Concept for Digital Twin-based predictive Value Engineering

Early-stage offshore field development requires screening of technical alternatives, robust scenario evaluation, and seamless interaction between multidisciplinary domains such as reservoir engineering, subsea architecture design, and economic assessment. Despite significant advancements in digital engineering, workflows connecting these disciplines often remain fragmented, relying heavily on manual data transfer, spreadsheet consolidation, and expert-driven interpretation. This fragmentation introduces delays, increases the risk of inconsistency, and limits the number of development pathways that can realistically be explored within Front-End-Loading stages. The increasing complexity of offshore reservoirs, combined with tighter economic margins and the need for transparent, auditable decision-making, highlights the necessity for integrated, automated workflows. By bridging simulation environments and conceptual engineering tools through programmable interfaces, it becomes possible to unify data flows, enforce engineering logic, and reduce turnaround time without compromising technical consistency. This paper presents a fully integrated framework that bridges the gap between numerical reservoir simulation and automated subsea concept generation. By leveraging a sensitivity cube approach derived from physics-based simulations, the proposed workflow facilitates the rapid synthesis of realistic field development architectures. This integration allows for the direct coupling of dynamic production profiles with rigorous economic assessment, enabling the calculation of Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), Operational Expenditure (OPEX), and Net Present Value (NPV) across a vast design space. Unlike traditional fragmented workflows, this system supports holistic iterative optimization between subsurface and facilities domains. The result is a substantial enhancement in engineering consistency, process autonomy, and evaluation speed, critical attributes for robust decision-making during early project framing and Front-End Loading (FEL) phases.

The concept of value engineering (VE) is used to optimise the cost, time, quality, and functional performance toward achieving the best value for client money. However, the application of VE in construction industries is limited as there are differences in the use of the VE concept to developing economies, application of cost-oriented procurement systems, and lack of a practically applicable framework. In the local construction context, VE is practiced in an ad hoc manner. Therefore, the current study aimed to develop a framework including a tailored approach to enhance the VE application in the building construction industry. A qualitative approach was adapted to solicit views of twenty-two (22) construction professionals who involved in the six (6) high-rise building construction projects and practiced the VE concept. Views of professionals were synthesised using content analysis and finally developed a framework including a tailored VE approach. The findings conclude that cost and time as the main value criteria which motivate the VE application. Further, VE application in the construction industry is initiated mostly in the construction stages while professionals’ preference is laid on the initial project phases. Consequently, the contractor change proposal was identified as the sound approach to deliver VE since motivations emerge during physical construction. Finally, a tailored VE approach was developed considering concept design, developed design, and construction stages with related VE motivations to enhance the VE application in the Sri Lankan building construction context in a simplified manner.

Supplier selection is one of the critical processes that entail multiple complex deliberations. The selection of an appropriate alternative supplier is a highly intricate process, primarily due to there being multiple criteria which are exceptionally subjective. This paper aims to develop a practical framework for choosing a suitable precast supplier by integrating the Value Engineering (VE) concept, Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA), and the Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) technique. This paper introduces a novel method to estimate the quality weights of alternative suppliers’ criteria (CQW) by linking factory capacity with the coefficients of the nine significant criteria, computed using principal component analysis (PCA). None of the formal studies make this link directly. The framework’s findings were validated by comparing its results with an expert assessment of five Saudi supplier alternatives. The results revealed that the framework’s results agree with the expert’s judgment. The method of payment criterion received the highest weight, indicating that it was considered the most important of the nine criteria identified. Combining PCA and VE with the WASPAS technique resulted in an unprecedentedly effective selection tool for precast suppliers.

