Editorial

Citation

Hoxley, M. (2001), "Editorial", Structural Survey, Vol. 19 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2001.11019baa.001

Editorial

Included in most dictionary definitions of surveyor is the word "measurement". Of course quantity surveyors (assuming that such creatures have survived the RICS Faculty reorganisation) are more involved with this aspect of a surveyor's work but the assessment of condition also often involves some measurement. Certainly the recording of dilapidations requires the noting of some quantities in order to arrive at an estimate for the work and there are not many condition surveys which do not also require an assessment of the reinstatement value for insurance purposes.

Measurement is a central theme of several of the papers in this issue. Todd's paper provides a demonstration of how the measurement of U-values, SAP ratings and carbon indices will be carried out under the proposed changes to Part L of the UK Building Regulations. Todd points out that the new, more complicated method of calculating U-values actually makes little difference to the final result under certain typical conditions. Bingel et al. have monitored (by the measurement of stresses) the performance of the simpler improved form of brick cladding to multi-storey framed buildings, that they advocate. Their preliminary conclusions are that these vertically restrained clay brickwork cladding panels may be successfully employed on both steel and reinforced-concrete framed buildings.

Edwards et al. demonstrate how a sophisticated mathematical technique (linear programming) can be used to select the most appropriate item of plant for any given excavation problem. Treloar et al.'s paper also involves numbers. A traditional method of construction (in parts of the UK as well in the Australian situation described), namely rammed earth walls are compared to more usual brick/block construction. The authors conclude that the embodied energy savings of using rammed earth walls are significant. There are many who believe that this method of low energy construction is the future for low-rise buildings – back to the future indeed!

In the papers discussed so far measurement has been applied to mostly quite objective situations. However in both Low's and Olubodun's papers measurement is applied to significantly more subjective problems. Low compares the buildability, quality of construction and productivity of new buildings in Singapore and provides perhaps the first empirical evidence of a positive relationship between these variables. Olubodun's paper discusses the politically sensitive issue of including various characteristics of tenants into the equation of predicting maintenance need in social housing. His results make interesting reading.

The decision whether to use quantitative or qualitative methods of data collection is central to the likely success of any research project. Perhaps when the subject of the research is particularly subjective then we are better to follow the example of Smith et al., who use a soft systems approach in assessing clients' needs. They present two case studies which show how strategic needs analysis can be used to help clients to arrive at the decision of what, or indeed whether, to build. In view of the starting point of this discussion it is interesting to note that two of the three writers of this Australian paper are quantity surveyors – proof indeed that this particular profession is reinventing itself!

RICS education reforms

Certainly the RICS believes that it is possible to quantify the quality of surveying courses. In its decision to axe up to 15 UK higher education providers of surveying education it has applied very objective measures to A-level entry standards, research, teaching quality and employability. One has to feel the deepest sympathy for those institutions which have been unsuccessful in this process. However what is also disconcerting for those of us who remain is the atmosphere of uncertainty and recrimination which these changes have engendered. Now is not a very pleasant time to be a built environment academic in the UK. For the sake of the surveying professions and their clients let us hope that the radical changes made by the RICS achieve its aim of raising the standards of the profession.

Mike Hoxley