Application of Modified Data Envelopment Analysis in Evaluating Operational Efficiency and Environmental Impacts

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a technique used in evaluation or assessing the environmental impact of a production processes from the extraction of raw material from earth, to production, development, and processing, manufacturing and final disposal. In this study, an integration of the (LCA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is used for efficiency evaluation of mussel cultivation rafts operation. The inputs and outputs used for the efficiency evaluation is obtained using the LCA method, and the efficiency is evaluation is performed using the DEA technique. The sites are considered as a Decision-Making Units (DMU). Standard and modified models are utilized in the efficiency evaluation to give a better analysis of the rafts under evaluation. The modified models identify the weak efficient and highly inefficient rafts. Further analysis of the efficiency results presents interesting findings as to the factors important for the improvement of the mussel rafts operation.