Dr Peter Edwards

Teaching/Work responsibilities

Program Director – Construction Management (Offshore)

Subject Areas

• Value management;
• Risk management;
• Design economics and cost planning;
• Civil engineering measurement; and
• Research supervision

• PhD (University of Cape Town)
• Masters of Science (University of Natal)
• Associate Diploma Arts,
• Special Qualifying Examinations in Quantity Surveying (University of Natal)

• 1987 – 2006 - Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor
  Department of Building and Constructions Economics, RMIT University
• 1985 – Current - P A Bowen, Edwards & Taylor
  Partner in professional firm of Quantity Surveyors, Building Economists and Valuers
• 1976 – 1986 - Lecturer and Senior Lecturer
  Department of Quantity Surveying and Building Economics
  University of Natal, Durban
• 1976 – 1985 - P J Edwards, Durban, South Africa
  Self-employed quantity surveyor in private practice
• 1969 – 1975 - Neville Lund & Reed, Quantity Surveyors, Durban, South Africa
  Senior Quantity Surveyor
• 1959 – 1969 - Rider Hunt & Partners, Gillingham, Kent, UK
  Quantity Surveyor

Memberships

• Commission member CIB W55 (Building Economics)
• Review panel member for the Research Grants Committee of the Hong Kong government.
• Occasional grant reviewer for EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Committee) in the UK.
• Editorial board member for several international journals.
• Reviewer of articles and books for many international journals.

In 2003 Dr Edwards was awarded a UK Leverhulme Trust Visiting Fellowship to the School of the Built and Natural Environment at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland. This Fellowship was undertaken over two five month periods in 2003/4 and 2004/5. During this time he presented seminars to staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and to professional organisations in the Scottish construction industry. He assisted with research supervision; collaborated in ongoing research projects and undertook proposal writing for major funding applications to EPSRC and EU.

He has successfully supervised the research of more than 30 postgraduate students and has been an examiner for many PhD and Master’s theses. In 2005 he was appointed as the supervisor for Mr Leonardo Grilo, a Brazilian student awarded an Australian Commonwealth Government Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarship to spend six months at RMIT University. Mr Grilo investigated value for money frameworks for Public-Private Partnership projects as part of his successful doctoral studies at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

As part of a collaborative RMIT/CSIRO research team, between 1993-1996 Associate Professor Edwards participated in ERDC (Australian Energy Research and Development Council) funded research projects (total value approximately $400,000), investigating embodied energy values for building materials and CAD-based modelling techniques for embodied energy analysis.

In 1998 he received an ARC Small Grant to investigate perceptions of risk and risk management in the construction industry.

Between 1995 and 1998 he was involved in government competitively-funded research into building procurement in South Africa, as part of a team lead by Professor Paul Bowen (University of Cape Town). The total value of research funding was approximately ZAR400,000 ($100,000). He is currently involved in similarly funded research investigating value management practice in the manufacturing and construction industries in South Africa.

Research Interests

• Client risk management perceptions and attitudes for decision making in construction projects
• Sustainable construction

Publications/Other

• Editorial Correspondent for the Journal Construction Economics and Management – E & F Spon, UK
• Editorial Board member: Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction. Glasgow-Caledonian University, UK
• Editorial Technical Reference Board member: Journal of Construction Information Technology and Management

Books

Edwards, P and Stewart, P (1993) 'Value management in engineering', Distance learning course module: Engineering Education Australia, Institute of Engineers

Book Chapter

Edwards, P and Stewart, P (1993) 'Value management in engineering', Distance learning course module: Engineering Education Australia, Institute of Engineers

Edwards, P and Bowen, P (2002) ‘Risk Perception and Communication in Public/Private Partnerships’. In Public/Private Partnerships. (Eds. Akintoye A, Beck M and Hardcastle C.). Blackwell Science Publications, London

