A quantity surveyor (QS) is a construction industry professional with expert knowledge on construction costs and contracts. Qualified professional quantity surveyors are known as Chartered Surveyors (Members and Fellows of RICS) in the UK and Certified Quantity Surveyors (a designation of AIQS) in Australia and other countries. In some countries such as Canada, South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius, qualified quantity surveyors are known as Professional Quantity Surveyors, a title protected by law. Quantity surveyors are responsible for managing all aspects of the contractual and financial side of construction projects. They help to ensure that the construction project is completed within its projected budget. Quantity surveyors are also hired by contractors to help with the valuation of construction work for the contractor, help with bidding and project budgeting, and the submission of bills to the client. Duties The duties of a quantity surveyor are as follows: Cost estimate, cost planning and cost management Analyzing terms and conditions in the contract. Predicting potential risks in the project and taking precautions to mitigate such. Forecasting the costs of different materials needed for the project. Prepare tender documents, contracts, budgets and other documentation. Take note of changes made and adjusting the budget accordingly. Tender management including preparation of bills of quantities, contract conditions and assembly of tender documents Contract management and contractual advice Valuation of construction work Claims and dispute management Lifecycle costing analysis Professional associations RICS – The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors AIQS – Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors IQSSL - Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka ASAQS – Association of South African Quantity Surveyors BSIJ – Building Surveyors Institute of Japan CIQS – Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors CCEA - China Cost Engineering Association HKIS – Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors IIQS – Indian Institute of Quantity Surveyors IQSI – Ikatan Quantity Surveyor Indonesia JIQS – Jamaican Institute of Quantity Surveyors NIQS – Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors NZIQS – New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors PICQS – Philippine Institute of Certified Quantity Surveyors RISM – The Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia SISV – Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers SCSI – Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland SACQSP – South African Council for Quantity Surveying Profession IQSK – Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya QSI - Quantity Surveyor International GHIS - Ghana Institute of Surveyors UNTEC - Union nationale des Économistes de la construction (France) Qualification A university degree or diploma