A DEA-inspired approach to selecting parking areas for dangerous-goods trucks

Abstract

The transport of dangerous goods by trucks requires special conditions for rest areas. By considering the set of existing service areas, the present work develops a procedure for selecting the subgroup of the most suitable service areas for modification in order to provide a service to dangerous-goods transporters. Under multiple criteria, a new DEA-inspired model is developed that uses the main characteristics of the problem under study with the goal of selecting the best locations. Through the application of this model to Spanish territory with the help of Geographical Information Systems, various solutions are suggested. The final decision on the number of areas to be located depends on corresponding authorities, whose main priority is to satisfy economic criteria.