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As previously indicated, states must perform a VE analysis on all federal-aid-funded projects on the National Highway System having an estimated total cost (design, construction, right-of-way, and utilities) of $25 million or more. However, additional projects should be selected for study, based on providing the maximal opportunity to improve the public investment by quality enhancement […]

The main benefit of a VE program is improvement of the benefit-to-cost ratio throughout state transportation programs. Other perceived benefits are as follows: • Design, construction, and maintenance standards are constantly being reviewed through VE team activities. • The structured, functional approach using a job plan (see Arts. 10.3 and 10.4) provides trained employees with […]

To assist state DOTs in the application of VE, the AASHTO Task Force on Value Engineering, originally organized in 1985, has developed the publication, Guidelines for Value Engineering, already cited. Portions of the publication[22] are summarized in Arts. 10.2.1 through 10.2.6. The AASHTO value engineering technical committee maintains a useful website, www. wsdot. wa. gov/partners/AASHTOVE. […]

The FHWA has developed the following federal-aid policy guide that provides much useful information for the application of VE: 1. PURPOSE. To provide policy guidance on the application of value engineering in the federal-aid highway program. 2. AUTHORITY. a. Section 106(e) of Title 23, United States Code provides: “For such projects as the Secretary determines […]

The VE review process uses a team of individuals representing different disciplines who do not have a vested interest in the project. The teams break down a project into its basic functions and then use creativity to find different ways to perform these func­tions. The teams provide management with as many recommendations as practicable. The […]

The FHWA’s VE program applies to the federal-aid program under which authorized funds are distributed to states for state Department of Transportation (DOT) projects. According to the FHWA, the program is designed to (1) encourage state DOTs to use VE, TABLE 10.1 Summary of Savings in Federal-Aid Highway Programs, Fiscal Years 2003-2007 2007 2006 2005 […]

Harold G. Tufty, CVS, FSAVE Editor and Publisher Value Engineering and Management DigestWashington, D. C. Value engineering (VE) may be defined as a systematic method for identifying the function of a product or service, establishing its worth, and generating alternatives to provide the required function at the least life cycle cost. A discipline that evolved […]

The following material is presented in the format of a typical specification used by one agency for the construction of noise barriers (noise walls). In addition to the type of wall included—timber wall with concrete posts—it can be adapted to walls of other types. A. Miscellaneous Structure Removal Abandoned structures and other obstructions shall be […]

The capacity of the foundation soil should be determined using accepted engineering prin­ciples and measurement of material parameters such as cohesion and angle of friction, or on the basis of field data such as the standard penetration test or the shear vane test. (See Chap. 8 for pertinent information.) One agency uses the following for […]

Noise barriers can be designed by working-stress design methods or load factor design. For the working-stress design method, the following load combinations should be considered: Group I: D + E + SC Group II: D + W + E + SC Group III: D + EQD + E Group IV: D + W + E […]