Node importance corresponds to passenger demand in public transport networks

Šfiligoj, Tina (avtor), Peperko, Aljoša (avtor), Bajec, Patricija (avtor), Cats, Oded (avtor)

We investigate the correspondence between network-based public transport network (PTN) supply indicators and passenger demand at the node level, by systematically assessing correlations between node centrality measures and passenger boarding counts across different graph representations of PTNs. At the stop-level, undirected L- and P-space representations with three different edge weightings: unweighted, service-frequency-weighted, and in-vehicle-time-weighted are analysed. In each case, we calculate degree, closeness, betweenness and eigenvector centralities and examine the relation shapes. At the route level, we examine degree and eigenvector centrality for unweighted and weighted C-space representations. We introduce a modified C-space representation with self-loops, with service frequencies as self-loop weights, and propose eigenvector centrality as a route-level supply indicator. Stop- and route-level properties are integrated using the B-space representation. This methodology was applied to a case study for a bus PTN in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Results show strong correspondence between passenger demand and degree and eigenvector centrality scores in the frequency-weighted P-space (correlation ≈ 0.7 − 0.8). Notably, the relationship between eigenvector centrality and passenger counts in the new C-space representation with self-loops exhibits logarithmic behaviour. Furthermore, the results suggest a minimum eigenvector centrality threshold (≈ 10$^{−3}$) for a route to start facilitating passenger use. The route-level results from the B-space analysis show exponential convergence of passenger counts to route eigenvector centrality. Results of the stop-level analysis are in line with previous research and deepen the understanding of centrality measures as supply indicators. Most significantly, the route-level analysis is novel, and the results open promising venues for further research.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: public transport, graph theory, network science, General Transit Feed Specification, GTFS, smart card data, node centrality
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FPP - Fakulteta za pomorstvo in promet ; FS - Fakulteta za strojništvo
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2025
• Št. strani: 18 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 659, art. 130354
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-166865
• UDK: 519.17:004
• ISSN pri članku: 0378-4371
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2025.130354
• COBISS.SI-ID: 221377539
• Datum objave v RUL: 28.01.2025

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Physica. A, Statistical mechanics and its applications
• Skrajšan naslov: Physica, A
• Založnik: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0378-4371
• COBISS.SI-ID: 3270415

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: javni prevoz, teorija grafov, znanost o omrežjih, splošne specifikacije tranzitnega vira, GTFS, podatki pametne kartice

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P2-0394
• Naslov: Modeliranje in simulacije v prometu in pomorstvu

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P1-0222
• Naslov: Algebra, teorija operatorjev in finančna matematika