Building surveying: an introduction

Building surveying is a rare blend of art, science, and management. As many people have observed – assessing building performance and failure is a science, and surveying buildings is an art, so building surveying combines art and science, attracting people interested in many different fields. This chapter discusses some of the differing activities and approaches used in building surveying. Building surveying as an occupation or profession has developed from the earliest times. When building works are to be undertaken, surveys of the site and relevant property are conducted. The surveyor could be the building owner/occupier, architect/building surveyor, or building contractor. The anticipatory survey approach is required for the prevention of future problems. It requires a different approach to either the data collection or the diagnostic approaches. Current guidance for surveys focuses on identifying existing problems, not on anticipating the potential risks associated with undertaking proposed works.