Journal Articles

Refereed

• Bowen, P A and Edwards, PJ (1985) 'Cost modelling and price forecasting: theory and practice in perspective', Construction Management and Economics, 3 (3)
• Bowen, P A and Edwards, PJ (1985) 'Uncertainty and Incomplete Information in the Evaluation of Building Projects', The Investment Analyst Journal, November (26)
• Edwards, PJ, Taylor, R G and A, Bowen P (1987) 'Vocational university education: how it affects education for the professions in general and quantity surveying in particular', SA Journal of Education, February
• Edwards, P J and Edwards, M (1995) 'A Price-rationalised approach to item separation in the measurement of concrete work', Construction Management and Economics, 13 (6) 485-491
• Bowen, P A and Edwards, P J (1995) 'Interpersonal communication in cost planning during the building design phase', Construction Management and Economics, 14 (5) 395-404
• Reszka, M and Edwards, P J (1997) 'Joint ventures: a construction project case study', Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 2 (2) 5-20
• Bowen, P A and Edwards, P J (1998) 'Building cost planning and cost information management in South Africa', Journal of Construction Procurement, 4 (1) 16-26
• Edwards, P J (1998) 'Towards a golden global age in construction management research and education: virtual illusion or practical reality?', Australian Institute of Building Papers, Special Volume 2 1-3
• Edwards, P J and Bowen, P A (1998) 'Practices, barriers and benefits of risk management process in building services cost estimation: comment', Construction Management and Economics, 16 (1) 105-108
• Edwards, P J and Bowen, P A (1998) 'Risk and risk management in construction: review and future directions for research', Journal of Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 5 (4) 339-349
• Bowen, P A and Edwards, P J (1999) 'Risk and risk management in construction projects: concepts, terms and risk categories re-defined', Journal of Construction Procurement, 5 (1) 42-57
• Bowen, P A, Pearl, R G and Edwards, P (1999) 'Client briefing processes and procurement method selection: a South African study', Journal of Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 6 (2) 91-104
• Edwards, P J and Bowen, P A (1999) 'Risk and risk management in construction: towards more appropriate research techniques', Journal of Construction Procurement, 4 (2) 103-115
• Lawther, P and Edwards, P J. (2001) ‘Design cost modelling – a way forward.’, Australian Journal of Construction Economics and Building, 1 (1) p32-42
• Bowen, P A., Cattell, K S., Pearl, R G., Edwards P J., and Hall, K A. (2001) ‘Factors influencing group dynamics in building procurement teams: a pilot study’, Botswana Journal of Technology 10 (1)

Non-Refereed

• Edwards, PJ (1982) 'Computerised elemental cost estimates with VisiCalc', Planning and Building Developments, March/April
• Edwards, PJ (1982) 'Estimating electrical installation costs - the efficiency of the percentage distribution method', Planning and Building Developments, May/June
• Edwards, PJ (1982) 'Quantity surveying education perspective', Planning and Building Developments, March/April
• Edwards, PJ (1984) 'The plot thickens', Quantum Sufficit, Journal of the South African Association of Quantity Surveyors, December
• Edwards, PJ (1984) 'Surveying semantics', Quantum Sufficit, Journal of the South African Association of Quantity Surveyors, December
• Edwards, PJ (1985) 'Commercial break', Quantum Sufficit, Journal of the South African Association of Quantity Surveyors, May
• Edwards, PJ and Bowen, P A (1985) 'Towards a better quantity surveying terminology', Quantum Sufficit, Journal of the South African Association of Quantity Surveyors, May
• Edwards, PJ (1989) 'The AFCC report - a critical review', The Building Economist, Journal of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, June
• Edwards, PJ (1989) 'Quantity surveying: education for a changing profession: or educating a profession for change?', Building Economist, Journal of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, 28(1) 8-11
• Edwards, PJ (1989) 'Report back on perestroika conference survey', The Building Economist, Journal of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, December
• Edwards, PJ (1990) 'Comments on the AIQS national course assessment scheme', The Building Economist, Journal of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, March
• Edwards, PJ (1991) 'Research in quantity surveying', The Building Economist, Journal of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, December
• Edwards, PJ (1991) 'Thoughts on ASMM5', The Building Economist, Journal of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, September
• Edwards, PJ (1992) 'Course structures: a qualitative rather than quantitative approach', The Chartered Builder, Journal of the Australian Institute of Building, April
• Edwards, M (1992) 'National course assessment scheme - the debate continues', The Building Economist, Journal of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, June
• Edwards, PJ (1992) 'The professional risk of terminological inexactitude', The Building Economist, Journal of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, September (re-printed in Quantum Sufficit in 1993)
• Edwards, PJ (1993) 'Research directions and the AIQS', The Building Economist, Journal of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, December
• Edwards, PJ (1993) 'What's in a name?', The Building Economist, Journal of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, September
• Edwards, P J and Stewart, P (1994) 'Embodied energy impact evaluation', The Building Economist, Journal of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, December
• Edwards, PJ (1996) 'CNBR (Co-operative Network for Building Researchers)', ARCOM (Association of Researchers in Construction Management Newsletter, 11(1) 6-7
• Tucker, S N and Edwards, PJ (1996) 'Energy use in buildings: a CAD-based approach to embodied energy impact modeling', Building Product News, 31(3) March
• Bowen, PA, Cattell, KS, Pearl, RG and Edwards, PJ. (2001) ‘Procurement method selection in South Africa: food for thought.’, The Civil Engineering and Building Contractor (South Africa), Vol. 35/5, March, pp40-46
• Bowen, PA., Cattell, KS., Hall, KA., Pearl, RG. and Edwards, PJ. (2001) ‘Group dynamics in building procurement teams: do we work well together in the client’s best interests?’, The Civil Engineering and Building Contractor (South Africa). Vol 35/4, February. pp40-49

