Measuring Multi-Modal Connections and Connectivity Radiations of Transport Infrastructure: The Methodology and an Application to China

Abstract

This study develops a Connectivity Utility Model which can be used to calculate the connectivity of an airport, a train station, a city or a region in multi-modal transport networks involving the quantity and multiple dimensions of quality of transport services. This new connectivity measure considers both direct connections, and single- and multi-modal indirect connections, and corrects/adjusts the quality of a connection by applying capacity and velocity penalty factors. The model is useful in terms of evaluating the vulnerability and resilience of an existing transport system and conducting transport network planning and management. Numeric results have been produced for air–rail connectivity using the 2016 data, with a focus on cities in China. The three major economic zones in China – Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta – are found to lead the connectivity. The international airports of Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong, Hong Kong and Guangzhou Baiyun are far ahead of all other airports in terms of the overall connectivity, and especially international connectivity. The railway stations of Nanjing South, Hangzhou East, Suzhou and Shanghai Hongqiao are the four best-connected railway stations. The United States of America is the foreign country best connected with China.