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Combining Novel Integration and the DEA Technique to Compute Dredging Productivity

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25 June 2023

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26 June 2023

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Abstract
Construction productivity entails a wide range of work combinations. When human resources are scarce, it is critical to replace manpower with machinery, and calculating machinery productivity is crucial. Traditional labor productivity methods, however, cannot address dredging complex multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) problems. Aiming to address the limitations of the traditional labor productivity method, this paper extends the data envelopment analysis (DEA) and proposes a new dredging productivity evaluation method. The proposed method can solve the problem of evaluating various combinations of factors (single-input, multiple-input, sin-gle-output, and multiple-output) and the problem suggesting that the efficiency of the DEA method'scalculation results is equal to 1. The effectiveness of the proposed method was verified using reservoir dredging examples. The simulation results show that the proposed method has broad applicability, can accurately evaluate the related dredging performance issues, and provide directions for construction managers to improve labor productivity.
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Subject: Engineering  -   Other

1. Introduction

Completing a construction project on time, on budget, and with excellent quality is critical to a project’s success. Construction efficiency (productivity) is also a key factor determining the success or failure of a project, affecting project quality and revenue. Many factors influence construction productivity, such as construction site conditions, worker capabilities, material suitability, climatic conditions, worker motivation, and supervisory mechanisms. The emergence of such issues is referred to as a multiple-attribute decision-making (MADM) problem. Therefore, traditional methods cannot calculate actual performance or productivity.
Many scholars evaluate productivity using different methods. Some scholars used soft computing techniques to evaluate and compare labor productivity in construction [1]. Others used the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis to investigate the productivity losses of practitioners in concrete construction projects in Sweden and assessed the impacts of their exposure to different weather types while performing work tasks [2]. Some scholars experimented with strengthening government policy and regulatory tools to increase productivity in public works [3].
The significant increase in the frequency of natural disasters due to extreme climate change has increased the risk of natural disasters. Floods induced by heavy rainfall create reservoir sedimentation, reducing reservoir capacity by 1% per year worldwide, which has become a major problem globally. Many scholars also proposed using engineering methods to address flooding issues, such as building dams, dredging rivers, and heightening and strengthening buildings.
Dredging, a planned and systematic excavation activity, is a critical issue in water resource management. Many scholars have investigated the issues related to dredging. For example, some scholars developed a river dredging management model in South Korea using multi-criteria decision analysis techniques, which assigns weights to various dredging-related factors, such as dredging costs and social and environmental impacts, to address river dredging problems [4]. Other scholars discussed the problem definition and model formulation for optimal dredging fleet scheduling to improve the efficiency of dredging projects initiated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) [5]. Decision-makers can use this approach to boost dredger productivity. Some scholars also asserted that proper planning and scheduling could significantly reduce waiting times and address delays, making earthworks more efficient while reducing cost overruns risks [6].
Dredging performance (productivity) is a major research area in construction engineering and management science. Dredging requires the transportation of large volumes of soil, necessitating combined transportation methods and complex machinery. Therefore, reservoir dredging is classified as a complex multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) problem.
Traditional methods for assessing dredging productivity use a labor productivity method to evaluate the issues related to dredging performance. Productivity is defined as “the work hour (WH) required to complete a unit of work.” Some researchers stated that productivity research should focus on labor-intensive, repetitive, and important crew work [7]. They used the latest version of the world’s largest corporate financial database to identify three statistical properties related to manual labor productivity [8].
To efficiently address the multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) problems associated with data attributes, Data Envelope Analysis (DEA) was first proposed [9]. Due to its simple calculation and ability to solve MIMO problems, many scholars employed DEA to address decision-related problems.
The proposed multifunctional DEA model for multi-activity data envelopment analysis (MADEA) can overcome data output uncertainty and share inputs, environmental variables, and inter-temporal efficiencies [10]. The model can measure the performance of prefectural/municipal departments and the entire Taiwanese. On the other hand, the integrated fuzzy data envelopment analysis (FDEA) and fuzzy-multi attribute decision-making (F-MADM) were used to evaluate and select the safest airlines in Iran [11]. Some scholars used the novel DEA-based method to evaluate the dredging productivity of the national army and found that it can effectively address the complicated MADM problem of dredging productivity [12]. A complete picture of major airlines’ operations can be achieved by exhaustively examining their efficiency in European airspace using the novel input/output parameters of the Data Envelope Analysis (DEA) [13].
Moreover, the efficiency of 3D printers can also be assessed using the DEA method [14]. Combined with multiple technologies, DEA-based interaction and expansion approach can also improve drug sales performance [15]. The application of combined goal-oriented methodology (GO methodology), integrated dynamic Bayesian networks (DBNs), and the DEA methodology can improve smart meter reliability and accuracy [16]. A certain model was developed for improving the productivity of warehouses and logistics distribution centers using the PROMETHEE II and DEA methods [17]. Since appropriate organizational changes were made in terms of infrastructure, human resources, and technology, efficiency and productivity assessments were incorporated into hospital decision-making [18].
To address complicated problems related to multiple inputs and multiple outputs of dredging productivity, this study proposes an improved method involving novel integration and DEA to establish a more reliable, objective, and accurate novel evaluation model.
The remainder of this paper is organized as follows—Section 2 reviews literature related to traditional productivity and DEA. Section 3 proposes a novel productivity evaluation method based on novel integration and DEA. Section 4 adapts the data from the case of Lai (2019) [12] to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Lastly, Section 5 provides conclusions and future research directions.

