The Role of Quantity Surveyors in Managing Life Cycle Costs in Sustainable Construction

The integration of Life Cycle Costing (LCC) in sustainable construction has gained increasing attention as an effective strategy for optimizing costs while maintaining environmental and economic sustainability. Quantity Surveyors (QS) play a crucial role in managing life cycle costs by ensuring financial prudence throughout a project's lifespan, from planning and design to operation and maintenance. This study evaluates the role of QS professionals in managing LCC within sustainable construction projects in Nigeria. A survey research design was adopted, targeting 46 registered quantity surveying firms in Abuja, with data collected using structured questionnaires. The results indicate that Cost Planning and Estimation (MIS = 4.50) ranked as the most critical function, followed by Value Engineering (4.20), Risk Management (3.95), and Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) (3.85). The findings further reveal a strong positive correlation (𝑟𝑠 = 0.898, p = 0.00) between the involvement of QS in LCC and the sustainability performance of construction projects, confirming their pivotal role in sustainable development. Despite these contributions, challenges such as limited LCCA adoption and policy constraints persist. The study recommends stronger policy enforcement, financial incentives, and enhanced professional training to maximize the impact of QS in sustainable construction.