Conference papers

Referred Proceedings

• Bowen, P A, Taylor, R G and Edwards, PJ (1986) 'Expert systems: a paradigm shift in the quantification of uncertainty in decision-making for construction projects', CIB W65 Conference, Washington, USA, October, 1986
  
• Heath, B C, Edwards, PJ and Barham, R (1990) 'Latent-state and stochastic conditions in the assessment of total building costs', Transactions: 11th ICEC/AFITEP Conference, Paris, France, April, 1990
  
• Heath, B C, Edwards, PJ and Barham, R (1990) 'Latent-state conditions in life-cycle costing for value management', CIB 90, Subject C, Design Economics, Building Economics and Construction Management, Sydney, March, 1990 122-129
  
• Edwards, PJ and Pretorius, F (1992) 'The role and effectiveness of communication networks in future construction management research', 8th annual association of researchers in construction management conference, ARCOM, Douglas, Isle of Man, September, 1992
  
• Edwards, PJ, Stewart, P and Tucker, S N (1993) 'Embodied energy impact modeling for housing design', 9th Annual Conference, Association of Researches in Construction Management, ARCOM 93, Oxford, UK, September, 1993
  
• Edwards, P J, Bowen, P A and Stewart, P J (1994) 'Risk management: completing the paradigm', CIB W55 Commission Meeting, Building Economics, Hong Kong, 1994
  
• Edwards, P J, Stewart, P, Eilenberg, I M and Anton, S (1994) 'Evaluating embodied energy impacts in buildings: some research outcomes and issues', Sustainable construction: proceedings of the first international conference of CIB TG16, construction & waste, Gainesville, Florida, CIB, 173-182
  
• Edwards, PJ, Stewart, P, Tucker, S N and Anton, S (1994) 'CAD Modeling for evaluating embodied energy Impacts for housing', 10th Annual Conference, Association of Researchers in Construction Management, ARCOM 94, Loughborough, UK, September, 1994
  
• Edwards, PJ and Bowen, P A (1995) 'Risk management - more than a numbers game', International conference in the financial management of property and construction, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, May, 1995
  
• Stewart, P, Edwards, P J and Graham, P (1995) 'Measuring the energy used in the construction of residential housing', 11th Annual Conference, Association of Researchers in Construction Management, ARCOM 95, University of York, UK, September, 1995
  
• Bowen, P A, Edwards, PJ and Hardcastle, C (1996) 'A communication-based critique of traditional cost models', 40th Annual Meeting, American Association of Cost Engineers, Vancouver, July, 1996
  
• Bowen, P A, Hall, K and Edwards, PJ (1996) 'The pricing of contract preliminaries: quantity surveyors and contractors compared', CIB W65 International Symposium on the Management of Construction, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, September, 1996
  
• Bowen, P A, Hall, K, Edwards, PJ and Akintoye, A (1996) 'The pricing of contract profit and overheads: quantity surveyors and contractors compared', CIB W55 International Symposium on Building Economics, Zagreb, CIB, September, 1996
  
