Optimal Topology of Multilayer Urban Traffic Networks

Rui Ding,Lu Jiao,Tongfei Li,Jian Yin,Peng Dai,Rong Li,Jianjun Wu

doi:10.1155/2019/4230981

Abstract

Previous urban traffic network-based studies have been based mostly on single-layer networks. Based on their shortcomings, starting from the perspective of a multilayer urban traffic network, this paper takes the different anticongestion abilities and network characteristics of various network structures under the condition of traffic congestion as the research object. Then, a comparative experiment is performed via simulation, and the optimal multilayer urban traffic network topology is obtained under different conditions. It is found that these scale-free related multilayer networks have relatively strong ability to support more traffic flows and have higher anticongestion abilities, regardless of whether it is a lower-layer or upper-layer network. The research results are helpful to deepen our understanding of the characteristics of traffic network structures, help scholars further cognize the structural properties of multilayer urban traffic networks, practically help urban traffic network planners to further optimize the urban traffic network, and broaden the study of multilayer traffic networks.

Highlights

With the critical role of urban tra c networks in the urban economy, the characteristics and properties of urban tra c network topology have recently gained increasing attention [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12]
Two methods are generally used to represent the network topology: single-layer and multilayer network representation methods. e single-layer network representation method is used to represent street networks or rail networks, while the multilayer representation method is used to represent the coupling of multilayer urban traffic networks. e related network topology structures are introduced
Some studies on the optimal structure of multilayer networks have been conducted recently, most are based on very few types of networks, and the carrying capacity and anticongestion abilities of traffic networks are not considered [16, 31, 32]

Summary

Introduction

With the critical role of urban tra c networks in the urban economy, the characteristics and properties of urban tra c network topology have recently gained increasing attention [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12]. Later, considering the mechanisms of dynamical network evolution and rewiring links, Sun et al [23] generated community-correlated scale-free transportation networks that can support higher tra c ow. These studies are mainly based on planar networks. Based on the shortcomings of the above research, starting from the perspective of a multilayer urban traffic network, this paper takes different anticongestion abilities and network characteristics of various network structures under the condition of traffic congestion as the research object and conducts a comparative simulation experiment to determine the optimal multilayer urban traffic network topology under different conditions. Perspectives and conclusions are given at the end of this paper

Methodology

Optimal Topology of Multilayer Urban Traffic Networks

Discussions and Conclusions