IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/envirb/v48y2021i3p574-591.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A comparative analysis of underground and bus transit networks through graph theory

Author

Listed:
  • Lorenzo Mussone
  • Roberto Notari

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to study the topographical features of a transportation infrastructure through graph theory. First, we construct a planar, connected, and simple graph for each considered infrastructure; then, we compute some normalized indices associated to the graph, namely largest eigenvalue, gap, a Betti number, and codimension. The set of indices proposed in this paper is new for this application. These indices are computed from either the adjacency matrix or the edge ideal of the graph, and so they depend on the overall topology of the graph itself; furthermore, since the normalized indices are scale-free, they allow us a more effective comparison between different transportation infrastructures. Two scenarios are considered in order to understand advantages and limits of the proposed approach: the first scenario concerns a set of underground networks of certain large cities in the world, whereas the second one concerns a set of bus transit networks of several medium-sized cities in Italy. Indices calculated for both scenarios show two types of results. First, they show that the proposed indices are able to estimate the different topologies of the considered networks: networks with the same number of vertices and of edges but not with the same graph have different indices. Second, they show that the values of the indices in the two scenarios not only belong to the same curve separately but fit well also into the same curve: the transportation networks, no matter whether underground or bus transit, seem to be controlled by similar mechanisms.

Suggested Citation

  • Lorenzo Mussone & Roberto Notari, 2021. "A comparative analysis of underground and bus transit networks through graph theory," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 48(3), pages 574-591, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirb:v:48:y:2021:i:3:p:574-591
    DOI: 10.1177/2399808319879460
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2399808319879460
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/2399808319879460?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Derrible, Sybil & Kennedy, Christopher, 2010. "The complexity and robustness of metro networks," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 389(17), pages 3678-3691.
    2. William L. Garrison & Duane F. Marble, 1964. "Factor‐Analytic Study Of The Connkctivity Of A Transportation Network," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(1), pages 231-238, January.
    3. Wang, Xiangrong & Koç, Yakup & Derrible, Sybil & Ahmad, Sk Nasir & Pino, Willem J.A. & Kooij, Robert E., 2017. "Multi-criteria robustness analysis of metro networks," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 474(C), pages 19-31.
    4. Feng Xie & David Levinson, 2009. "Modeling the Growth of Transportation Networks: A Comprehensive Review," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 291-307, September.
    5. César Ducruet & Igor Lugo, 2013. "Structure and dynamics of transportation networks : Models, concepts, and applications," Post-Print hal-03247178, HAL.
    6. Feng Xie & David Levinson, 2009. "Jurisdictional Control and Network Growth," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 459-483, September.
    7. Sybil Derrible & Christopher Kennedy, 2010. "Characterizing metro networks: state, form, and structure," Transportation, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 275-297, March.
    8. M. T. Gastner & M. E.J. Newman, 2006. "The spatial structure of networks," The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Springer;EDP Sciences, vol. 49(2), pages 247-252, January.
    9. Efrat Blumenfeld-Lieberthal, 2009. "The Topology of Transportation Networks: A Comparison Between Different Economies," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 427-458, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cats, Oded, 2017. "Topological evolution of a metropolitan rail transport network: The case of Stockholm," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 172-183.
    2. David Levinson, 2009. "Introduction to the Special Issue on the Evolution of Transportation Network Infrastructure," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 289-290, September.
    3. Dupuy, Gabriel, 2013. "Network geometry and the urban railway system: the potential benefits to geographers of harnessing inputs from “naive” outsiders," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 85-94.
    4. Cats, Oded & Krishnakumari, Panchamy, 2020. "Metropolitan rail network robustness," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 549(C).
    5. Laure Rousset & César Ducruet, 2020. "Disruptions in Spatial Networks: a Comparative Study of Major Shocks Affecting Ports and Shipping Patterns," Post-Print halshs-02588551, HAL.
    6. Rui Ding & Norsidah Ujang & Hussain Bin Hamid & Mohd Shahrudin Abd Manan & Rong Li & Safwan Subhi Mousa Albadareen & Ashkan Nochian & Jianjun Wu, 2019. "Application of Complex Networks Theory in Urban Traffic Network Researches," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1281-1317, December.
    7. Xueguo Xu & Chen Xu & Wenxin Zhang, 2022. "Research on the Destruction Resistance of Giant Urban Rail Transit Network from the Perspective of Vulnerability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-26, June.
    8. Laure Rousset & César Ducruet, 2020. "Disruptions in Spatial Networks: a Comparative Study of Major Shocks Affecting Ports and Shipping Patterns," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 423-447, June.
    9. Sun, Daniel (Jian) & Guan, Shituo, 2016. "Measuring vulnerability of urban metro network from line operation perspective," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 348-359.
    10. Kermanshah, A. & Derrible, S., 2016. "A geographical and multi-criteria vulnerability assessment of transportation networks against extreme earthquakes," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 39-49.
    11. Zhang, Jianhua & Wang, Ziqi & Wang, Shuliang & Shao, Wenchao & Zhao, Xun & Liu, Weizhi, 2021. "Vulnerability assessments of weighted urban rail transit networks with integrated coupled map lattices," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    12. C. Jacobs-Crisioni & C. C. Koopmans, 2016. "Transport link scanner: simulating geographic transport network expansion through individual investments," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 265-301, July.
    13. Zhu, Weihua & Liu, Kai & Wang, Ming & Yan, Xiaoyong, 2018. "Enhancing robustness of metro networks using strategic defense," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 503(C), pages 1081-1091.
    14. David Levinson, 2012. "Network Structure and City Size," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11, January.
    15. Nuria Gallego & José L. Zofío, 2018. "Trade Openness, Transport Networks and the Spatial Location of Economic Activity," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 205-236, March.
    16. Daniela Leite & Caterina De Bacco, 2024. "Similarity and economy of scale in urban transportation networks and optimal transport-based infrastructures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    17. Zhang, X. & Miller-Hooks, E. & Denny, K., 2015. "Assessing the role of network topology in transportation network resilience," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 35-45.
    18. Hong, Liu & Ouyang, Min & Xu, Min & Hu, Peipei, 2020. "Time-varied accessibility and vulnerability analysis of integrated metro and high-speed rail systems," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    19. Levinson, David & Xie, Feng, 2011. "Does First Last? The Existence and Extent of First Mover Advantages on Spatial Networks," The Journal of Transport and Land Use, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, vol. 4(2), pages 47-69.
    20. Zhang, Yuerong & Marshall, Stephen & Manley, Ed, 2021. "Understanding the roles of rail stations: Insights from network approaches in the London metropolitan area," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:envirb:v:48:y:2021:i:3:p:574-591. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.