Abstract
The introduction of complex network concepts in the study of transportation systems has supposed a paradigm shift and has allowed understanding different transport phenomena as the emergent result of the interactions between the elements composing them. In spite of several notable achievements, lurking pitfalls are undermining our understanding of the topological characteristics of transportation systems. In this study, we analyse four of the most common ones, specifically related to the assessment of the scale-freeness of networks, the interpretation and comparison of topological metrics, the definition of a node ranking, and the analysis of the resilience against random failures and targeted attacks. For each topic we present the problem from both a theoretical and operational perspective, for then reviewing how it has been tackled in the literature and finally proposing a set of solutions. We further use six real-world transportation networks as case studies and discuss the implications of these four pitfalls in their analysis. We present some future lines of work that are stemming from these pitfalls and that will allow a deeper understanding of transportation systems from a complex network perspective.
Highlights
In recent years, the topological structure of different transportation systems has become an important topic of research
In this work we have revisited some common problems that can be found in papers that apply complex network theory to the study of the topology of transportation systems, analysed their impact, in terms of how our understanding of the underlying system can be misleading, and presented a set of solutions
Four specific topics have been covered: (1) One of the most important topological properties of network is scale-freeness, i.e., the fact that the degree distribution of nodes follows a power law. Such theoretical model has been the foundation of many studies in complex network theory, and there has been a lot of interest in assessing whether real-world networks, including transportation ones, follow it
Summary
The topological structure of different transportation systems has become an important topic of research. The cancellation of a flight or the closure of an airport can Journal of Advanced Transportation be studied for their global consequences, i.e., the changes in the mobility patterns across the whole system, instead of including just a quantification of the number of directly affected passengers Fruitful, this convergence is hiding pitfalls and difficulties. Within the hundreds of contributions that have appeared in the last decade about the use of complex networks to understand transportation systems, a significant number of them presents one or more problems that make it difficult to interpret their results These problems are not limited to trivial research works: on the contrary, they can be found in recent publications and in highly respected journals.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
