Building Surveyors: What They Do And The Reason Why You Need Them

Written by Ross Kerloini Wednesday, 20 April 2011 08:01

Building surveyors are properly trained professions who help with different aspects of building design and construction. Their primary responsibility would be to ensure that any work concerning building and related structures is totally compliant with local and national codes. Other responsibilities include preparing reports, supervising design and construction work, conducting meetings etc. They are expected to be familiar with the most recent design and construction technology, eco-friendly building design etc.

Building surveyors are properly trained professions who help with different aspects of building design and construction. Their primary responsibility would be to ensure that any work concerning building and related structures is totally compliant with local and national codes. Other responsibilities include preparing reports, supervising design and construction work, conducting meetings etc. They are expected to be familiar with the most recent design and construction technology, eco-friendly building design etc.

A building surveyor is essential for all types of modification and construction projects. It is actually his job to make sure that the work proceeds efficiently, according to specification, as well as on schedule. He is also accountable for coordinating meetings with all the project managers, contractors and suppliers. The job of a building surveyor is distributed between his desk and also the field, a substantial amount of time is put in the field overseeing a project.

The main requirements for a position as a building surveyor includes: a diploma in surveying, math and trigonometry skills, understanding of GIS (Geographic Information System), the ability to work in teams, and good communication skills. Requirements vary, in some states an associate degree is enough whereas others need a bachelor's degree. Fluency with mathematics and geometry is a must as the job demands frequent measurement and calculations.

At least one year apprenticeship experience is essential to qualify as a building surveyor; it is usually taken care of by the college internship programs. Upon qualification, a degree or simply a license is granted by the state to the qualified candidate. The annual wage for building surveyors range from 40,000 to 70,000 USD based on skill and experience, wages in the UK are also similar.

Building surveyors are generally hired by consultants, builders and government bodies. There's currently a considerable demand for these professionals because of the number of proposed and continuing construction projects. Globally, large investments are being made in infrastructure development, which means big opportunities for building surveyors. For instance, building surveyors Manchester are usually in high demand due to the slew of construction and reconstruction projects in Manchester.