The modeling of attraction characteristics regarding passenger flow in urban rail transit network based on field theory

PLoS One. 2017 Sep 1;12(9):e0184131. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184131. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Aimed at the complicated problems of attraction characteristics regarding passenger flow in urban rail transit network, the concept of the gravity field of passenger flow is proposed in this paper. We establish the computation methods of field strength and potential energy to reveal the potential attraction relationship among stations from the perspective of the collection and distribution of passenger flow and the topology of network. As for the computation methods of field strength, an optimum path concept is proposed to define betweenness centrality parameter. Regarding the computation of potential energy, Compound Simpson's Rule Formula is applied to get a solution to the function. Taking No. 10 Beijing Subway as a practical example, an analysis of simulation and verification is conducted, and the results shows in the following ways. Firstly, the bigger field strength value between two stations is, the stronger passenger flow attraction is, and the greater probability of the formation of the largest passenger flow of section is. Secondly, there is the greatest passenger flow volume and circulation capacity between two zones of high potential energy.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Beijing
  • Choice Behavior
  • Computer Simulation
  • Humans
  • Models, Statistical
  • Movement*
  • Railroads*
  • Software
  • Transportation*

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Key Research and Development Project of Safety Assurance Technology of Urban Rail System under China National 13th Five-Year Plan; Award Number 2016YFB1200402; Grant Recipient: Yanhui Wang.