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This study aims to explore the spatial distribution characteristics and spactial reciprocity between industrial parks (IPs) and vocational education parks (VEPs): agglomeration density, functional matching, spatial organization efficiency, as well as space intensive utility. To achieve this objective, IPs and VEPs in urban centers of Jiangsu Province are selected as the objects of the study. First, spatial analysis of thermodynamic diagrams is employed in this study to qualitatively analyze the evolutionary characteristics of the spatial distribution of IPs and VEPs to explore the spatial aggregation characteristics of their clustering, integration, and comprehensive crossover. Second, a horizontal comparison of the data and indexes concerned reveals that areas with high agglomeration and functional matching exhibit a sound spatial reciprocity. Third, this study crystallizes the four structural prototpye paradigms formed during the reciprocity evolution between IPs and VEPs; it compares spatial organization efficiency, with the agglomeration–core structure ranking first, followed by the circle–core structure. Finally, SPSS is used to analyze the space intensive utility in order to verify the conclusions of qualitative analysis. The findings can comprehensively explain the regularities of the spatial distribution and reciprocity between IPs and VEPs. The findngs can also elucidate the design of regional industrial development and educational programs.

Provides a focus on the significance of the spatial dimension in economics and the principal questions and issues which accompany considerations of the spatial dimension. Indicates that regional/spatial disparities in economic growth and performance, in income per capita, in the access of citizens to government and private services, in standards of living, and indeed in most economic and social indicators, would be expected as a natural result of human activity. Poses questions regarding the acceptability of the market outcome in terms of the spatial distribution of economic activity and population, the criteria for intervention in this outcome, and raises a number of issues in the trade‐off between spatial efficiency and equity considerations. Provides a brief discussion of regional/spatial policy implications.

This paper aims to investigate the potential role of the Emergency Department (ED) layout in enhancing its functionality. It applies a performance-based building design (PBBD) approach to evaluate emergency department functionality and efficiency as the most important criterion behind the success of the hospital service.

A quantitative approach based on space syntax theory was adopted through four syntactic maps (isovist, axial, convex, and visibility graph analysis VGA), to depict three case studies in Erbil city hospitals by analyzing three different layout typologies of ED such as Podular, Ballroom and Linear through measuring wayfinding, accessibility, privacy, visibility, time spend-length of stay and corridor circulation as layout factors.

This paper provides empirical insights on how the ED layout typology factors significantly affect producing functionally efficient EDs, whereas the Ballroom ED layout typology is the most effective compared to others. Given the importance of ED in enhancing a healthy environment for patients and staff, study findings are valuable resource for health designers, who play a critical role in ensuring patients enjoy a healthy and safe environment.

This paper has attempted to identify the appropriate layout of ED for effective functional performance in hospitals. A syntactical analysis between three different ED layout typologies based on the layout variables has been analysed using the PBBD approach. There has been no attempt carried out so far to analyse the functional performance of the PBBD approach in different ED layouts using layout variables.

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the relationship between intensity of competition and technical efficiency of large European container ports, accounting for regional diversities and spatial aspects of inter-port competition.

The analysis consists of applying a stochastic production frontier approach to a dataset of 77 large European container ports over the period 2002-2012, with inefficiency terms simultaneously modeled as a function of (among other factors) a constructed index of competitive intensity at different spatial levels.

The results indicate that there is no significant negative effect of competitive intensity on efficiency. In fact, for competing European ports within a proximity of 300 km, a higher level of competition is found to be associated with a higher level of technical efficiency.

The originality of the paper stems from its particular focus on European port regions and its novel findings in this context, which have implications for the discussions regarding pro-competitive port policy and regulation in the European Union.

This paper aims to introduce a new indicative parameter of filling efficiency to quantify the performance and productivity of the flip-chip underfill encapsulation process. Additionally, the variation effect of the bump pitch of flip-chip on the filling efficiency was demonstrated to provide insight for flip-chip design optimization.

The filling efficiency was formulated analytically based on the conceptual spatial and temporal perspectives. Subsequently, the effect of bump pitch on filling efficiency was studied based on the past actual-scaled and current scaled-up underfill experiments. The latter scaled-up experiment was validated with both the finite volume method-based numerical simulation and analytical filling time model. Moreover, the scaling validity of scaled-up experiment was justified based on the similarity analysis of dimensionless number.

Through the scaling analysis, the current scaled-up experimental system is justified to be valid since the adopted scaling factor 40 is less than the theoretical scaling limit of 270. Furthermore, the current experiment was qualitatively well validated with the numerical simulation and analytical filling time model. It is found that the filling efficiency increases with the bump pitch, such that doubling the bump pitch would triple the efficiency.

The new performance indicative index of filling efficiency enables the package designers to justify the variation effect of underfill parameter on the overall underfill process. Moreover, the upper limit of scaling factor for scaled-up package was derived to serve as the guideline for future scaled-up underfill experiments.

The performance of underfill process as highlighted in this paper was never being quantified before in the past literatures. Similarly, the scaling limit that is associated to the scaled-up underfill experiment was never being reported elsewhere too.

Beginning in the early 1970s Trinidad and Tobago adopted a policy of putting all of its junior secondary schools “on shift”. The method allows for two schools conducted in the same facility at different times of the day, and has the advantage of accessing a large number of students to secondary school. The method, however, has generated a number of problems and, as a result, has been earmarked for alteration. Current plans in Trinidad and Tobago include dismantling the shift system through construction of new, single shift, schools in new locations. It is argued that proposals to build new facilities in new locations as a means of resolving problems associated with the shift system may be more effectively accomplished through application of the method of location‐allocation modelling.

