Highway Network Connectivity, Traffic Flow Pattern, and Economic Development of China's Hainan Island

Abstract

A four-stage economic development plan was formulated in 1987 to drive Hainan's economy to the level of ‘middle-level’ developed nations by 2007. This study is an analysis of Hainan's highway network, the chief mode of transportation of the Island's bus passengers and freight movement. A number of graph indices were used to measure connectivity of the highway network through eight time periods and to describe dispersion pattern of the bus passenger traffic. In order for the highway network to assist in Hainan's economic development drive, three suggestions were made in this study that included the elimination and upgrading of low-grade roads and redesigning of the traffic flow pattern.