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Infrastructure > Transportation
Author : Jeffrey Plant, Directeur technique | Technical Director
Description :

Achieving “value-for-money” in P3 projects. The Public-Private Partnership (P3) procurement model is being used across North America to bring value to projects. Jeffrey Plant a former Vice President with Infrastructure Ontario and now Technical Director on one of the largest infrastructure projects in North America, the new Champlain Bridge project, demonstrates why the P3 model is a reliable method of value creation and innovation in major public infrastructure projects. The presentation reviews:

  • P3 and Value-for-Money
  • Value Analysis Opportunities on P3 Projects
  • Lessons learned from the Champlain Bridge
  • Conclusions

Jeffrey Plant demonstrates that P3 proponents deliver significant value-for-money but generally don’t follow the formal Value Analysis job plan. Jeff offers suggestions on how to achieve even more value-for-money with the introduction of Value Management techniques and the use of a Value facilitator.

Author : Warren Knoles
Description : The Lexington Blue Grass Airport’s Taxiway Safety Enhancement Program was to be phased over a five-year period to match the available federal funding allocated to the airport. Such five-year phasing unavoidably introduces risk that construction costs may rise more than current estimates, and/or out-year allocations of funds may be less than current estimates.
 
Thus the project design team thought it prudent to identify and develop options for reducing the project costs as a risk-management approach for the airport. The design team subsequently commissioned an internal value analysis workshop (which utilized a compressed value-methodology job plan) to identify and develop such options. This paper summarizes the process and the ensuing results of the value analysis workshop along with some lessons learned and conclusions drawn from this application of the value methodology.
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Author : Dan Preley, P.Eng., AVS, Senior Project Engineer, MTO
Description :

The Ministry of Transportation, Ontario (MTO) undertook a Value Analysis study for the proposed twining of the Trans-Canada Highway 11/17 east of Thunder Bay. The base case involved major electrical transmission line conflicts and challenging foundation conditions.  The Value Analysis study identified risks and mitigation measures along with providing costs for various alignment alternatives.  By involving the electrical utility as active participants during the workshop, both MTO and the utility were able to share their concerns and objectives, while working toward a solution that offered benefits to both parties.

Author : Doug MacRae, Ontario Ministry of Transportation; Ed Ellard, MMM
Description :
Author : Brian Ruck, P.Eng., CVS:Life AECOM
Description :

AECOM and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) conducted a Value Engineering (VE) Study for the I-25/U.S. 34 Interchange in Larimer County. The study looked at capital cost improvements, improved

constructability, and providing the basic functional requirements of the project. The study was completed in two workshops, separated by three months to provide time for a thorough evaluation of the alternatives developed in the initial workshop. 
Author : Win Stebbins, Michigan Department of Transportation
Description :
Author : Chris Gauer
Description : Case study of the TransCanada Highway Alignment in the vicinity of Tower Road east of Regina.  The base case design involved a tight horizontal curve on the TransCanada Highway, a complex interchange geometry and extensive property acquisition and the adjacent property owners (the City, the Rural Municipality, landowners, developers and adjacent businesses) were not in favor of the project as planned due to property and access concerns.  The VA assignment was undertaken to address the cost, road geometry access, property and safety concerns associated with the base case design.

 
Author : Doug MacRae, Brian Ruck
Description :

The Let’s Get Windsor-Essex Moving strategy is a commitment by the federal and provincial governments to jointly invest $300 million for the implementation of short- and medium-term projects to improve traffic flows to existing crossings and address congestion and security issues in the Windsor Gateway. The strategy includes grade separation of the cross-border Canadian Pacific Railway line at Howard Avenue and Walker Road. The projects are being delivered by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation in cooperation with the City of Windsor and Transport Canada.

Howard Avenue is a major north-south arterial road in Windsor. Significant traffic delays are experienced from the 26 trains that cross Howard Avenue at the CPR tracks each day and these delays have become longer following the installation of the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS), which is required by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency for US-bound trains.

The project to construct a grade separation at Howard Avenue received environmental assessment approval in Spring 2007 and is currently in design with an anticipated construction start in 2009.

A value engineering study was held early in the design phase of the project to identify opportunities to increase the value of the project based on an analysis of the EA recommendations and early pre-design work. The VE brought together all the key stakeholders in the project including representatives from Canadian Pacific Railway, Hydro One Networks, City of Windsor and Transport Canada. Key members of the newly acquired design consultant also participated to maximize the flow of ideas from the workshop to the design team.

The VE study resulted in significant improvements to the design including new bridge types for the two structures and alignment revisions. Value is being realized by the implementation of recommendations that improve the design and reduce property impacts.