• Edwards, PJ and Bowen, P A (1996) 'Building procurement in the "new" South Africa: the communication imperative', CIB W92 International Symposium on Building Procurement, Durban, CIB, January, 1996
  
• Stewart, P, Edwards, PJ, Pretorius, F and Bowen, P A (1996) 'The virtual construction research community: a new information technology paradigm for construction management research', 12th annual association of researchers in construction management conference, ARCOM, Sheffield Hallam University, 11-13 September, 1996
  
• Bowen, P A, Edwards, P J, Pearl, R G and Nkado, N (1997) 'The formulation of the client's brief in building procurement: empirical findings', First International Conference on Construction Industry Development, School of Building and Real Estate, National University of Singapore, 9-11 December, 1997 284-292
  
• Bowen, P A, Pearl, R G, Nkado, N and Edwards, P J (1997) 'The effectiveness of the briefing process in the attainment of client objectives for construction projects in South Africa', COBRA 97, Construction and Building Research Annual Conference, University of Portsmouth, UK, Royal Institution of Charted Surveyors, 10-12 September, 1997
  
• Edwards, PJ (1997) 'Towards a global golden age in construction management research and education: virtual illusion or practical reality?', AUBEA International Electronic Forum, Australasian Universities Building Education Association, April/May, 1997
  
• Bowen, P A, Cattell, K, Hall, K, Pearl, R G and Edwards, PJ (2000) 'Roles, responsibilities and leadership in building procurement teams', Proceedings: CIB W92 International Symposium on Building Procurement, Santiago, Chile, CIB, 291-312
  

Non-Referred Proceedings

• Edwards, PJ (1992) 'The Australian construction industry - 1992', International Construction Management Forum, University of Greenwich, September
  
• Edwards, PJ, Bowen, P A and Stewart, P (1994) 'Risk management: completing the paradigm', CIB W55 Commission Meeting, Building Economics, Hong Kong, September 1994
  
• Edwards, PJ, Stewart, P J and Tucker, S N (1994) 'A CAD based approach to embodied energy impact modeling for housing design', Proceedings National Construction and Management Conference, Sydney, The Institute of Engineers Australia, 1994
  
• Edwards, PJ and Bowen, P A (1995) 'Risk management: the forgotten human factor', ICEC/AIQS, International Cost Engineering Council/Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, International Symposium Construction Economics - The Essential Management Tool, Gold Coast, Queensland, May
  
• Tucker, S N, Ambrose, M D and Edwards, PJ (1996) 'Evaluating embodied energy in construction using a 3D CAD-based model', Seminar on embodied energy: the current state of play, Australian Materials Group, Deakin University, Geelong, 28-29 November
  
• Clamplett, J C, Edwards, PJ and Webber, R J (1998) 'The impact of fire safety engineering and performance based regulations on the approval process for fire safety in buildings', Chi, B C and Sugahara, S, Asia-Oceania Symposium on Fire Science and Technology, Singapore, 1998

Reports

• Edwards, PJ, Bowen, P A and Cole, J (1990) 'Measurement and price variability in simple price forecasting models for construction projects', Melbourne Department of Building and Construction Economics, RMIT University
• Edwards, PJ and Edwards, M (1992) 'Rationalising measurement for bills of quantities - a research study', Melbourne Department of Building and Construction Economics, RMIT University
• Tucker, S N, Salomonsson, G D, Ambrose, M D, Treloar, G, Hunter, B, Edwards, P J, Stewart, P, Anton, S and Crutchley, G (1996) 'Development of analytical models for evaluating energy embodied in construction ERDC Project 2447: DBCE DOC 96/86(M)', Melbourne Energy Research and Development Corporation, CSIRO

• ARC Small Grant 1998 (completed)
  

Current research

Risk management

Research projects, consultancy and student project

• Personal research and research management in the areas of:
• Contractual, cost control and measurement procedures for electrical installations in buildings;
• Cost modeling for construction projects;
• Computer systems for construction projects;
• Cost minimisation factors for third-world low income housing;
• Design efficiency factors in domestic scale and commercial buildings in Melbourne;
• Measurement and price forecasting variability factors for construction projects;
• Unit price rate variability in tender bills of quantities;
• Price-rationalised approaches to the measurement of building work;
• Vocational education for building professions;
• Embodied energy impact modeling;
• Information technology management for construction;
• Risk management