Uncovering Links Between Urban Studies and Network Science

As the volume of digital data is growing exponentially and computational methods are advancing rapidly, network analysis is an increasingly important analytical tool to understand social life. This paper revisits the rich history of network analysis in geography and uses insights from that history to review contemporary computational social science. Based on that analysis, we synthesize the distinctive qualities of what we term geographical network analysis. Geographical network analysis presumes that networks are situated, construed through meaning, and reflect power relations. Instead of pursuing parsimonious explanations or universal theories, geographical network analysis strives to understand how uneven networks develop across space and within place through a constant back and forth between abstraction and contextualization. Drawing on the articles in this special issue, this paper illustrates how geographical network analysis can be put to work.

show abstract

“…After a lull in network studies, there are omens of a revival (see also Derudder & Neal 2018 ; Radil & Walther 2018 ; Neal et al . 2021 ).…”

Section: Epistemological Precepts Of Geographical Network Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographical Network Analysis

Uitermark

Meeteren

2021

Tijd voor Econ & Soc Geog

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…rough the exchange of materials, information, finance, and population flow among cities, the interaction and complementary advantages among cities and regions are strengthened, forming complex networks of different scales and levels [30]. is kind of network takes the city as the center and the element of circulation as the medium.…”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Network Structure of Intercity Trips by Chinese Residents under Different Travel Modes: A Case Study of the Spring Festival Travel Rush

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

With the advent of big data, the use of network data to characterize travel has gradually become a trend. Tencent Migration big data can fully, dynamically, immediately, and visually record the trajectories of population migrations with location-based service technology. Here, the daily population flow data of 346 cities during the Spring Festival travel rush in China were combined with different travel modes to measure the spatial structure and spatial patterns of an intercity trip network of Chinese residents. These data were then used for a comprehensive depiction of the complex relationships between the population flows of cities. The results showed that there were obvious differences in the characteristics of urban networks from the perspective of different modes of travel. The intercity flow of aviation trips showed a core-periphery structure with national hub cities as the core distribution. Trips by train showed a core-periphery structure with cities along the national railway artery as the core. This gradually decreased toward hinterland cities. Moreover, the intercity flow of highway trips indicated a spatial pattern of strong local aggregation that matched the population scale.

show abstract

“…Spatial road networks provide the basis to study cities because of their inherent spatial and social character (Derudder & Neal, 2018; Luo et al, 2019; Ye & Liu, 2019). Studies by Bapierre et al (2015) and Cho et al (2011) have shown that human interaction from social networks induce travel movement, and that social network ties impact long‐distance travel considerably compared with short‐distance travel.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterising the structural pattern of urban road networks in Ghana using geometric and topological measures

Dumedah

Garsonu

2021

Geography and Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study characterized road networks using geometric and topological indicators for urban roads in Ghana which are characterized by informal and poor layout. Given the lack of adequate infrastructure for traffic monitoring in Ghana, the spatial distribution of betweeness centrality could be part of the critical resource to provide insight for traffic management. These findings provide the basis to inform transportation planning and management on critical issues, particularly, based on the spatial distribution of betweeness centrality it is possible to identify problematic locations within the road network which are most vulnerable to traffic congestion.

show abstract

Uncovering Links Between Urban Studies and Network Science

Cited by 22 publications

References 22 publications

Geographical Network Analysis

Geographical Network Analysis

Network Structure of Intercity Trips by Chinese Residents under Different Travel Modes: A Case Study of the Spring Festival Travel Rush

Characterising the structural pattern of urban road networks in Ghana using geometric and topological measures

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About