Abstract: Value Engineering (VE) concept does not mean a cost reduction only, but it extends beyond. VE is a powerful problem-solving tool that can reduce costs while maintaining or improving performance and quality requirements. It's a function- oriented, systematic team approach to providing value in a product or service. Construction project as a product or service is generally considered to have good value if this product or service has appropriate performance and cost. The construction product's characteristics differ than those in manufacture in many aspects such as immobility, complexity, durability, cost lines, and high degree of social responsibility. These characteristics are highly affected by the construction technology. Where, adopting these new technologies and working method in proper work environment can maximize the product with a working time reduction by 25% and cost reduction by 20% in average. Slip Form (S.F) is considered one of these common methods of construction. An assessment of the S.F includes productivity, appropriate speed in addition to auxiliary resource combinations. This research aims at create awareness of VE, and demonstrated the benefits gained when it applied to construction projects.

The construction industry is concerned with satisfying its customers’ needs through delivering projects that achieve their objectives and meet their expectations on time, within budget and as specified. Despite the several housing programmers constructed by government authorities, there is a real housing problem for the poor. This problem is attributed to a number of reasons. Amongst them, the inability of the low-incomers to cover the cost of supplied houses and the lack of the constructed projects to achieve users’ satisfaction. This highlighted the need to develop innovative and creative solutions that can deliver housing projects that achieve the satisfaction of their users and at the most-cost effective manner simultaneously. This aim will be achieved through incorporating the concepts of Value Engineering and Risk Management in developing housing projects for the poor. Towards this aim, this paper attempts to accomplish three main objectives. Firstly, reviewing the historical development of housing projects, the concepts of customer satisfaction, VE and RM in construction. Secondly, identifying the capability of VE and RM and their benefits for developing housing projects for the poor. Thirdly, presenting learned lessons extracted from case studies of low-income housing projects constructed by the government of the Egypt. Finally, outlining the research recommendations for government authorities, design firms and construction professionals concerned with housing projects for the poor. Key words: Value Engineering, Projects Management Time costs qualities relationships, constructions project in Egypt, Low Cost Housing Projects.

In this article, we model the two most market-capitalised public, open and permissionless blockchain implementations, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), as a System of Systems (SoS) of public blockchains. We study the concepts of blockchain, BTC, ETH, complex networks, SoS Engineering and intentional risk. We analyse BTC and ETH from an open SoS perspective through the main properties that seminal System of Systems Engineering (SoSE) references propose. This article demonstrates that these public blockchain implementations create networks that grow in complexity and connect with each other. We propose a methodology based on a complexity management lever such as SoSE to better understand public blockchains such as BTC and ETH and manage their evolution. Our ultimate objective is to improve the resilience of public blockchains against intentional risk: a key requirement for their mass adoption. We conclude with specific measures, based on this novel systems engineering approach, to effectively improve the resilience against intentional risk of the open SoS of public blockchains, composed of a non-inflationary money system, “sound money”, such as BTC, and of a world financial computer system, “a financial conduit”, such as ETH. The goal of this paper is to formulate a SoS that transfers digital value and aspires to position itself as a distributed alternative to the fiat currency-based financial system.

