The Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES) began in 1969 as the Association of Surveyors in Civil Engineering and was incorporated in 1972.  ICES wanted to encourage and regulate the professional aspirations of  quantity surveyors and land surveyors working within the civil engineering sector and to increase the value of their services to the public. These surveyors had developed a distinctive expertise and understanding of the special surveying requirements of the civil engineering industry which was not recognised at that time by any of the existing professional bodies.

Since its conception, ICES has gone from strength to strength with an ever-increasing membership and is now a registered educational charity promoting the profession throughout the world.

In 1992, ICES became the first associated institution of the Institution of Civil  Engineers (ICE) and formed with them a joint engineering surveying board to provide and disseminate engineering surveying knowledge and expertise.

This board has since been renamed the Geospatial Engineering Board and a further board has been formed with the ICE - the Commercial Management Board. ICES also has reciprocal membership agreements in place with the ICE.

ICES prides itself on its achievement as an internationally renowned centre of excellence in the art and science of civil engineering surveying to serve the public and satisfy the needs of the construction industry throughout the world.

ICES is a full member of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), which provides the international voice of the surveying profession to influence policies and professional standards. FIG promotes the profession throughout the world and encourages research, education and training excellence.

The Institution is a member of PI-UK China, a group of professional construction bodies who work together to raise the profile of UK engineering in China. PI-UK hopes to increase collaboration between the two countries. ICES also has strong links with the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS), China International Contractors Association (CHINCA) and the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping Beijing.