2. Related Works

2.1. Traditional Productivity Method

A dredging project is a complex problem requiring productivity, quality, safety, and timeliness operations of many types of work needed for project completion. However, traditional methods used in calculating productivity can only solve problems related to a single input and a single output. It cannot address problems involving multiple inputs and multiple outputs. In traditional productivity, only the completed work items and the groups’ working hours are considered; hence, productivity is defined as the ratio of “outputs” and “inputs” of an item in unit time, as shown in Equation 1. [19]. The unit of C pertains to one thousand US dollars per employee. Due to physical labor productivity, the researchers of this study denoted the number of employees (NE) as L, while the operating revenue (OR) was denoted as Y. The unit of L pertains to the employee. The unit of Y is one thousand US dollars.
C = Y L
Since the traditional calculation method of productivity cannot address the MIMO problem, the data must be converted before calculation. Equation (2) was used for standardization.
N i j = X i j m i n X i j m a x X i j m i n X i j
Dredging productivity is a complex MCDM problem. Traditional productivity methods can only address problems with single data input and output. While the DEA method can solve the MIMO problem, its results have the same efficiency (efficiency is equal to 1), making it difficult to identify which efficiency is better. This study utilized the multiple regression equation shown in Equation (3) to calculate the regression coefficient value.
Y = a + b 1 x 1 + b 2 x 2 + ε

2.2. DEA Method

Charnes et al. [12] initially introduced the DEA method as a mathematical programming method that can evaluate the relative efficiency of decision-making units (DMUs) (first-mode CCR model). DEA is a method that uses multiple inputs to produce multiple outputs to measure the relative efficiencies of a group of DMUs. This non-parametric technique was originally conceived to analyze a set of units. Since the DEA method can solve multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) problems with single-input–single-output, single-input–multi-output, or multi-input–multiple-output, this theoretical approach can be applied to a wide range of real-world problems. The results of this study were obtained using the software “DEA.P version 2.1 for Windows” [20].

3. The Proposed Novel Construction Productivity Calculation Method

The productivity of a dredging project requires an accurate method for measuring the performance of working groups. The productivity of such working groups is a complex MADM problem. Since the traditional method can only solve productivity problems with a single input and a single output, it cannot solve construction productivity problems involving multiple inputs and outputs. While DEA can directly solve productivity problems with multiple inputs and multiple outputs, this method may generate many productivity values of 1, making it difficult to compare or rank productivities equal to 1. Therefore, this study proposes a method that can solve problems involving multiple inputs and multiple outputs and rank the calculation results where the calculation results are consistent with input and output trends. The procedures of the novel productivity calculation method proposed in this paper include the following steps:
Step 1. Observe and record the number of equipment and earthwork dredged every day.
Step 2. Establish a formalized performance matrix (multiple regression).
Step 3. Perform the weighted calculation of the normal performance matrix.
Step 4. Obtain the solution using the DEA method
Step 5. Rank the calculated results.
Step 6. Compare the results calculated using each method.
Figure 1 shows the flowchart of the novel construction productivity calculation.

