The biggest challenge is not simply a lack of funding, but the inability to consistently convert infrastructure investment into completed, functional assets that improve people’s lives, says president of the SA Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP) Arthur Quphe. The 16th SACQSP International Research Conference is scheduled to take place in Bloemfontein from 14 to 16 October, in partnership with the Central University of Technology.

“We have challenges such as fragmented institutions, late planning, inadequate project preparation, procurement inefficiencies, limited technical capacity and weak accountability throughout the infrastructure delivery process,” adds Quphe.

Quantity surveying plays an important role in the infrastructure development process. This is because quantity surveyors are responsible for managing the economic and financial dimensions of construction, and their role extends beyond calculating construction costs.

Quphe says quantity surveyors advise on procurement strategies, manage contractual and financial risks, monitor expenditure, and evaluate the whole lifecycle cost of infrastructure. “The responsibility becomes particularly significant because we are dealing within the public sector. One misconception that we must correct, is that value for money means selecting the cheapest professional industries.”

Artificial intelligence has the potential to fundamentally transform the quantity surveying profession. Traditionally, professionals have spent significant time on measurements, cost estimates, cost analysis and preparing financial information.

“AI can increasingly automate aspects of these activities. It can analyse historical project data and identify cost patterns. AI can support professional judgment, but it cannot replace professional accountability.”

‘Skills must increasingly be complemented by competency in artificial intelligence’

The infrastructure professional of the future will require a combination of strong traditional technical competence and new multidisciplinary capabilities.

“For quantity surveyors, expertise in construction economics, measurements, procurement contracts and cost management will remain fundamental. However, these skills must also increasingly be complemented by competency in artificial intelligence, digital construction technologies, infrastructure finance, data analytics, sustainability, and climate resilience.”

There is a need for professionals who understand the entire infrastructure lifecycle, from investment planning and project development to construction, operations and eventually asset renewal.

“South Africa does not only need technically qualified professionals, but it also needs professionals who can exercise independent judgment, uphold ethical standards, manage complex institutional relationships, and take responsibility for delivery outcomes,” says Quphe.

As the council enters its sixth term, the expectations for the conference must go beyond academic discussion. It must produce knowledge that can contribute meaningfully to improving infrastructure delivery in the country.

“We are bringing together academics, researchers, industry practitioners, and institutional leaders because the problems confronting South African development cannot be resolved by a single profession or institution.”

OFM News/Siyakholwa Mbatyazwa

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