So far, many types of location models have been developed to find optimal spatial patterns according to different spatial metrics such as cost, coverage and availability.  The initial focus of these models is on the location availability of service providers and demand estimates, and some of these models are within the framework of multi-objective programming models.  After the advent of scienc...

This article combines two techniques: data envelopment analysis (DEA) and Factor analysis (FA) to data reduction in decision making units (DMU). Data envelopment analysis (DEA), a popular linear programming technique is useful to rate comparatively operational efficiency of decision making units (DMU) based on their deterministic (not necessarily stochastic) input–output data and factor analysi...

Article history: Received 4 December 2009 Received in revised form 1 June 2011 Accepted 2 July 2011 Available online 12 July 2011