The limits of value engineering assessment criteria for integrating sustainability issues - Lessons from early design phases of major civil engineering infrastructure projects

Addressing sustainability challenges requires the integration of environmental and social dimensions into engineering design. This study examines major civil engineering infrastructure design projects using the Value Engineering (VE) method to evaluate the extent to which current assessment criteria address these challenges. Using empirical data from ten industrial projects in the nuclear and railway sectors, this paper aims to diagnose the limits of VE assessment criteria in integrating sustainability dimensions. Our analysis reveals that 78% of value criteria are techno-economic, with social and ecological dimensions often marginalised. Three key limitations are identified: a functional bias in VE methods; subjective, context-dependent criteria; and a lack of standardised frameworks for sustainability integration. These findings emphasise the necessity of adapting VE methods to more effectively address sustainability in the initial design stages.