The discussion on energy efficiency has been increasing due to the increasing population, emissions of degradable and harmful pollutants, and clean energy substitutes are being developed in order to manage and control the energy requirements all over the world. Against this backdrop, the factors of technological innovation and environmental regulations have been determined as key indicators for the evaluation of sustainable developments and practices in the energy efficiency evaluation studies.

A two-stage analysis process has been configured for evaluation of the energy efficiency. The first stage includes the estimation of the Total factor energy efficiency scores using the data envelopment Multiplier input-oriented methodology, while the second stage includes the exploration of the impact of technological innovation and government environmental regulations on the Total factor energy efficiency scores obtained in the first step through the application of a spatial regression model.

This paper highlights the link between the need for and impact of energy efficiency innovations and shows that the energy efficiency goal can be fulfilled by incorporating laws on sustainability and incorporating strict regulations that allow for the use of clean energy, low carbon energy technologies.

The present study, furthermore, provides evidence from 15 countries, five from three different continents, i.e. Asia, Europe and Africa so that a cross-country performance of these factors can be evaluated. The main contribution of the present study is the evaluation of the technological innovation on energy efficiency. There have been studies evaluating various factors on the development of energy-efficient practices; however, the focus on the role of technological innovation and governmental regulations has been scarce.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the innovation ability of universities (IAU) on the efficiency of University–Industry knowledge flow and investigate whether the level of provincial innovative agglomeration (PIA) moderates the relationship between IAU and the efficiency of the University–Industry knowledge flow.

This study uses the super-efficiency data envelopment analysis model to measure knowledge research efficiency (KRE) and knowledge transformation efficiency (KTE) and then studies the influencing mechanism of the two kinds of efficiency using the spatial Tobit model with panel data from 2008 to 2017.

The results show that the overall KRE in Chinese universities is higher than the KTE. IAU has a significantly positive impact on KRE and KTE. PIA has a significantly inverted U-shaped influence on KRE and KTE and positively moderates the promoting effect of IAU on KRE and KTE.

Due to the limitations of the data, this paper only selects several secondary indicators to measure KRE and KTE with reference to previous studies.

This study enriches the future research of University–Industry cooperation and knowledge flow and it is conducive to promoting the efficiency of University–Industry knowledge research and transformation from the perspective of universities, enterprises and local governments.

This study proposes the concept of University–Industry knowledge flow and divides the knowledge flow into the knowledge research stage and the knowledge transformation stage based on the knowledge supply chain theory. Moreover, the paper expands the theoretical framework of the impact of IAU on the efficiency of University–Industry knowledge flow and provides findings on the moderating effect of PIA.

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow impacts on regional innovation efficiency in China and whether the impacts of FDI are contingent on regional conditions that may maximize the effect of FDI on regional innovation efficiency.

Using panel data of 30 provinces from 2000 to 2010, the authors first used data envelopment analysis to measure regional innovation efficiency, followed by a spatial panel model to test research hypotheses concerning the effect of FDI on regional innovation efficiency and the direct and moderating effects of regional characteristics such as regional innovation environment, regional absorptive capacity and regional complementary assets.

The paper finds that there are considerable inter-regional and intra-regional variations in innovation efficiency in China and that regional variations in innovation efficiency in China can first be explained by the differences in inflow FDI and then be accounted for by the direct and moderating effect of regional innovation environment, absorptive capacity and complementary assets.

The research findings have three policy implications. First, governments should continue their efforts to increase the transparency and predictability of the framework for inward FDI and align FDI with the region’s strategic priorities of development to improve innovation efficiency. Second, governments should develop holistic and coherent policies that address the key aspects of regional conditions conducive to the inflow of FDI. Third, governments at the regional level should cultivate an open innovation environment and support the development of financial markets to maximize the positive effect of FDI technology spillover and externalities.

This paper fills a gap in research on the spatial heterogeneity characteristics of spillover effects of FDI on regional innovation efficiency.

The purpose of this paper is to explore how a retail distribution network can be rationalised from a spatial perspective to improve service responsiveness and delivery efficiency.

This paper applies spatial analytics to examine variability of demand, both spatially and from a service delivery perspective, for an auto-parts retail network. Spatial analytics are applied to map the location of stores and customers to represent demand and service delivery patterns and to delineate market areas.

Results show significant spatial clustering in customer demand; whilst the delivery of products to customers, in contrast, is spatially dispersed. There is a substantial gap between revenue generated and costs. Market area analysis shows significant overlap, whereby stores compete with each other for business. In total, 80 per cent of customers can be reached within a 15-minute-radius, whilst only 20 per cent lies outside the market areas. Segmentation analysis of customers, based on service delivery, also shows the prevalence of the Pareto principle or 80:20 rule whereby 80 per cent of the revenue is generated by 20 per cent of customers.

Spatially integrated strategies are suggested to improve the efficiency of the retail network. It is recommended that less accessible and unprofitable customers could be either charged extra delivery cost or outsourced without the risk of a substantial reduction in revenue or quality of service delivery.

Innovative application of spatial analytics is used to analyse and visualise unit-record sales data to generate practical solutions to improve retail network responsiveness and operational efficiency.