BIM is key to future of QS profession says RICS

by Trevor Rushton, Director

Building Information Modelling (BIM) can help quantity surveyors to speed up the estimating process by supporting the use of the New Rules of Measurement, says new RICS research published in January.

BIM’s ability to automate measurement and speed up the traditional estimating process are its key benefits for quantity surveyors, according to a new RICS research report titled How Does Building Information Modelling (BIM) Support the New Rules of Measurement (NRM1)? The research reveals that the main advantage of BIM is its ability to capture, manage and deliver information.

The research, by the University of Salford, finds that the efficiency and accuracy of quantity surveying functions can be significantly improved by aligning the BIM based cost estimating and planning processes with NRM1, as it resolves the problems related to the quality of the BIM models and the issues created by the variations of design details. It also notes that BIM delivers a more efficient operational solution for quantity surveyors for cost estimating, with its ability to link the relevant quantities and cost information to the building model and update them simultaneously to design changes.

The study concludes that it is essential for the project team to agree on a set of requirements, from the viewpoint of cost estimating and planning to enable the quantity surveyor to use BIM more effectively.

NRM1 was launched by RICS last year, and complementary to the Black Book, the NRM suite provides a common measurement standard for cost comparison through the life cycle of cost management. The suite has been developed as a result of industry collaboration to ensure that at any point in a building’s life there will be a set of consistent rules for measuring and capturing cost data, thereby completing the cost management life cycle and supporting the procurement of construction projects from cradle to grave.

A better understanding of costs during the construction process will increase certainty for business planning and support a reduction in spending on public and private sector construction projects in the long run.

For more information, go to www.rics.org

For further information about BIM being the key to the future for the QS profession, contact Trevor Rushton, Director at Watts’ London office on +44 (0)20 7280 8000

Trevor Rushton FRICS FBEng ACIArb
Technical Director

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