4. Case Study

4.1. Overview

To verify the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed method in this study, the researchers adapted one of the case data from Lai, Chang, and Lin’s study [00] to demonstrate how the traditional method of calculating dredging productivity is a special case of the proposed method. Records from the Nanhua Reservoir dredging located in Taiwan at that time were used. The Nanhua Reservoir is about 104 square kilometers and was completed in 1994. After its completion, the water storage capacity reached about 158.05 million cubic meters. At present, it can provide domestic water for Tainan and Kaohsiung. It also serves as a reservoir for sightseeing and leisure. The collected data from the Nanhua Reservoir dredging case was for 54 working days, from April 8 to May 31, 2011. Table 1 shows the record per day for hydraulic excavators (SL-330 and 320B) and trucks as input items, including the number of dispatches, while the output is the amount of daily dredging.

4.2. Solution Using the Traditional Productivity Method

Since the traditional productivity calculation method can only solve problems involving a single input and a single output, directly calculating the problem of single input and multiple outputs, multiple inputs and single outputs, or multiple inputs and multiple outputs is quite challenging [19]. Data must be converted before calculations. To make the traditional method applicable in addressing problems involving multiple inputs and outputs, the researchers of this study used Equation 2 to standardize the input of the data in Table 1. After formalizing the conversion of all input items, the researchers proceeded to calculate the aggregated input value using the traditional method productivity (output/input) and the dredging productivity result/one-day high dredging productivity. Table 2 illustrates the calculated result.

4.3. Solution Using the DEA Method

The data envelopment analysis (DEA) method proposed by Androutsou et al. (2022) [18] is one of the critical tools for performing productivity measurements. The DEA method can deal with complex data problems involving multiple inputs and multiple outputs. This study used the CCR model of the DEAP software to calculate the daily productivity of the dredging work in the Nanhua Reservoir shown in Table 2. The calculation results are shown in Table 3.

4.4. Solution Using the Proposed Novel Productivity Calculation Method

Dredging productivity is a complex MCDM problem involving multiple data inputs and multiple data outputs. However, traditional productivity methods can only deal with a single input and output data problem. While the DEA method can solve problems involving multiple inputs and multiple outputs, its calculated results have the same efficiency (the efficiency is equal to 1), making it challenging to determine which is more efficient and which is less efficient.
Several computations with an efficiency equal to 1 can be used to solve DEA efficiently. Some scholars used the multiple regression (ML) method to adopt farming techniques that significantly impact the integration of dairy cows and goats and create smallholder employment[21]. This study proposes an integrated and novel DEA construction productivity calculation method. This method considers the objective weights in obtaining the regression coefficient and selects an input as a conversion benchmark to calculate the conversion factors for each input. The solution steps are as follows.
Step 1: Observe and record the number of equipment and earthwork dredged daily.
Observation and records of the hydraulic excavators (SL-330 and 320B) and trucks as input items include the number of dispatches. The output is the amount of daily dredging output adapted from the case data of [12], as shown in Table 1.
Step 2: Establish a formalized performance matrix (multiple regression).
The regression coefficient value was calculated based on the data recorded in Table 1 and using a multiple regression formula shown in Equation 3. The results are shown in Table 4.
Step 3: Perform the weighted calculation for the normal performance matrix.
To solve the issue concerning the efficiency is equivalent to 1, the researchers of this study used the number of trucks as the conversion benchmark, divided all the regression coefficient values by the number of trucks in the regression results to obtain the conversion factor, and summarized the total input value. Table 5 shows the calculation results.
Step 4: Obtain the solution using the DEA method
This study used the CCR model of the DEAP software to calculate the daily productivity of the dredging work in Nanhua Reservoir shown in Table 5. The calculation results are depicted in Table 6.
Step 5: Rank the calculated results.
Based on the productivity calculation method proposed in this study, the results are ranked to find the best and equivalent dates, as shown in Table 6.
Step 6: Compare the results calculated using each method.
This step involves ranking the results obtained using both productivity calculation methods. Table 7 shows the calculation results.

