The role of the building surveyor in the planning system today Article

The role of the building surveyor in the planning system today - Article Example They provide detailed advice on all aspects of planning, design, construction, maintenance, management or repair of a proposed or existing building project. They also look for defects in, or ways to improve all types of existing buildings and advise the feasibility of possible costs of repair or conversion and the suitability of the building for particular purposes. They also make sure that the consumer rights, standards and other building control regulations are observed both in the planning and construction stages of new buildings or extensions or conversions of existing buildings. They are also responsible to resolve any queries on the building regulations and allied legislation presented by staff or other persons hence they ensure the uniformity of approach and consistency or interpretation amongst members (Sheridan, 2007). Since every construction work, irrespective of its size and volume, has to go through a number of phases before its completion. According to modern concept of Project Management Cycle (PCM), following can be different phases of any construction or development project: Project identification and proposition Project planning and formulation, Implementation and execution Project monitoring and evolution. After the identification and proposition of a project, then comes the most important and critical phase of a project: the planning and formulation of a project. The planning and formulation of a project plays a critical role as the success of any project depends critically upon the efforts, care and skills, that will be applied in its initial planning. Good planning can only be done if one has a very clear understanding of a project objectives, its cost and duration estimation, its impact and... Surveying has always been an essential element and requirement in the planning, execution and completion of nearly every form of development and construction of the human environment since the beginning of recorded history. Building surveyors are highly trained professionals who provide professional services to commercial companies, construction clients, central and local government, private individuals and property related consultants. They are involved in areas such as projects management, their feasibility study, planning, cost estimation and as an expert witness during execution. A building surveyor plays a critical role in formulation of such documentation by providing the basis for all further planning. Either an existing or a context, if a reliable documentation is not available, and then a building surveyor presents a real alternative by providing accurate plan information, by using the available tools and techniques. He collects data about the existing physical features of p roject site and its feasibility. Planning-relevant building surveying includes not only the measuring of the building’s geometry, but also any further information relevant for planning such as qualitative information, multimedia information and structural interconnections On the basis of all information, different constraints and risk factors are determined and analyzed. The planning has been done either to eliminate or to marginalize them. Hence the project cost, its execution, monitoring and evaluation strategies have been devised and decided.