Demand of BIM for Quantity Surveyors on Rise in Middle East

The job of a quantity surveyor is integral to the construction project. A quantity surveyor is partly a legal expert, partly an engineer and partly an architect. The demand for quantity surveyors is on rise in the Middle East.

Consequently the demand of BIM - for quantity surveyors is also on rise. This is because there are several, infrastructural facility development, skyscrapers and high rises development and other such mega projects announced across Middle East. To fulfill the demands and challenges of these projects, it is important to have expert QS professionals on Board.

BIM adoption is gaining immense traction for large projects in UAE, and quantity surveyors are also increasingly depending on BIM. The reason why BIM for quantity surveyors is so popular is because, it makes quantity surveyors job efficient.  

BIM for Quantity Surveyors

While BIM does not alter the basics of traditional quantity survey majorly, it definitely adds efficiency to the quantity survey processes. Efficient and expedited process frees up the quantity surveyor’s time and allows these professionals to concentrate more on adding value to the financial and contractual management of projects across the pre construction, construction and post construction stages.

One of the integral parts of a quantity surveyor’s job is – to prepare scheme designs with detailed specifications and costing and to organize documents for tenders. BIM makes this job responsibility easy and efficient.

• Bills of quantities, is one of the most important aspect of cost management that comes under the job profile of a QS. BIM expedites the production of bills of materials by automating this process. The automation of this activity eliminates traditional takeoffs and reduces human errors.
• BIM 5D also allows extraction of the most accurate quantities that are to be used for cost estimation. As the relationships between costs and quantities – for specific locations and spaces, are identified and communicated, it contributes towards accurate estimation of the total cost of the project. When cost estimators understand the determinants that contribute to the costs thoroughly it enhances their efficiency and competence and hence translates into highly accurate 5D BIM cost estimations.
• BIM model is a digital representation of every aspect of a construction project. When any change is made to the design, it immediately reflects across all aspects and disciplines of the project. It also automatically updates the material quantities and hence the corresponding costs, thus making work of a quantity surveyor easy.

Now as quantity takes offs and consequently the cost estimations are accurate, it helps surveyors formulate competitive bids and tenders. Hence, aided with BIM capabilities quantity surveyors produce work of higher and accurate standards and this translates into desirable project outcomes.