Structural and operational management of Turkish airports: a bootstrap data envelopment analysis of efficiency

This paper explores the structural and operational dimensions of the efficiencies of airports. The two-stage procedure is suggested to assess the efficiencies of airports in this study. In the first-stage, Classification and Regression Tree, which is one of the machine-learning approaches used to divide the airports into homogeneous and thus comparable sub-groups. In the second stage, the bootstrap data envelopment analysis approach obtains more precise structural and operational efficiency scores. To illustrate the proposed framework use, we applied it to a real case associated with Turkish airports. The results demonstrate that this framework presents a more comprehensive assessment of airport performance rather than conventional data envelopment analysis models. Moreover, it provides to show the deficiencies of the structural and operational management of airports. The findings can help anywhere airport authorities as well as Turkish airport authorities.     

Benchmarking the energy efficiency of government buildings with data envelopment analysis

Constructing an indicator to measure the effectiveness of energy management is important for energy agencies and authorities. This paper uses multiple linear regression method and data envelopment analysis to examine the effectiveness of energy management. First, the regression method using environmental factors is used to calculate the predicted energy usage intensity of each evaluated building. Data envelopment analysis is then employed to calculate overall energy efficiency, using the predicted energy usage intensity as output and the observed energy usage intensity as input. Data envelopment analysis can be further applied to measure the overall energy efficiency in details by examining environmental factors and management factors. Finally, the energy consumption of buildings can be measured to evaluate the effectiveness of energy management. Buildings examined as a case study in this paper are government office buildings in Taiwan. The results show that most of the buildings evaluated to report a higher predicted energy usage intensity have successfully used efficient energy management methods in energy saving.     

An integrated approach to analysing the cost efficiency of postal networks

An integrated approach to measure the cost efficiency of the postal network of Universal Service Provider is proposed. An integrated approach enables the measurement of cost efficiency for delivery and non-delivery postal network units. The proposed approach is verified and tested on the postal network of the selected provider and the results were derived by using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The results show that the main sources of inefficiency are inadequate allocation of resources relative to the network units. In addition, the study indicates that economies of scale have a positive impact on the efficiency of postal network units.     

Wind of change: Small-scale electricity production and distribution-grid efficiency in Sweden

In this paper, we measure the technical efficiency for local electricity distribution firms in Sweden, and in particular how small and micro-scale generation affects efficiency scores. Using a two-stage data envelopment analysis to model the technical efficiency and a double bootstrap approach to estimate the determinants of inefficiencies, we show that firms are heterogeneous in terms of inefficiency, but that a large share of small and micro-scale generation is not associated with more inefficient operations.     

Endogenous and exogenous sources of efficiency in the management of Turkish airports

This paper focused on the endogenous and exogenous factors affecting the performance of small and medium-sized Turkish airports. A two-stage approach was adopted. Non-radial DEA methodology was applied in the first step to define the specific endogenous sources in the resource utilization, output production, and revenue generation processes. Shannon's entropy was employed to capture the homogeneity in the endogenous performance drivers. Exogenous sources of efficiency were defined in the second step. Results showed that inefficiency in Turkish airports is mainly driven by endogenous sources, where runway utilization and non-aeronautical revenue generation are the main reasons. Policy implications were derived.     

Measuring and comparing the efficiency of water utility companies: A data envelopment analysis approach

This study provides an analysis of Italian water utilities to determine the effects on their efficiency of certain relevant variables that have been broadly discussed in the existing literature. We reviewed the annual financial statements of 43 Italian water utility companies and obtained other technical data from Co.n.vi.r.i., the Italian national authority for water. Using data envelopment analysis we assessed their cost efficiencies and, using non-parametric statistic methods, we discuss the significant differences among clusters.We found that ownership structure, size and geographical location had an impact on the performance of water utilities, although with different degrees of significance.     

