Analysing the Vulnerability of Public Transport Networks

Abstract

This paper analyses the robustness of specific public transport networks. Common attributes and which of them have more influence on the networks’ vulnerability are established. Initially, the structural properties of the networks in two graphical representations (L-Space and P-Space) are checked. Afterwards, the spread of problems (traffic jams, etc.) are simulated, employing a model based on a propagation and recovery mechanism, similar to those used in the epidemiological processes. Next, the size of the largest connected subset of stops of the network (giant component) is measured. What is shown is that the faults randomly happened at stops or links, also displaying that those that occurred in the highest weighted links spread slower than others. These others appear at stops with the largest level of betweenness, degree, or eigenvector centralities and PageRank. The modification of the giant component, when several stops and links are removed, proves that the removal of stops with the highest interactive betweenness, PageRank, and degree centralities has the most significant influence on the network’s integrity. Some equivalences in the degree, betweenness, PageRank, and eigenvector centrality parameters have been found. All networks show high modularity with values of index Q close to 1. The networks with the highest assortativity and lowest average number of stops are the ones which a passenger can use to travel directly to their destination, without any change. The Molloy–Reed parameter is higher than 2 in all networks, demonstrating that high integrity exists in them. All stops were characterized by low k-cores ≤3.