The Drivers and Challenges Faced by Quantity Surveyors in Smart Sustainable City Development

Rapid urbanization and population growth have sparked an urgent need for sustainable urban development solutions. In response to it, smart sustainable city (SSC) has emerged to address the issues from urbanization. Despite numerous studies dedicated to SSC development, there is a dearth of research exploring the integration of quantity surveying practices in SSC development. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the drivers and challenges encountered by quantity surveyors (QS) in SSC development. A questionnaire was formulated and distributed to QS in the Klang Valley, resulting in 110 responses. The collected data underwent statistical analysis, including Cronbach's Alpha Reliability Test, Arithmetic Mean calculations, and the Kruskal-Wallis Test. The findings revealed that the most significant challenge was the higher initial cost, whole life cycle costing emerged as the primary driver for quantity surveying practices in SSC development. Furthermore, a significant difference was observed between the working experience and position of QS in terms of the drivers of incorporating quantity surveying practices in SSC development. These findings provide valuable insights for professional bodies, construction firms, educational institutions, and researchers, enabling them to devise suitable strategies to enhance the integration of quantity surveying service in SSC development. © 2025 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved.