Victar, H C; Perera, B A K S; Palihakkara, A D and Dewagod, K G (2024) Roles and competencies of quantity surveyors in achieving a circular built environment: An investigation according to 3r principles. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 13(4), pp. 1015-1040. ISSN 2046-6099
Abstract
Purpose: The construction industry is shifting towards becoming more circular by reducing waste, reusing building materials and embracing regenerative solutions for energy generation and biodiversity conservation. Thus, construction professionals must perform diversified services to achieve a circular built environment (CBE). Implementing resource planning and waste management in CBE has already posed challenges to the quantity surveying profession; thus, quantity surveyors (QSs) should be equipped with new roles and competencies to tackle challenges in achieving a CBE. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the functions and competencies of QSs at the design and building material sourcing stages in achieving a CBE according to 3R principles. Design/methodology/approach: The research apprehended a qualitative approach, including two expert interview rounds adhering to the Delphi technique with 14 and 11 experts per each round. Manual content analysis was incorporated to analyse the collected data. Findings: The research findings revealed the important roles and competencies of QSs in achieving a CBE. In addition, essential functions and competencies were categorised according to the 3R principles (reduce, reuse, recycle) to successfully implement CBE during the Design and Building Material Sourcing stages. According to the 3R principles of CBE, cost control, cost planning, feasibility studies, measurement and quantification, risk management, value engineering and innovations and technologies were well-received by most interviewees as essential roles of QSs during the Design and Building Material Sourcing stages. Further, basic/mandatory competencies (personal, interpersonal, professional practice and business skills), economic analysis, BIM management, cost management and risk management are highly regarded by experts for QS as important competencies to achieve CBE. Originality/value: With new construction trends, QSs must enhance their conventional roles and competencies and search for new skills and competencies. Those skills and competencies could be linked to the CE concept, either directly or indirectly. Since QS holds a prominent place in sustainable construction in CBE, adapting to changes in the construction industry such as CBE is timely for QSs. Further, there is a shortage of literature regarding QSs' roles and competencies in achieving a CBE; thus, this study will contribute by identifying new avenues for QSs in achieving a CBE in the practice and the research.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 3R principles; circular built environment; competencies; design and building material sourcing stages; quantity surveyor; roles |
| Index terms: | design and building, content analysis, value engineering, sustainable construction, surveying, feasibility study, recycle, interview, economic analysis, cost planning, professional practice, Delphi technique, waste management, methodology, cost control, cost management, qualitative approach, becoming, quantification, biodiversity, quantity surveying, conservation, resource planning, construction industry, built environment, building material, risk management, investigation, construction professional, profession |
| Subjects: | accounting and finance, biodiversity, research methods, financial management, sustainable construction, design process, professional development, measurement and scaling, industry analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, philosophical process, risk assessment, profession, data collection methods, value management, institututions, waste management, design analysis, design stages, building materials, environmental policy, health monitoring assessment and metrics, resource management, financial and cost management, data analysis and analytics |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Risk Management, Roles and Professions, Information Management, Research Practice, Health and Safety, Cost Management, Site Management, Urban Studies, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here