Extracting the multimodal fingerprint of urban transportation networks

TL;DR

This paper introduces the overlap census method to analyze and compare the multimodal transportation networks of cities, linking network profiles to sustainable mobility levels.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel overlap census method for extracting multimodal profiles from multiplex transportation networks of cities.

Findings

Identified clusters of cities with similar multimodal profiles

Linked transportation network features to sustainability levels

Applied method to 15 cities for comparative analysis

Abstract

Urban mobility increasingly relies on multimodality, combining the use of bicycle paths, streets, and rail networks. These different modes of transportation are well described by multiplex networks. Here we propose the overlap census method which extracts a multimodal profile from a city's multiplex transportation network. We apply this method to 15 cities, identify clusters of cities with similar profiles, and link this feature to the level of sustainable mobility of each cluster. Our work highlights the importance of evaluating all the transportation systems of a city together to adequately identify and compare its potential for sustainable, multimodal mobility.