4.5. Comparison and Discussion

To ensure that the proposed productivity calculation method can improve the disadvantages of traditional productivity calculation, this study adapted the data from the case presented in [12]. To calculate productivity using the traditional calculation method, it is necessary to change the output items into one item after converting the formalized performance matrix. Some scholars used this regression method to identify the conversion factors and converted the output items w to one item before calculation. However, the traditional and Thomas methods can only solve problems involving single input and output [22,23]. DEA calculates the daily productivity based on the input and output coefficients entered into the DEAP software, and the values closer to 1 are deemed better. Although DEA can solve problems with multiple inputs and outputs, it cannot compare the advantages and disadvantages of the productivities when the values are all 1. The novel multi-input and multi-output productivity calculation methods proposed in this study can solve, compare, and rank the largest and equal productivity calculation results. Comparing the main differences between the above three methods, the researchers discovered that only the traditional calculation method could not solve the productivity problem of productivity involving single input and multiple outputs. The remaining two methods can deal with related problems; DEA and the proposed method can solve productivity problems with multiple inputs and outputs. As for effectively resolving performance duplication of multiple inputs and multiple outputs, only the proposed method can solve it. Table 8 summarizes the relative problems for the above three methods.

5. Conclusions and Future Work

In addition to trucks and excavators being the most expensive in dredging, other factors must be considered, such as weather, soil conditions, transportation distance, and so on. Since the productivity of different machines and tools can vary, the quality of productivity influences capital expenditure. Therefore, improving management efficiency and reducing costs through productivity measurement is particularly important initially. In addition, many items must also be considered when evaluating productivity. These include machines and tools, climate, job complexity, material supply, material stacking, and other elements constituting the MADM problem. Since the traditional method can only solve the problem of single input and single output, it cannot solve construction capacity problems with multiple inputs and outputs. Although the DEA method can solve the productivity calculation problem involving multiple inputs and multiple outputs, it cannot compare the calculation results when the efficiencies are equal.
This study combined multiple regression and regularization to solve the shortcomings of traditional methods (which can only solve the problem of single input and single output) and DEA (which cannot compare equal efficiencies) to calculate the productivity results. The researchers of this study used examples to confirm the validity and feasibility of the proposed method, and the simulation results revealed that the novel integration and the DEA technique are more suitable for the evaluation and calculation of productivity.
Future research may further explore this research topic by considering man-made and natural risk assessments, working group proficiency, and management methods. Future studies may evaluate productivity by combining a soft set and fuzzy TOPSIS for the calculation method.