Measuring Spanish airport performance: A bootstrap data envelopment analysis of efficiency

This work studies the efficiency of Spanish airports for the year 2018. In the first stage, efficiency is calculated by applying the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method. As inputs, variables have been selected representing the airports' physical aspects, such as the number of boarding gates or the runway area. As outputs, the number of passengers, tons of cargo and the number of operations are included. By means of bootstrapping, it is empirically demonstrated that the airports operated under variable returns to scale. In the second stage, a truncated regression is carried out to determine which variables influence the efficiency of the airports. Previously a bootstrapping with 2000 iterations is applied to correct the possible bias of the DEA results. Airport apron and opening hours are relevant factors to explain the efficiency of airports as well as being a tourist airport.     

The efficiency of container terminals in the northern region of Brazil

The North region has the largest presence of navigable waterways in Brazil, and the greatest potential for growth in container handling. However, the region lacks research on the performance of the region's port sector. This article aims to analyze the efficiency of the main container terminals in the North of Brazil, using the data envelopment analysis method (DEA). Based on this research, we seek to contribute to improving the efficiency of the analyzed terminals as well as the management of the local port sector.     

An assessment of waste management efficiency at BAA airports

The issue of waste management within airports is becoming increasingly important with enormous increases in passenger numbers and is a key responsibility of the facilities manager. Airports are notoriously poor environmental performers and this growth in the industry is leading to increasing levels of waste production. The purpose of this paper is to assess the efficiency of waste management operations at BAA airports, with reference to best practices within airports in continental Europe. The paper presents the findings of a survey of waste management methods in a sample of UK airports. The analysis of numerical data is based on those airports in the BAA group. Many of these are among the busiest airports in Britain, and Heathrow and Gatwick are two of the world's busiest. Data constraints prevented a more detailed analysis of other airports outside BAA. The paper highlights some difficulties in measuring BAA's waste management efficiency based on the waste hierarchy and concludes that some European airports have achieved greater efficiency in waste management. The situation is now changing though and BAA is taking environmental management seriously. However, a more co-ordinated approach to environmental strategy is needed across the industry and this is best produced at government level.     

A regulatory robust conditional approach to measuring the efficiency of wholesale water supply and wastewater treatment services

A benchmarking evaluation instrument was designed with a European Union country regulatory authority for water supply and wastewater treatment services to determine the efficient operating cost of its service providers that operated in the wholesale market segment in the 2017–2021 period. To this end, the non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis technique was adapted to a robust and conditional approach. The results point to similar mean efficiency scores between water supply and wastewater services in the five-year period, despite the greater heterogeneity in the latter. Furthermore, the estimated potential cost savings for both services ranged from about 2% to 3%.     

Slacks-based data envelopment analysis for eco-efficiency assessment in the Australian construction industry

Eco-efficiency as an important indicator for sustainability assessment can describe an integrated manner of economic growth, resource conservation and environmental protection. However, the current research could not correctly assess eco-efficiency and mostly utilize qualitative methods. This paper presents a new method called slacks-based Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to assess eco-efficiency based on directly and systematically dealing with the slacks of reducing resource consumption and minimizing environmental impacts, together with adding production value. Two DEA models are respectively, defined using inter-temporal and window benchmark techniques, so as to compare eco-efficiency results in temporal and spatial dimensions and then identify production benchmarks and gaps. Efficiency change and technological change, which are two driving forces for eco-efficiency change, are also investigated through a production-theoretical decomposition analysis. Data from the Australian construction industry from 1990 to 2013 are employed to specify the two DEA models. The research results illustrate that the construction industries in the Australian regions showed significant increases in eco-efficiency during the research period, but the gaps among them were increased due to the severe underperformance of technological change. This research primarily provides a innovative pathway for accurate eco-efficiency assessment and quantitative identification of reducing resource consumption, minimizing environmental impacts and adding production value. The developed research framework is generic and can assist worldwide construction projects, organizations and industries to measure, compare and assess eco-efficiency systematically.     

Regional land pattern assessment: development of a resource efficiency measurement method

Debate on the sustainability of human settlements has recently been focused primarily on the urban portion of the land use pattern. However, urban areas rely on suburban, rural, and other less densely settled lands for their existence. In order to quantify the impacts of various land patterns on their supporting resources, these exurban lands must be included in any sustainability assessment. This need for a regional view has resulted in a measurement method that enables comparisons of relative sustainability between various regional land use patterns. Existing methods employed to assess urban sustainability are reviewed and compared with the regional characteristic curves method, introduced here, that takes a more holistic regional view. Results from the application of the method are presented, displaying the spatial dimension it brings to the analysis of illustrative primary metrics as well as demonstrating its ability to spatially quantify change in these metrics over time.     

