Applying value engineering to evaluate the use of concrete in an underground railway construction project

The object of this research is an underground railway construction project. The railway will be 8.23 kilometers long with three stations located along it. The project will cost totally NT$ 29.36 billion and take seven years and eight month to complete. The total amount of concrete used in this project is estimated to be as large as 56,900 cubic meters. By using the value engineering technology, this study evaluated totally five concrete alternatives for the construction project. According to the findings of this research, self-compacting concrete (SCC) is the best alternative for it can help to save nearly NT$80 million, that is 24.8% of the original budget of NT$352 million for concrete. The amount of cement required for the project is half the amount of regular concrete project. In addition to cutting costs, SCC is more environmentally friendly for it uses industrial wastes as its ingredients. It is known as the green concrete for it is helpful in reducing carbon emissions and, hence, mitigating the greenhouse effects. The findings and suggestions of this study were sent to the authorities in charge of the project and have been accepted and adopted by the engineering consultants in the underground railway construction.