References

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  17. Alidrisi, H. DEA-Based PROMETHEE II distribution-center productivity model -evaluation and location strategies formulation. Appl. Sci., 2021, 11(20), 9567. [CrossRef]
  18. Androutsou, L.; Kokkinos, M.; Latsou, D.; Geitona, M. Assessing the efficiency and productivity of the hospital clinics on the island of Rhodes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15640. [CrossRef]
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  20. Coelli, T.J. A Guide to DEAP, Version 2.1: A Data Envelopment Analysis (Computer) Program; Working Paper, Papers No. 8/96; Center for Efficiency and Productivity Analysis, Department of Econometrics, University of New England: Armidale, NSW, Australia, 1996.
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Figure 1. Flowchart of the proposed novel construction productivity calculation method.
Figure 1. Flowchart of the proposed novel construction productivity calculation method.
Preprints 77601 g001
Table 1. Data adapted from the chosen case.
Table 1. Data adapted from the chosen case.
Record day Output Input
Daily dredging (M3) Number of trucks Excavator SL-330 Excavator 320B
1 1668 98 1 5
2 1683 98 1 5
3 1701 100 2 3
4 1702 100 2 3
5 1700 100 1 4
6 1696 99 1 5
7 1665 98 2 3
8 1701 100 2 4
9 1716 101 1 5
10 1720 101 1 5
11 1706 91 2 4
12 1717 93 2 4
13 1729 94 1 5
14 1737 95 1 5
15 1747 96 2 5
16 1759 98 2 5
17 1770 99 1 6
18 1782 100 1 6
19 1792 101 2 5
20 1798 102 2 5
21 1826 104 1 6
22 1855 106 1 6
23 1871 107 2 5
24 1895 108 2 6
25 1925 110 2 6
26 1950 112 2 6
27 1985 114 2 6
28 2041 117 2 6
29 2093 120 2 6
30 2089 116 2 6
31 2083 113 2 6
32 2076 109 2 6
33 2067 106 2 6
34 2058 103 2 6
35 2047 100 2 6
36 2036 97 2 6
37 2024 94 2 6
38 2012 92 2 6
39 1999 89 2 6
40 1986 87 2 6
41 1973 85 2 6
42 1959 83 2 6
43 1946 81 2 6
44 1932 79 2 6
45 1918 78 2 6
46 1905 76 2 6
47 1891 74 2 6
48 1877 73 2 6
49 1863 71 2 6
50 1850 70 2 6
51 1836 68 2 6
52 1823 67 2 6
53 1809 66 2 6
54 1796 65 2 6
Table 2. Established formalized performance matrix from the adapted case data and calculation results.
Table 2. Established formalized performance matrix from the adapted case data and calculation results.
Record day Output Input Aggregated input value Traditional method productivity(output/input) Dredging productivity result/One-day high dredging productivity
Daily dredging Number of trucks Excavator SL-330 Excavator 320B
1 1668 0.817 0.500 0.833 2.150 775.814 0.913
2 1683 0.817 0.500 0.833 2.150 782.791 0.921
3 1701 0.833 1.000 0.500 2.333 729.000 0.858
4 1702 0.833 1.000 0.500 2.333 729.429 0.858
5 1700 0.833 0.500 0.667 2.000 850.000 1.000
6 1696 0.825 0.500 0.833 2.158 785.792 0.924
7 1665 0.817 1.000 0.500 2.317 718.705 0.846
8 1701 0.833 1.000 0.667 2.500 680.400 0.800
9 1716 0.842 0.500 0.833 2.175 788.966 0.928
10 1720 0.842 0.500 0.833 2.175 790.805 0.930
11 1706 0.758 1.000 0.667 2.425 703.505 0.828
12 1717 0.775 1.000 0.667 2.442 703.208 0.827
13 1729 0.783 0.500 0.833 2.117 816.850 0.961
14 1737 0.792 0.500 0.833 2.125 817.412 0.962
15 1747 0.800 1.000 0.833 2.633 663.418 0.780
16 1759 0.817 1.000 0.833 2.650 663.774 0.781
17 1770 0.825 0.500 1.000 2.325 761.290 0.896
18 1782 0.833 0.500 1.000 2.333 763.714 0.898
19 1792 0.842 1.000 0.833 2.675 669.907 0.788