Author : Dennis Regan
Description :
Author : Richard Vezina, Alain Marc Dubé
Description :
Author : Tammy Dow
Description : Case study of a value study focusing on staging of a high level bridge, new technology, and working with local indigeneous stakeholders in the workshop.
Author : Charles Aboukhaled, Gabrielle Boivin
Description : Harmonizing a transport axis in an urban and historic environment

Démontrer que l’analyse de la valeur a permis :
  • Harmoniser un axe de transport dans un environnement
  • urbain et historique
  • Débloquer un projet interrompu par l’absence de consensus
  • sur les besoins
  • Optimiser les investissements de la Ville
Author : Géza Kmetty
Description :

An independent VE Team evaluated the preliminary construction plans of an outdated traffic interchange. The VE Team found that the design was not an optimal solution to satisfy budget constraints. Using performance over cost the VE team was able to demonstrate an alternative but more expensive solution was better value. 

Author : George Hunter
Description :

This paper supports the ability to enhance decision-making capability available in VE programs by explaining how risk-based road safety analysis can enhance value engineering studies. The focus of the presentation is the description of risk management techniques as they relate to road safety analysis, which can be incorporated into VE studies. Where applicable the presentation will also integrate the application of project performance measurement / analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and discuss how this tool can also be enhanced with risk management and integrated with risk-based road safety analysis.

The presentation has as its objective not just to explain the marriage of the VE, risk and road safety analysis but more importantly to encourage value engineering users to pursue tools that can enhance the traditional techniques and system known in the VE job plan. The presentation should appeal to wide audience, ranging from a novice to expert and to both VE facilitators and VE program managers.

The paper will be seeded with real study results.

Author : Siri Fernando, Holly Parkis, Dr. Hussien Al-Battaineh
Description : This presentation highlights an integrated methodology of Value Engineering and Risk Analysis for Tunnelling Projects, which are considered high risk operations due to the high uncertainty associated with the available information required for construction. This methodology couples value engineering based on SAVE International standards and a structured risk analysis process, and utilizes sensitivity analysis for life cycle cost. The proposed methodology differs from current practice in each of its three steps: risk analysis, criteria evaluation, and sensitivity analysis. In the proposed methodology, firstly, risk analysis is a quantitative analysis in which risk factors are evaluated for each of the options and the expected cost of risk is evaluated for each option which is later added to the options cost. Secondly, criteria evaluation is done using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) which accounts for consistency. Thirdly, the value calculation has a direct relationship with life cycle cost, which can vary based on assumptions for the financial parameters (interest rate and inflation rate); sensitivity analysis is used to explore the assumptions’ sensitivities and account for those variations. The presentation showcases successful tunnelling projects in Alberta.
Author : Manal Kasim
Description :

Selecting the most appropriate alternative to improve operation at an intersection is a complex issue. For a number of years, the decision was solely based on satisfying a set of criteria to determine if signals are warranted. 

Selecting the best value solution on the basis of a life cost analysis often leads to misleading results. Therefore, a value Engineering Study, VE, at early stages of the design, preferably at the preliminary design stage, provides the opportunity to compare viable alternatives based on a number of factors such as constructability, environmental, safety, traffic Operations as well as cost. To arrive at the right solution in a VE study, a group of professionals and safety experts examine the intersection in greater details, evaluate various alternatives and score each alternative based on the assigned weighting for each factor. The VE also provides the owner with the opportunity to make an informed decision based on either cost or performance without compromising the function

Author : George Hunter, Geoff Millen
Description :

This presentation features Road Safety Analysis tools, techniques and benefits that can be applied and integrated into VE studies based on a pilot study at Caltrans and on the Ontario Ministry of Transportation Value Engineering Program’s experience including:

  •        Road Safety Analysis Activities within the VE Job Plan
  •        How to integrate diverse levels of road safety analysis into VE studies
  •        How to integrate road safety performance into project performance measurements

 

Author : Elizabeth Murphy
Description : Value Engineering Seminar & Design for the Woodroffe Avenue Pedestrian Bridge
Author : Scot McClintock & Paul Lewis
Description : Both Risk Assessment and Value Analysis are important tools in the quest for the delivery of excellent projects within today’s ever tightening budgets. Some clients require a separate workshop for each tool while others embrace the concept of performing them together in a single workshop. In the first half of 2012, the co-presenters had the opportunity to apply both approaches for the Ministry of Transportation, Ontario (MTO) and Stantec on two very similar highway route planning study projects in Northern Ontario, using essentially the same team members. From this “laboratory” of case studies, the advantages and disadvantages of each approach are discussed and opinions expressed on which approach is preferred.
Author : George Hunter, Greg Brink
Description : This presentation shows how Road Safety Analysis tools, techniques and benefits can be applied and integrated into VE studies. It highlighted the use of risk management techniques as they relate to road safety analysis, to be incorporated into VE studies. Project performance measurement / analytical hierarchy process (AHP) techniques and processes were integrated with risk-based road safety analyses. 
Author : Mike Pearsall, P.Eng., CVS
Description : A VA study on safety warning systems for Snow Plow equipment resulted in a new standards that are predicted to result in a 10% improvement in driver reaction to snow removal equipment, improving driver safety and a reduction of equipment downtime. The study was the first to bring a research based approach to developing and testing safety warning systems for snow removal equipment. The VA team for this study included members with experience with the harsh operating conditions of snow removal equipment, knowledge of equipment manufacture, equipment markings and lighting, knowledge of human factors and the latest science on driver perceptions and reactions, and general knowledge of operating fleets of equipment. As a result of Ontario developing a standard through this VA study, the Transportation Association of Canada adopted Ontario’s standard as a recommended practice. Therefore, drivers across Canada will eventually benefit from an improvement in the consistency of snow removal equipment visibility and they will therefore be better able to respond appropriately when approaching snow removal equipment. Learn how Ontario planned for the study, staffed the team, and followed up the study results with in field testing.
Author : Roch Pilon, Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Description :