Engineering Master Mind: From Concept to Engineering Certification By Anil Kumar Mukhopadhyaya Sage Publications, New Delhi, 2009, Pages: 153, Price: 295 ISBN: 978-81-321-0062-1The book Value Engineering Master Mind: From Concept to Engineering Certification, is positioned as jargon free book which demystifies critical concepts related to Engineering (VE). Most of the concepts are presented very crisply but in comprehensive detail. The objective of this book is biprog: to deliver concepts related to value engineering with specific emphasis to syllabus related to various INVEST (Indian Engineering Society) certification programs; secondly to give insight about various societies (and their corresponding certifications) that relate to promoting value engineering philosophy. The end of the chapter exercises make this book akin to comprehensive text book on value engineering concepts. This book is divided into ten chapters. First four chapters delve about the back drop of value engineering, its historical origins and its proliferation into various societies that promote value engineering practices across the globe. Rest of the book details various concepts relating to value engineering.For the ease of comprehension, the author of this review intends to focus on theoretical concepts relating to value engineering first which are eloborated from chapter five onwards and then detail about professional aspects that are presented from chapter one to four. Chapter five describes elementary concepts of VE. According to VE discipline, every attribute/part of the product is designed to perform specific function. The author defines function as combination of active verb with measurable noun. To illustrate function of electric wire is to conduct current. Accordingly, value engineering is defined as a function oriented cost improvement technique. This means to state that VE procedures aim at reducing unnecessary cost without detoriating the overall quality or life or customer features or appearance of the product. To achieve this end, VE oriented product engineer should use both creative, scientific and management procedures and techniques which are described in good detail in this book.While value is term that has social, ethical and various other discipline specific connotations, it is limited to economic value within the gamut of VE theory. The book further identifies economic value ramifications as esteem, exchange, use and cost value respectively. Esteem value relates to those attributes which make person choose particular product over its competitors. Exchange value is the price put on product during its sale. Use value is the value contributed by the product to consumer over its life time. Cost value which is also described as life cycle value is the cost incurred by the customer during acquisition, operation, maintenance, repair and salvage. Author describes various reasons for poor value and describes methods of calculating life cycle cost in chapter five.Chapter six details concepts from finance related to VE. The author presents and contrasts four critical financial techniques pertaining to VE decision making namely, Break Even Point (BEP), Payback Period (PP), Return On Investment (ROI) and Discounted Cash Flow (DCF). The author favors discounted cash flow method to choose between product alternatives considering its strategic advantages over other methods since only DCF takes time value of money into consideration. Author adeptly illu strates each of these concepts using example pr oblems replete with detailed calculations.VE implementation teams generally constitute people from multiple functional departments who are not acquainted with each other closely. …

In construction projects, there are four main aspects that must be considered: cost, time, quality, and occupational safety. One of the biggest challenges is the cost aspect, which often faces issues such as budget overruns, overtime work, and quality degradation. These issues can be categorized as unnecessary costs. One approach that can be used to reduce unnecessary costs is the application of the Value Engineering concept. The implementation of Value Engineering is carried out through field surveys, participatory observations, and secondary data analysis from project documents such as the Budget Plan (RAB), Detailed Engineering Design (DED), and Unit Price Analysis (AHSP). The analysis is conducted through several stages, including the Cost Model, Cost Breakdown, Pareto rule analysis, function analysis, creative stage, Value Engineering analysis, Life Cycle Cost analysis, and recommendation stage. The results show that the application of Value Engineering in architectural works can provide significant cost efficiency. The total savings reached IDR 69,552,162.86, or 10%. Specifically, for wall works, the applied alternative resulted in savings of 7.53% or IDR 62,784,374.25. For door and window frame works, the selected alternative generated savings of 1.09% or IDR 4,503,000.00. Meanwhile, for flooring works, the applied alternative was able to save 1.4% or IDR 2,264,788.61.

Wind power generation is playing an increasingly important role in delivering clean, smart, and sustainable energy. Onshore as well as in offshore wind energy Plants capture the power of the wind and produce a renewable energy. In the case of non-cohesive soil, onshore wind turbines are often founded on a shallow foundation with a circular or octagonal shape. The shallow foundation costs represent a considerable portion of the total construction costs and produces a huge amount of Carbon dioxide. Therefore, an economic optimization of the type of foundation is highly required. An innovative foundation type would be a pier foundation, which combines the load transfer over the foundation area at the pier base with the transfer of horizontal loads over the shaft surface area of the pier. Also, the excavated soil will be used to fill the pier construction. This system is called Patrick and Henderson system. This paper aims to compare the behavior of a pier foundation with traditional shallow foundation using Finite Element Method. A systematic analysis of the results at different load levels shows that the application of the typical pier foundation for small onshore wind turbines leads to a high saving of concrete mass, Carbon dioxide Emission (Carbon Footprint) and finally the total cost.

The Necessity of Revitalizing the Traditional Elements Effective on Economic Sustainability and Cost Management (Case Study of Tabatabai's House)