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Accessibility and Impedance Forms: Empirical Applications to the German Commuting Network

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  • Aura Reggiani
  • Pietro Bucci
  • Giovanni Russo

Abstract

Accessibility plays a fundamental role in the transport network. In fact, accessibility may be used for investigating the (un)even distribution of economic activities, or the (dis)equilibrium in the development of different regional performances. In particular, accessibility analysis can be considered as a first exploratory step in the understanding of people's needs and behaviour, especially in the framework of transport network structures. From the methodological viewpoint, accessibility has a long tradition, starting in the 1950's with the pioneering work by Hansen, who defined accessibility as the potential of opportunity for interaction. Such a definition can also be considered as an integrated framework of all subsequent definitions. The aim of this paper is to explore accessibility in the German commuting network, by focusing attention on the relevance of the impedance form associated with it. The conventional (potential) accessibility function - in the light of the related economic activities - is used as a suitable instrument to identify the major German hub/attraction nodes. In this formulation, different types of decay functions are used as impedance forms. In our applications we consider home-to-work commuters travelling between 439 German districts, for both 2003 and 2007. We carry out a comparative analysis of the accessibility values in these years, by outlining the different emerging hierarchies, resulting from the use of different impedance forms. In addition, we explore which type of accessibility indicator best matches the connectivity network. The final aim is to identify - by means of different accessibility functions - homogeneous vs. heterogeneous characteristics of the German commuting network.

Suggested Citation

  • Aura Reggiani & Pietro Bucci & Giovanni Russo, 2011. "Accessibility and Impedance Forms: Empirical Applications to the German Commuting Network," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 34(2), pages 230-252, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:inrsre:v:34:y:2011:i:2:p:230-252
    DOI: 10.1177/0160017610387296
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    9. David Philip McArthur & Inge Thorsen & Jan Ubøe, 2014. "Transport networks and accessibility: complex spatial interactions," Chapters, in: Ana Condeço-Melhorado & Aura Reggiani & Javier Gutiérrez (ed.), Accessibility and Spatial Interaction, chapter 3, pages 38-61, Edward Elgar Publishing.
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    11. Vega, Amaya & Reynolds-Feighan, Aisling, 2016. "The impact of the great recession on Irish air travel: An intermodal accessibility analysis," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1-18.
    12. Aura Reggiani, 2012. "Accessibility, connectivity and resilience in complex networks," Chapters, in: Karst T. Geurs & Kevin J. Krizek & Aura Reggiani (ed.), Accessibility Analysis and Transport Planning, chapter 2, pages 15-36, Edward Elgar Publishing.
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    15. 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.
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    17. Salas-Olmedo, María Henar & García, Patricia & Gutiérrez, Javier, 2015. "Accessibility and transport infrastructure improvement assessment: The role of borders and multilateral resistance," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 110-129.
    18. Xu, Wangtu (Ato) & Li, Yongling & Wang, Hui, 2016. "Transit accessibility for commuters considering the demand elasticities of distance and transfer," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 138-156.
    19. Páez, Antonio & Scott, Darren M. & Morency, Catherine, 2012. "Measuring accessibility: positive and normative implementations of various accessibility indicators," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 141-153.
    20. John Östh & Aura Reggiani & Peter Nijkamp, 2018. "Resilience and accessibility of Swedish and Dutch municipalities," Transportation, Springer, vol. 45(4), pages 1051-1073, July.
    21. Karst T. Geurs & Kevin J. Krizek & Aura Reggiani, 2012. "Accessibility analysis and transport planning: an introduction," Chapters, in: Karst T. Geurs & Kevin J. Krizek & Aura Reggiani (ed.), Accessibility Analysis and Transport Planning, chapter 1, pages 1-12, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    22. Merlin, Louis A. & Hu, Lingqian, 2017. "Does competition matter in measures of job accessibility? Explaining employment in Los Angeles," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 77-88.
    23. Azam Azad Gholami & Inge Thorsen & Jan Ubøe, 2024. "An Agent-based Approach to Study Spatial Structure Effects on Estimated Distance Deterrence in Commuting," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 621-653, September.

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