Multimodal transportation network centrality analysis for Belt and Road Initiative

• Published in: Transportation research. Part E, Logistics and transportation review Vol. 149; p. 102292
• Main Authors: Zhou, Yaoming, Kundu, Tanmoy, Goh, Mark, Sheu, Jiuh-Biing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2021
• Subjects: Air transport network; Belt and Road Initiative; Gravity model; Multimodal transportation; Network centrality; Gravity model; Air transport network; Multimodal transportation; Belt and Road Initiative; Network centrality
• ISSN: 1366-5545; 1878-5794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tre.2021.102292

•This study determines the prospective multimodal transportation hubs in the BRI network.•A multi-methodological approach based on network centrality measures and gravity model is proposed.•This study integrates air, rail, and maritime mode of transportation in the BRI network.•The importance of air transportation network in the BRI network is demonstrated.•Analytical result suggests primary cities in the BRI network for enhancing international trading outreach. As the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) takes root, the Air Transportation Network (ATN) is gaining prominence, as evidenced by the Air Silk Road Initiative proposed in 2017. However, the ATN of the BRI countries and its integration with maritime and rail transport have not been studied. This paper analyzes the network structure of the ATN of the BRI countries. A multi-layer weighted betweenness metric is used to rank the centrality of the hubs in the network based on the connectivity, distance, and traffic between the airports. Using the centrality ranking of the airports to reflect the distribution of traffic demand in the BRI countries, a gravity model is then applied to quantify the centrality of the maritime and rail hubs. Mapping these hubs to their home cities, this paper assesses the current state of the multimodal transport hubs and recommends new hubs to increase the international trading reach of the BRI.