Exploring the interplay between population profile and optimal routes in U.S. cities
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. Howe...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00308-8 |
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| author | Diego Ortega Elka Korutcheva |
| author_facet | Diego Ortega Elka Korutcheva |
| author_sort | Diego Ortega |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 follows an urban law. The distribution of these car journeys is fitted by Weibull functions, suggesting that the urban center plays a crucial role in optimizing routes across multiple cities. We also established a classification for cities and 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-15d531b1ebcb4aed993d47ba7855d2ce |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-15d531b1ebcb4aed993d47ba7855d2ce2025-08-20T03:53:12ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-00308-8Exploring the interplay between population profile and optimal routes in U.S. citiesDiego Ortega0Elka Korutcheva1Department of Fundamental Physics, National University of Distance Education (UNED)Department of Fundamental Physics, National University of Distance Education (UNED)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 follows an urban law. The distribution of these car journeys is fitted by Weibull functions, suggesting that the urban center plays a crucial role in optimizing routes across multiple cities. We also established a classification for cities and 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00308-8 |
| spellingShingle | Diego Ortega Elka Korutcheva Exploring the interplay between population profile and optimal routes in U.S. cities Scientific Reports |
| title | Exploring the interplay between population profile and optimal routes in U.S. cities |
| title_full | Exploring the interplay between population profile and optimal routes in U.S. cities |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the interplay between population profile and optimal routes in U.S. cities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the interplay between population profile and optimal routes in U.S. cities |
| title_short | Exploring the interplay between population profile and optimal routes in U.S. cities |
| title_sort | exploring the interplay between population profile and optimal routes in u s cities |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00308-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT diegoortega exploringtheinterplaybetweenpopulationprofileandoptimalroutesinuscities AT elkakorutcheva exploringtheinterplaybetweenpopulationprofileandoptimalroutesinuscities |