Abstract:
This paper examines the utilization of Information Technology (IT) by the Australian Quantity Surveying profession since
1995. The paper is based on research conducted by a team from the Project Management & Economics Program at the
University of Technology Sydney (UTS) involving a series offour national surveys spanning 1995 to 2001. Firms in all
sectors of the construction industry will need to work smarter to gain competitive advantage and the use of electronic
commerce provides probably the greatest scope for this to be achieved. More importantly, current project procurement
trends strongly indicate that firms not capable of communicating electronically at all levels with project participants will find
it increasingly difficult to secure work The primary purpose of the UTS research was to examine and identify how Quantity
Surveying firms are evolving to meet these challenges. The paper initially examines trends in the structure/size/nature of the
profession and trends in general business practices and scope of services. This is followed by an in-depth examination of
trends in the utilization of IT by Australian Quantity Surveying practices. Special focus is placed on the use of CAD and
automated quantities. The survey responses are then used to examine current problems that the profession has in terms of IT
utilization. The paper concludes with a range of recommendations and IT strategies that attempt to address these problems
and ensure the relevance and importance of the profession well into the future.
