Quantity Surveyors estimate and monitor construction costs from the project feasibility stage, through tender preparation, to the construction period and beyond.

Skill Level

1

Alternative Titles

• Building Economist
• Construction Economist

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Quantity Surveyor is the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• The AIQS have four pathways for skills assessment dependent on the applicant’s qualifications and employment experience

• English Language Requirements
  • All English tests are accepted by AIQS
  • The applicant must demonstrate a competent English level
    • g. IETLS – minimum score of 6.0 across all components
  • Applicants who hold a passport in the following countries are exempt from the Enlighs Language Test:
    • Australia
    • Canada
    • New Zealand
    • The Republic of Ireland
    • The United Kingdom
    • The United States of America

Design, plan, organise and oversee the construction of civil engineering projects such as dams, bridges, pipelines, gas and water supply schemes, sewerage systems, roads, airports and other structures; analyse the likely behaviour of soil and rock when placed under pressure by proposed structures and design structural foundations; analyse the statical properties of all types of structures and test the behaviour and durability of materials used in their construction; plan and develop transportation systems; and estimate and monitor the construction costs of projects.

Tasks

• Determining construction methods, materials and quality standards, and drafting and interpreting specifications, drawings, plans, construction methods and procedures
• Organising and directing site labour and the delivery of construction materials, plant and equipment, and establishing detailed programs for the coordination of site activities
• Obtaining soil and rock samples at different depths across sites and testing samples to determine strength, compressibility and other factors that affect the behaviour of soil and rock when a structure is imposed and determining the safe loading for the soil
• Studying architectural and engineering drawings and specifications to estimate total costs, and preparing detailed cost plans and estimates as tools to assist in budgetary control
• Monitoring changes to designs, assessing effects on cost, and measuring, valuing and negotiating variations to designs
• Analysing structural systems for both static and dynamic loads
• Designing structures to ensure they do not collapse, bend, twist or vibrate in undesirable ways
• Assessing present and future travel flow patterns taking into account population increase and needs change
• Designing the physical aspects of transportation systems such as highways, railroads, urban transit, air transportation, logistical supply systems and their terminals

Skill Level

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Registration or licensing may be required.

Occupations in this Group

• 232212 Surveyor
• 232213 Cartographer
• 232214 Other Spatial Scientist