Tags:Connectivity, Graph-Theoretic measures, Karl Pearson’s Coefficient and Kernel Road Density
Abstract:
Road networks with in metropolitan cities are witnessing humongous traffic congestion, and this hampers the public transit connections with in the cities. Consequently, the expansion of cities routes around peripheries, and connections with the suburbs industrial area for logistics has become cumbersome for the end users. For effective implementation of mobility plans in Indian cities, there is a necessity to investigate the network connectivity of Indian cities as a precursor to the initiation of these plans. In this study, we have assessed the existing road network structure of two rapidly developing, manufacturing and industry-based metropolitan cities of India namely Nagpur (Maharashtra) and Indore (Madhya Pradesh). The research paper involves examination of built structures, Kernel road density (road centreline density) and gross density (total area under the roads) through spatial assessment. The approach for network assessment inculcates Graph-Theoretic measures, by creating undirected road transport network graphs (only links and edges). The study is done on micro (intra-city) and macro (inter-city) level for parameters like alpha, beta and gamma measuring connectivity. The evaluation of alpha, beta, gamma and kernel density indicators in Nagpur and Indore ponders on emerging need to re-evaluate the public transit connections of the cities.
Estimating Network Connectivity of Metropolitan Cities in India: Case of Nagpur and Indore