Evaluation of Multi-Dimension Accessibility of Intercity Road Networks from the Perspective of Regional Coordinated Development

doi:10.12141/j.issn.1000-565X.240608

Abstract

Abstract:

The accessibility of intercity road network is a key indicator for measuring the efficiency of regional flows of economic and social resources. However, the existing researches mainly focus on macro-level connectivity, while local services and economic interactions between nodes receive less attention, thus providing insufficient support for regional coordinated development. To address this issue, this paper proposes a multi-dimension accessibi-lity evaluation framework for intercity road networks. First, a node classification method is developed to balance regional coordinated development goals with data availability, systematically defining the positions and functions of economic activity centers, transportation hubs and tourist attractions within the network. Secondly, expressways, national highways and provincial highways are integrated into a unified topological model, and a time impedance adjustment mechanism that accounts for both travel efficiency and cost differences is established, which is used to capture the dynamic balance characteristics of different road types in path selection. On this basis, three accessibility evaluation models are constructed respectively from the dimensions of connectivity, service and economy, and are used to quantify the overall network connectivity, residents’convenience in accessing hubs and attractions, and the strength of economic interactions between nodes, respectively. An empirical analysis of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao intercity road network at the end of 2021 shows that the Greater Bay Area significantly outperforms Eastern, Western, and Northern Guangdong in terms of multi-dimension accessibility. Based on the principles of evidence-based design, the selection of key nodes and the planning and construction of high-standard roads lead to significant improvements in connectivity, service, and economic accessibility, both across the entire region and within Eastern, Western, and Northern Guangdong. Specifically, 99.2% of nodes in Eastern, Western, and Northern Guangdong show improved connectivity accessibility, and 83.3% exhibit enhanced economic accessibility, thus fully validating the effectiveness of the proposed evaluation framework and the optimization scheme. This study provides a syste-matic tool and decision-making reference for regional road network optimization and resource allocation.

Key words: multi-dimension accessibility evaluation, regional coordinated development, global connectivity, local service, economic interaction, intercity road network

CLC Number:

U491.1

YE Yichen, WEN Huiying, ZHANG Lin. Evaluation of Multi-Dimension Accessibility of Intercity Road Networks from the Perspective of Regional Coordinated Development[J]. Journal of South China University of Technology(Natural Science Edition), 2025, 53(11): 101-111.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig.1

