Exploring the interplay between population profile and optimal routes in U.S. cities

TL;DR

This study investigates how population distribution influences optimal car routes in U.S. cities, revealing that route patterns follow Weibull distributions and are centered around urban cores, impacting city structure.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis linking population centers to route optimization, supported by empirical data and a simple population model, enhancing understanding of urban planning principles.

Findings

Route distributions follow Weibull functions.

Total route length adheres to an urban law.

Urban center influences route optimization.

Abstract

Cities have developed over time alongside advancements in civilization, focusing on efficient travel and reducing costs. Many studies have examined the distinctive features of urban road networks, such as their length, efficiency, connection to population density, and other properties. However, the relationship between car routes and population in city structures remains unclear. In this study, we used the center of mass for each city tract, defined by the US Census, as the origins and destinations for our itineraries. We calculated travel time, and both Euclidean and travel distances for sixty major cities. We discovered that the total sum of all routes adheres to an urban law. The distribution of these car journeys follows Weibull functions, suggesting that the urban center plays a crucial role in optimizing routes across multiple cities. We also developed a simple point pattern model for the population, which aligns with the well-known decreasing exponential density expression. Our findings show that the interplay between population and path optimization influences city structure through its center. This study offers a new perspective on the fundamental principles that shape urban design.