20 1798 0.850 1.000 0.833 2.683 670.062 0.788
21 1826 0.867 0.500 1.000 2.367 771.549 0.908
22 1855 0.883 0.500 1.000 2.383 778.322 0.916
23 1871 0.892 1.000 0.833 2.725 686.606 0.808
24 1895 0.900 1.000 1.000 2.900 653.448 0.769
25 1925 0.917 1.000 1.000 2.917 660.000 0.776
26 1950 0.933 1.000 1.000 2.933 664.773 0.782
27 1985 0.950 1.000 1.000 2.950 672.881 0.792
28 2041 0.975 1.000 1.000 2.975 686.050 0.807
29 2093 1.000 1.000 1.000 3.000 697.667 0.821
30 2089 0.967 1.000 1.000 2.967 704.157 0.828
31 2083 0.942 1.000 1.000 2.942 708.102 0.833
32 2076 0.908 1.000 1.000 2.908 713.811 0.840
33 2067 0.883 1.000 1.000 2.883 716.879 0.843
34 2058 0.858 1.000 1.000 2.858 720.000 0.847
35 2047 0.833 1.000 1.000 2.833 722.471 0.850
36 2036 0.808 1.000 1.000 2.808 724.985 0.853
37 2024 0.783 1.000 1.000 2.783 727.186 0.856
38 2012 0.767 1.000 1.000 2.767 727.229 0.856
39 1999 0.742 1.000 1.000 2.742 729.119 0.858
40 1986 0.725 1.000 1.000 2.725 728.807 0.857
41 1973 0.708 1.000 1.000 2.708 728.492 0.857
42 1959 0.692 1.000 1.000 2.692 727.802 0.856
43 1946 0.675 1.000 1.000 2.675 727.477 0.856
44 1932 0.658 1.000 1.000 2.658 726.771 0.855
45 1918 0.650 1.000 1.000 2.650 723.774 0.851
46 1905 0.633 1.000 1.000 2.633 723.418 0.851
47 1891 0.617 1.000 1.000 2.617 722.675 0.850
48 1877 0.608 1.000 1.000 2.608 719.617 0.847
49 1863 0.592 1.000 1.000 2.592 718.842 0.846
50 1850 0.583 1.000 1.000 2.583 716.129 0.843
51 1836 0.567 1.000 1.000 2.567 715.325 0.842
52 1823 0.558 1.000 1.000 2.558 712.573 0.838
53 1809 0.550 1.000 1.000 2.550 709.412 0.835
54 1796 0.542 1.000 1.000 2.542 706.623 0.831
Table 3. Daily productivity calculation results using the DEA method.
Table 3. Daily productivity calculation results using the DEA method.
Record day Output Input DEA (CCR)
Daily dredging Number of trucks Excavator SL-330 Excavator 320B Daily productivity
1 1668 0.817 0.500 0.833 0.952
2 1683 0.817 0.500 0.833 0.960
3 1701 0.833 1.000 0.500 0.999
4 1702 0.833 1.000 0.500 1.000
5 1700 0.833 0.500 0.667 1.000
6 1696 0.825 0.500 0.833 0.965
7 1665 0.817 1.000 0.500 0.992
8 1701 0.833 1.000 0.667 0.920
9 1716 0.842 0.500 0.833 0.971
10 1720 0.842 0.500 0.833 0.973
11 1706 0.758 1.000 0.667 0.968
12 1717 0.775 1.000 0.667 0.963
13 1729 0.783 0.500 0.833 1.000
14 1737 0.792 0.500 0.833 1.000
15 1747 0.800 1.000 0.833 0.892
16 1759 0.817 1.000 0.833 0.890
17 1770 0.825 0.500 1.000 0.993
18 1782 0.833 0.500 1.000 0.994
19 1792 0.842 1.000 0.833 0.893
20 1798 0.850 1.000 0.833 0.892
21 1826 0.867 0.500 1.000 0.995
22 1855 0.883 0.500 1.000 1.000
23 1871 0.892 1.000 0.833 0.906
24 1895 0.900 1.000 1.000 0.853
25 1925 0.917 1.000 1.000 0.859
26 1950 0.933 1.000 1.000 0.863
27 1985 0.950 1.000 1.000 0.871
28 2041 0.975 1.000 1.000 0.885
29 2093 1.000 1.000 1.000 0.896
30 2089 0.967 1.000 1.000 0.909
31 2083 0.942 1.000 1.000 0.918
32 2076 0.908 1.000 1.000 0.931
33 2067 0.883 1.000 1.000 0.939
34 2058 0.858 1.000 1.000 0.947
35 2047 0.833 1.000 1.000 0.955
36 2036 0.808 1.000 1.000 0.963
37 2024 0.783 1.000 1.000 0.971
38 2012 0.767 1.000 1.000 0.973
39 1999 0.742 1.000 1.000 0.981
40 1986 0.725 1.000 1.000 0.984
41 1973 0.708 1.000 1.000 0.987
42 1959 0.692 1.000 1.000 0.989
43 1946 0.675 1.000 1.000 0.992
44 1932 0.658 1.000 1.000 0.995
45 1918 0.650 1.000 1.000 0.993
46 1905 0.633 1.000 1.000 0.996
47 1891 0.617 1.000 1.000 0.999