Case study of an Ontario Ministry of Transporation VE study of a proposed interchange. Discusses use of VE as a tool in making a decision for a preferred alternative during environmental assessments. Shows how project performance measures were used to compare different scenarios.

Author : Boileau, Serge
Description :
Author : steVE Holmes
Description :
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) leads Canadian agencies in the use of VA/VE/VM.  This presentation highlights why and how VE and Risk Analysis has been used on Ontario’s largest ever infrastructure projects. 
 
It is difficult for infrastructure owners to know if they have achieved value in large, technically complex (Mega) projects. Mega projects often have aggressive schedules and many constraints. Ontario has turned to using VE and Risk Analysis to systematically challenge the project assumptions and provide decision makers with the opportunity to consider alternatives to the proposed solution. The VE and Risk Analysis process results in Subject Matter Experts developing alternative designs that reflect the true constraints and project risks.

download full report here
Author : Serge Boileau & Lucie Parrot
Description : Describes how  the Centre for Expertise and Research on Infrastructure in Urban Areas  in Quebec used Value Engineering and Functional Performance Specification (FPS) to develop a method of anchoring different utilities on bridges. Prior to the Value Engineering and FPS study, there was no agreement on how utilities should be mounted on the bridges. The utility companies undertook an FPS workshop, developing an interactions diagram, a functional tree, and a protocol for sharing space on bridges. The author notes that Value Engineering was the most important tool to reach the results because:
  • VE forces a common approach
  • Provides an objective framework
  • Facilitates comparative evaluation of systems on a function basis (what it does) as opposed to a technical basis
  • Results in standardization of approaches
  • Results in a major improvement in partner relationships
Author : Dennis Regan, Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Description : Presentation describes VE led a team to develop an innovative design for truck inspection stations. See also the Ontario Ministry of Transportation article, Teamwork delivers new design concept.
Author : John Robinson, MRC
Description :
Author : Scott McClintock, Tammy Dow
Description : Case study outlines use of Value Analysis and Risk Based Estimating on a road rail grade separation in Windsor Ontario. Presentation shows how a VE study that involved 3 levels of government on a difficult project was planned and facilitated. Project won a Value Engineering award from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Author : Tom Fletcher, Joseph Aracaro
Description : Presentation demonstrates how Functional Performance Specification was integrated into the VE process to enable the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to examine winter maintenance issues and problems in a particularly difficult location in Northern Ontario. A failure modes and events analysis (FEMA) was incorporated into the VE study job plan to enable the team to identify areas of risk with winter maintenance. The use of VE, FPS and FEMA was shown to be effective in examining complex issues and evaluating complex scenarios.
Author : Alexandre Debs & René Donais
Description :

The Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ) is currently planning to renovate the Louis-Hyppolite Lafontaine bridge-tunnel in Montréal. The purpose of the project is to upgrade the tunnel’s safety level in the event of a fire to allow people to be evacuated by means of an emergency exit that complies with the standards applicable to road tunnels with an acceptable risk level for such infrastructures. The Ministère would like to determine the acceptable risk level based on a rigorous methodological process.

The project is currently at the feasibility analysis stage.  The project team members have performed a value analysis to ensure that the project will meet the stated needs cost-effectively while improving the bridge’s functionalities and reducing the risks and consequences of any incidents.

The originality of the proposed approach stems from the fusion of two established and internationally recognized methodologies: Value analysis and Risk analysis (or Specific Hazard Investigation).

The risk analysis was inspired by the booklet 4 of the Guide to road tunnel safety documentation.

This guide is intended to give the players involved a common understanding of the way in which these structures work, their environment and their action required in order to ensure safety.

This European method was developed in connection with a joint research project of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) and l’Association internationale permanente des congrès de la route (AIPCR) also called World Road Association (PIARC) with financial participation from the European Union. This method considers the tunnel as being a global system made up of users, the infrastructure itself with its equipment and environment, the operator, in addition to the intervention and emergency services. A function model (cornerstone of VA) was developed by the team. A disaster scenario was simulated and the tunnel’s performance evaluated for each function. The analysis revealed functions that need to be improved and a brainstorming session provided innovative solutions to improve user safety. A comparative analysis of scenarios made it possible to recommend a best possible scenario, i.e., the one that was the most cost-effective in meeting the stated needs.

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