Robustness analysis of road networks

Abstract

Damage events with difficulties to foresee are challenges to road networks especially under the background of a complex social environment. Robustness is critical in dealing with particularly high impact low chance events. In this paper the robustness of a road network is quantified to identify the weaknesses in the form of a road network. Theories of topology, structural vulnerability and road traffic are utilized in this paper. Transmittance of actual traffic flow is considered for the function evaluation of a network. This paper proves that the road networks has the weakness of single points or multi-point. If there is congestion, it may cause great functional loss to the local or the whole road network. Findings in this paper are strong supportive points of research for the propagation of more delicate-designed and form-improved road networks in urban areas. Adaption of the current work can be made when various practical cases are involved.