Socio-Eco-Efficiency Analysis of Highways: A Data Envelopment Analysis

Abstract

Abstract.To ensure the large network of highways is performing sustainably, there is a dire need to quantify sustainability for highways. In this paper, data envelopment analysis (DEA) based mathematical model is developed to evaluate sustainability in an attempt to aid these efforts. Sustainability goals pertaining to the three dimensions of sustainability, social, economic and environmental, were utilized. Utilizing the developed model, sustainability scores of thirty highway sections were calculated and ranked accordingly. Percent improvement analysis was carried out to gain more insight. In addition, sensitivity analysis was carried out to understand how different values of input parameters impacted the socio-eco-efficiency of each highway section. The aim of the study was to show that DEA based sustainability assessment model could be used to evaluate highways and assist in strategic planning goals of transportation agencies. Results indicated that 22% to 47% reductions are required to be achieved on negative social and environmental impacts for the inefficiency highway sections to be 100% efficient while keeping the economic indicators the same.

Towards Sustainable Roads: A Systematic Review of Triple-Bottom-Line-Based Assessment Methods

“…Furthermore, Kucukvar et al [116] and Kucukvar et al [117] used a TBL-LCA EIO framework to evaluate economic impacts. Tatari et al [122] used an approach based on the expansion of economic opportunity and the increased value of transportation assets achieved as a consequence of the improvement of road-based transport of goods and the quality maintenance of the roads [122].…”

“…For instance, Alam et al [103] suggested the calculation of the NPV and the Cost-Benefit Ratio (CBR), although in their case study, only NPV was determined. Tatari et al [122] used the Truck Throughput Efficiency (TTE) and the Pavement Condition Score (APC). Kucukvar et al [116] and Kucukvar et al [117] used the Gross Operating Surplus (GOS), Import, and Tax as indicators in their TBL-LCA EIO framework.…”

The sectoral lens and beyond: Exploring the multidimensional perspectives of sustainable road infrastructure development

“…In the operational dimension (B), the literature discusses sustainability regarding how the road operation can be made more environmentally and socially friendly. First, traffic pollutants-such as GHGs, NO x , SO x , traffic noise, and vibration-should be sufficiently mitigated (e.g., Kokoli, Chassiakos, & Theodorakopoulos, 2007;Tatari, Egilmez, & Kurmapu, 2016;Tatari & Kurmapu, 2011). Second, sustainability is advanced as ensuring safe and secure mobility for all by, for example, minimizing accident risks and reducing the social costs of these risks (e.g., Litman, 2007).…”

Benchmarking and Performance Evaluation Towards the Sustainable Development of Regions in Taiwan: A Minimum Distance-Based Measure with Undesirable Outputs in Additive DEA

“…Although eco-efficiency might guide a practical solution for SD, eco-efficiency analyses do not guarantee sustainability because they cover only economic and environmental dimensions (Bruni et al 2011;Charmondusit et al 2014). A broadened eco-efficiency analysis that incorporates the social dimension was recently recommended to thoroughly achieve SD core concepts via benchmarking (Tatari et al 2016;Caiado et al 2017;Nissi and Sarra 2018).…”