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Multiscale Complex Network Analysis of Commuting Efficiency: Urban Connectivity, Hierarchy, and Labor Market

Three maps of Florida are shown. The top left shows a network visualization of the actual commuting network across Florida. The top right shows the computed optimal commuting network across Florida. In these two plots, the number of commuters is demonstrated through thin green lines for a minimum of four commuters to bold yellow lines for up to thousands of commuters. The bottom left calculates the difference in flows between the actual and optimal commuting networks. This plot shows an increasing difference through an increasing thickness of the line. But blue colors show areas where commuting flow is decreased in the optimal commuting network compared to the actual commuting network. Pink lines show where commuting flow is increased under the optimal commuting network. Finally, the bottom right shows subplots of these three for the Miami, Orlando, and Tampa metro areas.

HU – Multiscale Complex Network Analysis of Commuting Efficiency: Urban Connectivity, Hierarchy, and Labor Market

Yup Jing and Yujie Hu

Article first published online: 22 January 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/24694452.2023.2284296

ABSTRACT: This study employs the 2012 to 2016 commuting flows of Florida to reexamine excess commuting (EC) through multiscale complex network analysis. The results reveal significant discrepancies in urban connectivity, hierarchy, and labor market geography between the actual (ACN) and optimal commuting networks (OCN). Compared to ACN, OCN illustrates an overly simplified and isolated polycentric commuting system. This is evident through reduced overall network connectivity, a restructured centrality distribution pattern, and fragmented community divisions. Consequently, these results underscore the importance of delving into the economic implications of commuting within the conventional EC framework.

Read the full publication in Annals of the American Association of Geographers.