A generalized multiple layer data envelopment analysis model for hierarchical structure assessment: A case study in road safety performance evaluation

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is recognized as a powerful analytical research tool for performance evaluations by obtaining empirical estimates of relations between multiple inputs and multiple outputs. In order to further embody the hierarchical structures of numerous performance evaluation problems in the DEA framework, a generalized multiple layer DEA (MLDEA) model is proposed, and its linear transformation is realized. Moreover, the weights within each category of each layer of the hierarchy are deduced, and different types of possible linear weight restrictions are discussed.