A key question in evaluation of computer models is Does the computer model adequately represent reality? A six-step process for computer model validation is set out in Bayarri et al. [Technometrics 49 (2007) 138–154] (and briefly summarized below), based on comparison of computer model runs with field data of the process being modeled. The methodology is particularly suited to treating the major issues associated with the validation process: quantifying multiple sources of error and uncertainty in computer models; combining multiple sources of information; and being able to adapt to different, but related scenarios. Two complications that frequently arise in practice are the need to deal with highly irregular functional data and the need to acknowledge and incorporate uncertainty in the inputs. We develop methodology to deal with both complications. A key part of the approach utilizes a wavelet representation of the functional data, applies a hierarchical version of the scalar validation methodology to the wavelet coefficients, and transforms back, to ultimately compare computer model output with field output. The generality of the methodology is only limited by the capability of a combination of computational tools and the appropriateness of decompositions of the sort (wavelets) employed here. The methods and analyses we present are illustrated with a test bed dynamic stress analysis for a particular engineering system.

We aimed to evaluate the impact of sustainable tourism indicators on destination competitiveness with reference to the European Tourism Indicator System (ETIS), a scheme funded by the European Commission to address the evidence gap in tourism policy making. To do this, we evaluate the absorptive capacity of destination management organisations (DMOs) to implement and use sustainable tourism indicators to make policy decisions. We provide evidence of how DMOs have acquired knowledge about the importance of sustainable tourism indicators through ETIS, and how they have assimilated it by developing their own systems based on the principles of ETIS. However, we find that the European Commission had unrealistic expectations that DMOs, or their policies, would be transformed as a result of the use of indicators, or that indicators would be exploited to improve tourism sustainability and competitiveness. We contribute to the study of policy science by showing how absorptive capacity can be used to analyse and evaluate policy interventions, despite being a linear rational approach to explaining a complex policy context.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine Airbnb research using bibliometric methods. Using research performance analysis, this study highlights and provides an updated overview of Airbnb research by revealing patterns in journals, papers and most influential authors and countries. Furthermore, it graphically illustrates how research themes have evolved by mapping a co-word analysis and points out potential trends for future research. Design/methodology/approach: The methodological design for this study involves three phases: the document source selection, the definition of the variables to be analyzed and the bibliometric analysis. A statistical multivariate analysis of all the documents’ characteristics was performed with R software. Furthermore, natural language processing techniques were used to analyze all the abstracts and keywords specified in the 129 selected documents. Findings: Results show the genesis and evolution of publications on Airbnb research, scatter of journals and journals’ characteristics, author and productivity characteristics, geographical distribution of the research and content analysis using keywords. Research limitations/implications: Despite Airbnb having a history of 10 years, research publications only started in 2015. Therefore, the bibliometric study includes papers from 2015 to 2019. One of the main limitations is that papers were selected in October of 2019, before the year was over. However, the latest academic publications (in press and earlycite) were included in the analysis. Originality/value: This study analyzed bibliometric set of laws (Price’s, Lotka’s and Bradford’s) to better understand the patterns of the most relevant scientific production regarding Airbnb in tourism and hospitality journals. Using natural language processing techniques, this study analyzes all the abstracts and keywords specified in the selected documents. Results show the evolution of research topics in four periods: 2015-2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.