An improved model considering traditional network properties to assess spatial vulnerability of a network system

ABSTRACT

We have recently reported a new spatial vulnerability model, which proposed two important curves (i.e., impact curve and neutral curve) and two quantified indices (i.e., absolute spatial vulnerability index and relative spatial vulnerability index) to assess the global impact of spatially local hazards on network systems (Li et al. 2015). This paper aims to further investigate and improve the practicability of the new spatial vulnerability model. As some traditional network properties, such as the shortest path, betweenness and connectivity, are often used to assess the vulnerability of network systems, this paper develops a methodology of applying traditional network properties to analyze the spatial vulnerability of network systems. To this end, we firstly describe the new spatial vulnerability model, then analyze its relationship with traditional network properties, and at last conduct a case study on the Beijing subway network to verify this relationship. The results show that, when the global impact of spatially local hazards on network systems is concerned in vulnerability assessment, the combination of some traditional network properties and the new spatial vulnerability model can deliver an effective approach.

KEYWORDS:

• spatial vulnerability
• network properties
• subway network

Funding

This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61472041), the laboratory fund from the State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, China (Grant No. 2015-ZY-05), the Foundation for Innovative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No. 41321001), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(Grant No. 256-105570GK).