
developed and developing countries. Commission 10 hopes to use its network
and platform to influence policy makes to consider the use of QS/CE for
developmental projects and as such the need to build competencies and human
capital in this specialised field.
Engagement with institution of higher learning within each of the
relevant countries is essential to ensure the success and sustainability of
this initiative.