Benchmarking the efficiency of natural gas distribution utilities in Italy considering size,ownership, and maturity

In light of the reform of the Italian natural gas distribution introduced in 2007, this work performs a benchmarking and productivity analysis of distribution utilities, identifying the characteristics allowing greater efficiency. Using a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI), we analyse the performances of utilities and compares them in terms of size, ownership (public or private), and maturity (pre or post-liberalization establishment). The results show that the more efficient utilities are mainly publicly owned and pre-liberalization established. Small and medium-sized utilities operate less efficiently than large ones, revealing the scale inefficiency of the sector.     

Measuring the efficiency of materials management based on data envelopment analysis approach: the case of Polish regions

This paper examines the applicability of DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) to measure and evaluate the efficiency of materials management at the regional level. The research has been conducted for Polish regions as a case study. The basis for the calculation of the efficiency scores was a statistically selected set of materials used in a given region and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The results of the analysis reveal that 4 (Łódzkie, Śląskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie, and Zachodniopomorskie) out of 16 Polish regions are relatively efficient. The remaining regions consume too many material resources in the process of generating goods and services.     

Economic crisis and regional resilience: Evidence from Greece

Shift‐share and input‐output models are combined to explore the resilience of Greek regions to economic crisis. Model results indicate that rural regions are more resistant to recessionary shocks than urban regions. The analysis of the space‐specific ability of sectors to withstand economic shocks portrayed the resilience of agriculture, while food industry, although its impact overtime declined, managed to increase its employment in seven out of thirteen regions. The tourism sector contracted but showed more resilience in the island regions than in the continental regions. The spatial heterogeneity in the effects of the recessionary shocks re‐emphasizes the need for targeted and differentiated regional development policies.     

印度适宜技术模式下的地域性设计初探

本文以三个层面简略地分析了当代印度地域性设计中的适宜技术。     

结构性意象下城市滨水空间的地域性表达

客观存在的环境是研究城市的地域性的一个主要影响因素。本文主要从结构性意象层面出发,研究滨水城市的客观环境对其城市地域性的作用和影响,从而建立基于结构性意象的城市滨水空间的地域性表达策略。     

Changes in the total costs of the English and Welsh water and sewerage industry: The decomposed effect of price and quantity inputs on efficiency

Understanding what drives changes in regulated water companies' costs is of great relevance to water regulators. This study decomposes and estimates the change in total costs for a sample of ten water and sewerage companies in England and Wales from 1993 to 2016. The results demonstrate that companies' total costs increased over time due to increases in input prices and input quantity. Any gains obtained from the efficient allocation of resources and technical progress were lost due to mergers and technical inefficiency. Finally, we link our results with the regulatory cycle to evaluate the impact of the regulatory regime on companies' costs and discuss some policy implications.     

基于超效率DEA的建筑企业生产效率实证研究

为了合理地评估上市建筑企业的生产效率,建立了上市建筑企业生产效率评价指标体系,采用基于数据包络分析方法的超效率DEA分析模型,对24家上市建筑企业的生产效率进行了实证研究。结果表明:目前大部分上市建筑企业投入与产出的技术效率不理想,投入与产出配比较不合理。大部分大型国有上市建筑企业的纯技术效率较佳,面临的主要问题是规模效率不佳。所建立的方法为上市建筑企业合理安排资源、提高生产效率提供了依据。     

香港商品混凝土搅拌厂生产效率的分析和评估

本文应用数据包围分析 (DataEnvelopmentAnalysis ,DEA)方法对香港一家大型商品混凝土公司属下的搅拌厂自 1990至 1998年的生产运作情况进行效率分析和评估。结果表明 ,该公司的生产效率年平均增长率为 0 83% ;一般说来 ,长期性搅拌厂的生产效率高于临时性搅拌厂 ;地区比较居中 ,地处港岛搅拌厂的平均生产效率高于九龙和新界两地的。