Spatial networks

Abstract

In geography, the spatial dimension of networks has long been taken for granted. This is not the case of natural sciences, of which physics, distinguishing amongst spatial and non-spatial relationships. The core element at stake is thus distance, resulting in time and cost to travel the network and/or to create new links and nodes. Yet in many disciplines, spatial networks remain analyzed in a binary fashion, without taking into account the length of links and the local characteristics of nodes. This article reviews how the spatial dimension of networks is addressed in the geographic literature and in other sciences, concluding to a need for further research in this field.