Fig.2

Fig.3

Fig.4

Fig.5

Fig.6

Fig.7

Fig.8

References 32

[1]	RAZA A， ZHONG M， AKUH R，et al ．Public transport equity with the concept of time-dependent accessibi-lity using Geostatistics methods，Lorenz curves，and Gini coefficients［J］．Case Studies on Transport Policy，2023，11：100956/1-13．
[2]	BORISOV A I， GNATYUK G A ．Assessment of transport accessibility of the Arctic regions of the Republic of Sakha （Yakutia）［J］．Transportation Research Procedia，2022，61：289-293．
[3]	GONÇALVES G M， MARASCHIN C， MAFFINI A L ．An adapted centrality index to assess spatial accessibility in street networks：application to two medium-sized ci-ties in Brazil［J］．Journal of Transport Geography，2025，126：104238/1-12．
[4]	CAVALLARO F， BRUZZONE F， NOCERA S ．Accessibility to cultural economy opportunities by high-speed rail［J］．Travel Behaviour and Society，2025，40：101037/1-16．
[5]	YU L， CUI M ．How subway network affects transit accessibility and equity： a case study of Xi’an metropolitan area［J］．Journal of Transport Geography，2023，108：103556．
[6]	DU Q， ZONG X， LI Y，et al ．Resilience optimization of bus-metro double-layer network against extreme weather events［J］．Transportation Research Part D：Transport and Environment，2024，135：104378/1-20．
[7]	TAN Z， SHAO S， ZHANG X，et al ．Sustainable urban mobility：flexible bus service network design in the post-pandemic era［J］．Sustainable Cities and Society，2023，97：104702/1-13．
[8]	LIU H， RAHMAN M， KARNER A ．Bus network redesigns and public transit equity analysis：evaluating system-wide changes in Richmond，Virginia［J］．Travel Beha-viour and Society，2023，31：151-165．
[9]	ZHANG H， ZHAN B， OUYANG M ．Enhancing accessibility through rail transit in congested urban areas：a cross-regional analysis［J］．Journal of Transport Geo-graphy，2024，115：103791/1-13．
[10]	TSUMITA N， KIKUCHI H， VICHIENSAN V，et al ．Urban railway network expansion on transit oriented development：improvement in accessibility in four Asian developing cities［J］．Asian Transport Studies，2023，9：100097/1-12．
[11]	YANG L，EOM S， SUZUKI T ．Measuring railway network performance considering accessibility levels in ci-ties worldwide［J］．Journal of Transport Geography，2021，96：103211/1-11．
[12]	JIANG S， CAI C， XIAO L ．Intercity accessibility and equity： empirical study of high speed rail and air travel network in China［J］．Case Studies on Transport Policy，2023，13：100995/1-11．
[13]	BANSAL S，SEN J ．Network assessment of Tier- Ⅱ Indian cities’airports in terms of type，accessibility，and connectivity［J］．Transport Policy，2022，124：221-232．
[14]	ALESCHENKO V V， ALESCHENKO O A， PETROV Y V，et al ．Transport accessibility of rural territories of the Siberian Federal District［J］．Transportation Research Procedia，2023，68：389-394．
[15]	MARTÍN B， ORTEGA E， CUEVAS-WIZNER R，et al ．Assessing road network resilience：an accessibility comparative analysis［J］．Transportation Research Part D：Transport and Environment，2021，95：102851/1-15．
[16]	ZHU Y， HU Y， COLLINS J M ．Estimating road network accessibility during a hurricane evacuation：a case study of hurricane Irma in Florida［J］．Transportation Research Part D：Transport and Environment，2020，83：102334/1-13．
[17]	KITA H， YOTSUTSUJI H， ASAKA R，et al ．Estimation method for interurban accessibility：a highway performance measure indicating smooth and safe traffic flow［J］．Transportation Research Procedia，2016，15：709-720．
[18]	WEN H， YE Y， ZHANG L ．Optimizing road networks in underdeveloped regions for improving comprehensive efficiency integrated by accessibility，vulne-rability and socioeconomic interaction［J］．Reliability Engineering & System Safety，2024，243：109848/1-20．
[19]	MITROPOULOS L， KAROLEMEAS C， TSIGDINOS S ．Road network accessibility assessment during flood events by using infrastructure facility-based indices［J］．International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction，2025，122：105475/1-20．
[20]	WANG F， LIU Z， XUE P，et al ．High-speed railway development and its impact on urban economy and population：a case study of nine provinces along the Yellow River，China［J］．Sustainable Cities and Society，2022，87：104172/1-18．
[21]	CUI Y， XU S， JIANG Y，et al ．Transportation infrastructure development and subjective socio-economic status：a quasi-experiment in establishing rural bus stations in China［J］．Research in Transportation Business & Management，2023，49：101006/1-9．
[22]	ZHUANG S， XIA N， GAO X，et al ．Coupling coordination analysis between railway transport accessibility and tourism economic connection during 2010—2019： a case study of the Yangtze River Delta［J］．Research in Transportation Business & Management，2024，55：101134/1-15．
[23]	FENG X ．Coupling and coordinated development of traffic accessibility and regional tourism economy［J］．Research in Transportation Business & Management，2023，49：101010/1-17．
[24]	MAO X， CHEN X ．Does airport construction narrow regional economic disparities in China？［J］．Journal of Air Transport Management，2023，108：102362/1-14．
[25]	BUTTON K ．Transport economics［M］．4th ed．Cheltenham：Edward Elgar Publishing Limited，2022．
[26]	MEYER M D， MILLER E J ．Urban transportation planning：a decision-oriented approach［M］．New York：McGraw-Hill Book Company，1984．
[27]	PORTA S， CRUCITTI P， LATORA V ．The network analysis of urban streets：a primal approach［J］．Environment and Planning B，Planning and Design，2006，33（5）：705-725．
[28]	YE Y， WEN H， ZHANG L ．Vulnerability assessment of multi-level road networks considering the impact of traffic demand［C］∥Proceedings of CICTP 2024．Shenzhen：ASCE，2024：2777-2786．
[29]	CASCETTA E， CARTENÌ A， HENKE I，et al ．Economic growth，transport accessibility and regional equi-ty impacts of high-speed railways in Italy：ten years ex post evaluation and future perspectives［J］．Transportation Research Part A：Policy and Practice，2020，139：412-428．
[30]	MEI Z， XU S， OUYANG J ．Spatial pattern and evolution of road network accessibility in the Pearl River Delta［J］．Tropical Geography，2014，34（1）：27-33，103．
[31]	GHERGULESCU I， MUNTEAN C ．Assessment in game-based learning：foundations，innovations，and perspectives［M］．New York：Springer New York，2012：355-378．
[32]	BONES E J， BARRELLA E M， AMEKUDZI A A ．Implementation of evidence-based design approaches in transportation decision making［J］．Transportation Research Part A：Policy and Practice，2013，49：317-328．