48 1877 0.608 1.000 1.000 0.997
49 1863 0.592 1.000 1.000 0.999
50 1850 0.583 1.000 1.000 0.998
51 1836 0.567 1.000 1.000 1.000
52 1823 0.558 1.000 1.000 1.000
53 1809 0.550 1.000 1.000 1.000
54 1796 0.542 1.000 1.000 1.000
Table 4. Established formalized performance matrix (normalization).
Table 4. Established formalized performance matrix (normalization).
Record day Output Input
Daily dredging Number of trucks Excavator SL-330 Excavator 320B
Regression coefficient 3.767 156.43 110.981
Table 5. Calculated normal matrix weighted objective weights for input and output items.
Table 5. Calculated normal matrix weighted objective weights for input and output items.
Record day Output Input Aggregated total input value after conversion
Daily dredging Number of trucks Excavator SL-330 Excavator 320B
Regression coefficient 3.767 156.43 110.981
Conversion factors 1 41.523 29.459
1 1668 98.000 41.523 147.295 286.818
2 1683 98.000 41.523 147.295 286.818
3 1701 100.000 83.046 88.377 271.423
4 1702 100.000 83.046 88.377 271.423
5 1700 100.000 41.523 117.836 259.359
6 1696 99.000 41.523 147.295 287.818
7 1665 98.000 83.046 88.377 269.423
8 1701 100.000 83.046 117.836 300.882
9 1716 101.000 41.523 147.295 289.818
10 1720 101.000 41.523 147.295 289.818
11 1706 91.000 83.046 117.836 291.882
12 1717 93.000 83.046 117.836 293.882
13 1729 94.000 41.523 147.295 282.818
14 1737 95.000 41.523 147.295 283.818
15 1747 96.000 83.046 147.295 326.341
16 1759 98.000 83.046 147.295 328.341
17 1770 99.000 41.523 176.754 317.277
18 1782 100.000 41.523 176.754 318.277
19 1792 101.000 83.046 147.295 331.341
20 1798 102.000 83.046 147.295 332.341
21 1826 104.000 41.523 176.754 322.277
22 1855 106.000 41.523 176.754 324.277
23 1871 107.000 83.046 147.295 337.341
24 1895 108.000 83.046 176.754 367.800
25 1925 110.000 83.046 176.754 369.800
26 1950 112.000 83.046 176.754 371.800
27 1985 114.000 83.046 176.754 373.800
28 2041 117.000 83.046 176.754 376.800
29 2093 120.000 83.046 176.754 379.800
30 2089 116.000 83.046 176.754 375.800
31 2083 113.000 83.046 176.754 372.800
32 2076 109.000 83.046 176.754 368.800
33 2067 106.000 83.046 176.754 365.800
34 2058 103.000 83.046 176.754 362.800
35 2047 100.000 83.046 176.754 359.800
36 2036 97.000 83.046 176.754 356.800
37 2024 94.000 83.046 176.754 353.800
38 2012 92.000 83.046 176.754 351.800
39 1999 89.000 83.046 176.754 348.800
40 1986 87.000 83.046 176.754 346.800
41 1973 85.000 83.046 176.754 344.800
42 1959 83.000 83.046 176.754 342.800
43 1946 81.000 83.046 176.754 340.800
44 1932 79.000 83.046 176.754 338.800
45 1918 78.000 83.046 176.754 337.800
46 1905 76.000 83.046 176.754 335.800
47 1891 74.000 83.046 176.754 333.800
48 1877 73.000 83.046 176.754 332.800
49 1863 71.000 83.046 176.754 330.800
50 1850 70.000 83.046 176.754 329.800
51 1836 68.000 83.046 176.754 327.800
52 1823 67.000 83.046 176.754 326.800
53 1809 66.000 83.046 176.754 325.800
54 1796 65.000 83.046 176.754 324.800
Table 6. Calculated daily productivity and rank.
Table 6. Calculated daily productivity and rank.
Record day Output Input DEA(CCR) Rank
Daily dredging Total input Daily productivity
1 1668 286.818 0.887 13
2 1683 286.818 0.895 10
3 1701 271.423 0.956 3
4 1702 271.423 0.957 2
5 1700 259.359 1.000 1
6 1696 287.818 0.899 9
7 1665 269.423 0.943 4
8 1701 300.882 0.863 30
9 1716 289.818 0.903 8
