A weighted network evolution model based on passenger behavior

This paper presents an evolution model of weighted networks in which the structural growth and weight dynamics are driven by human behavior, i.e. passenger route choice behavior. Transportation networks grow due to people's increasing travel demand and the pattern of growth is determined by their route choice behavior. In airline networks passengers often transfer from a third airport instead of flying directly to the destination, which contributes to the hubs formation and finally the scale-free statistical property. In this model we assume at each time step there emerges a new node with m travel destinations. Then the new node either connects destination directly with the probability p or transfers from a third node with the probability 1-p. The analytical result shows degree and strength both obey power-law distribution with the exponent between 2.33 and 3 depending on p. The weights also obey power-law distribution. The clustering coefficient, degree assortatively coefficient and degree-strength correlation are all dependent on the probability p. This model can also be used in social networks.