Sustainable construction and the versatility of the quantity surveying profession in Singapore
Smart and Sustainable Built Environment
ISSN: 2046-6099
Article publication date: 11 January 2022
Issue publication date: 20 February 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The changing role of quantity surveyors in the new paradigm of sustainable construction requires studies into new competencies and skills for the profession. The impact of sustainable construction on quantity surveying services, engagement and how they manage challenges provided an indication of the success indicators of the quantity surveying profession in meeting the sustainable construction needs.
Design/methodology/approach
A five-point Likert scale was developed from the list of quantity surveying firms in Singapore. An 85% response rate from 60 quantity surveying firms contacted in this study provided 51 responses. Descriptive statistics and factor analysis were employed to evaluate the findings.
Findings
The factor analysis categorised the drivers derived from the literature into awareness of sustainable construction, adversarial role on green costing; carbon cost planning; valuing a sustainable property; common knowledge of sustainable construction; and lack of experience in sustainable construction.
Social implications
The research findings supported the idea of increased sustainable construction skills in quantity surveying education, research and training.
Originality/value
The dearth of quantity surveyors with sustainable construction experience must focus on quantity surveying professional bodies and higher education. The quantity surveying profession needs reskilling in green costing and carbon cost planning to meet the needs of sustainable construction.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Data availability statement: All of the data, models or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Conflict of interest: Authors declare no conflict of interest in this study.
Citation
Omotayo, D.T., Tan, S.W. and Ekundayo, D. (2023), "Sustainable construction and the versatility of the quantity surveying profession in Singapore", Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, Vol. 12 No. 2, pp. 435-457. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-07-2021-0125
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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