10 1720 289.818 0.905 7
11 1706 291.882 0.892 11
12 1717 293.882 0.891 12
13 1729 282.818 0.933 6
14 1737 283.818 0.934 5
15 1747 326.341 0.817 49
16 1759 328.341 0.817 49
17 1770 317.277 0.851 39
18 1782 318.277 0.854 37
19 1792 331.341 0.825 47
20 1798 332.341 0.825 47
21 1826 322.277 0.864 28
22 1855 324.277 0.873 16
23 1871 337.341 0.846 43
24 1895 367.800 0.786 54
25 1925 369.800 0.794 53
26 1950 371.800 0.800 52
27 1985 373.800 0.810 51
28 2041 376.800 0.826 46
29 2093 379.800 0.841 45
30 2089 375.800 0.848 41
31 2083 372.800 0.852 38
32 2076 368.800 0.859 33
33 2067 365.800 0.862 31
34 2058 362.800 0.865 26
35 2047 359.800 0.868 24
36 2036 356.800 0.871 21
37 2024 353.800 0.873 16
38 2012 351.800 0.873 16
39 1999 348.800 0.874 14
40 1986 346.800 0.874 14
41 1973 344.800 0.873 16
42 1959 342.800 0.872 20
43 1946 340.800 0.871 21
44 1932 338.800 0.870 23
45 1918 337.800 0.866 25
46 1905 335.800 0.865 26
47 1891 333.800 0.864 28
48 1877 332.800 0.860 32
49 1863 330.800 0.859 33
50 1850 329.800 0.856 35
51 1836 327.800 0.855 36
52 1823 326.800 0.851 39
53 1809 325.800 0.847 42
54 1796 324.800 0.844 44
Table 7. Comparison of the sorted calculated results calculated using each method
Table 7. Comparison of the sorted calculated results calculated using each method
Record day Traditional method DEA method Propose method
Output/input Ranking Performance Ranking Daily productivity Ranking
1 0.913 9 0.952 37 0.887 13
2 0.921 7 0.96 35 0.895 10
3 0.858 13 0.999 10 0.956 3
4 0.858 13 1 1 0.957 2
5 1 1 1 1 1.000 1
6 0.924 6 0.965 32 0.899 9
7 0.846 30 0.992 21 0.943 4
8 0.8 46 0.92 41 0.863 30
9 0.928 5 0.971 29 0.903 8
10 0.93 4 0.973 27 0.905 7
11 0.828 40 0.968 31 0.892 11
12 0.827 42 0.963 33 0.891 12
13 0.961 3 1 1 0.933 6
14 0.962 2 1 1 0.934 5
15 0.78 52 0.892 47 0.817 49
16 0.781 51 0.89 49 0.817 49
17 0.896 12 0.993 19 0.851 39
18 0.898 11 0.994 18 0.854 37
19 0.788 48 0.893 46 0.825 47
20 0.788 48 0.892 47 0.825 47
21 0.908 10 0.995 16 0.864 28
22 0.916 8 1 1 0.873 16
23 0.808 44 0.906 44 0.846 43
24 0.769 54 0.853 54 0.786 54
25 0.776 53 0.859 53 0.794 53
26 0.782 50 0.863 52 0.800 52
27 0.792 47 0.871 51 0.810 51
28 0.807 45 0.885 50 0.826 46
29 0.821 43 0.896 45 0.841 45
30 0.828 40 0.909 43 0.848 41
31 0.833 38 0.918 42 0.852 38
32 0.84 35 0.931 40 0.859 33
33 0.843 32 0.939 39 0.862 31
34 0.847 28 0.947 38 0.865 26
35 0.85 26 0.955 36 0.868 24
36 0.853 23 0.963 33 0.871 21
37 0.856 18 0.971 29 0.873 16
38 0.856 18 0.973 27 0.873 16
39 0.858 13 0.981 26 0.874 14
40 0.857 16 0.984 25 0.874 14
41 0.857 16 0.987 24 0.873 16
42 0.856 18 0.989 23 0.872 20
43 0.856 18 0.992 21 0.871 21
44 0.855 22 0.995 16 0.870 23
45 0.851 24 0.993 19 0.866 25
46 0.851 24 0.996 15 0.865 26
47 0.85 26 0.999 10 0.864 28
48 0.847 28 0.997 14 0.860 32
49 0.846 30 0.999 10 0.859 33
50 0.843 32 0.998 13 0.856 35
51 0.842 34 1 1 0.855 36
52 0.838 36 1 1 0.851 39
53 0.835 37 1 1 0.847 42
54 0.831 39 1 1 0.844 44
Table 8. Comparison of the main differences between the above four methods.
Table 8. Comparison of the main differences between the above four methods.
Method Traditional DEA Proposed method
Solve problem
Multiple inputs and single outputs No Yes Yes
Multiple inputs and multiple outputs No Yes Yes
Effectively resolve performance duplication Yes No Yes
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