Designing and Analyzing the Hazardous Material Transportation Network of Urban Cities

Abstract

To research and study the topology of a hazardous material transportation (HMT) network, we analyze the properties of path choice models and their problems and build an appropriate normative and standard frame. We present a case study on the HMT network of Chengdu City. In accordance with the created pattern, we use ArcGIS and MATLAB software to initially design and construct the topology network of HMT and calculate the necessary and related topology data. A same–size random network is then generated for comparison with the HMT network of Chengdu City. Comparison results show that the topology of the HMT network has stochastic properties. First, the frequency of node degrees follows a Poisson distribution. Second, through linear, Gaussian, and power law fitting, the cumulative probability of node degrees follows a Poisson distribution if the R2 is a decision–making condition. Finally, the degree distribution of nodes is concentrated on node degrees 2–4, and the average node degree is 2.9682. According to these results, the related government department and the transport company can determine a scientific and effective method of designing an HMT network in urban cities.