Title: Statistical mechanics for analytic planning: an application to domestic air traffic in China

Authors: Hans Huber

Addresses: Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management, Indian Institute of Technology – Bombay, 400076 Powai, Mumbai, India

Abstract: Statistical mechanics proves useful when assessing the topology of many large-scale networks, including infrastructure. One objective would be to modify the pattern of capacity expansion inside a system. Airports are spatially distributed and they need to respond to potential demand that they face locally. Airlines that control the system through airport hubs are identified as agents. A relationship between these hubs and the system-wide level of variance in traffic flows can be established. It is shown how intervention on selected hubs would reduce negative traffic variance while enhancing a more balanced, less costly growth of the system itself.

Keywords: airport planning; power law distribution; preferential attachment; de-peaking; transport networks; statistical mechanics; analytic planning; domestic air traffic; China; traffic flows; traffic variance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMNE.2009.032832

International Journal of Management and Network Economics, 2009 Vol.1 No.4, pp.378 - 393

Published online: 25 Apr 2010 *

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