FedEx and UPS Network Structure and Accessibility Analysis Based on Complex Network Theory

With the expansion of the global air cargo transport system, the operating structure of air cargo has become increasingly separate from passenger counterpart, forming an independent organization model. Despite the Chinese air cargo capacity has grown exponentially in the past, its network is still i...

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Main Authors: Changsong Zhao, Chunliang Xiu, Guanyi Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Complexity
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6682670
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author Changsong Zhao
Chunliang Xiu
Guanyi Yu
author_facet Changsong Zhao
Chunliang Xiu
Guanyi Yu
author_sort Changsong Zhao
collection DOAJ
description With the expansion of the global air cargo transport system, the operating structure of air cargo has become increasingly separate from passenger counterpart, forming an independent organization model. Despite the Chinese air cargo capacity has grown exponentially in the past, its network is still in its infancy. FedEx and UPS have well-established air cargo networks and have operated effectively on both international and domestic scale; thus, understanding the structure and evolution of their air cargo networks is of a high reference value. In conjunction with the division of US regions from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), this paper refers to FedEx and UPS as FEPS and analyzes its topological structure, complexity properties, and air cargo accessibility by using social network analysis (SNA) and accessibility evaluation methods. The results suggest that (1) the structure of the FEPS air cargo network is in the highly developed states and has the typical “small-world” and “scale-free” network characteristics; (2) the degree centrality values for the nodes in the FEPS network suggest that the network complexity has increased; (3) airports in Memphis (MEM), Louisville (SDF), Indianapolis (IDN), and Ontario (ONT) are the major hubs with both high centrality values and air cargo accessibility; and (4) the FEPS network presents a unique hub-and-spoke structure compared with the passenger counterpart.
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spelling doaj-art-4dcc49b99c044233b2024a88e402bc0c2025-02-03T01:04:04ZengWileyComplexity1076-27871099-05262021-01-01202110.1155/2021/66826706682670FedEx and UPS Network Structure and Accessibility Analysis Based on Complex Network TheoryChangsong Zhao0Chunliang Xiu1Guanyi Yu2School of Business Administration, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, Liaoning, ChinaJangHo, Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, Liaoning, ChinaSchool of Business Administration, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, Liaoning, ChinaWith the expansion of the global air cargo transport system, the operating structure of air cargo has become increasingly separate from passenger counterpart, forming an independent organization model. Despite the Chinese air cargo capacity has grown exponentially in the past, its network is still in its infancy. FedEx and UPS have well-established air cargo networks and have operated effectively on both international and domestic scale; thus, understanding the structure and evolution of their air cargo networks is of a high reference value. In conjunction with the division of US regions from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), this paper refers to FedEx and UPS as FEPS and analyzes its topological structure, complexity properties, and air cargo accessibility by using social network analysis (SNA) and accessibility evaluation methods. The results suggest that (1) the structure of the FEPS air cargo network is in the highly developed states and has the typical “small-world” and “scale-free” network characteristics; (2) the degree centrality values for the nodes in the FEPS network suggest that the network complexity has increased; (3) airports in Memphis (MEM), Louisville (SDF), Indianapolis (IDN), and Ontario (ONT) are the major hubs with both high centrality values and air cargo accessibility; and (4) the FEPS network presents a unique hub-and-spoke structure compared with the passenger counterpart.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6682670
spellingShingle Changsong Zhao
Chunliang Xiu
Guanyi Yu
FedEx and UPS Network Structure and Accessibility Analysis Based on Complex Network Theory
Complexity
title FedEx and UPS Network Structure and Accessibility Analysis Based on Complex Network Theory
title_full FedEx and UPS Network Structure and Accessibility Analysis Based on Complex Network Theory
title_fullStr FedEx and UPS Network Structure and Accessibility Analysis Based on Complex Network Theory
title_full_unstemmed FedEx and UPS Network Structure and Accessibility Analysis Based on Complex Network Theory
title_short FedEx and UPS Network Structure and Accessibility Analysis Based on Complex Network Theory
title_sort fedex and ups network structure and accessibility analysis based on complex network theory
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6682670
work_keys_str_mv AT changsongzhao fedexandupsnetworkstructureandaccessibilityanalysisbasedoncomplexnetworktheory
AT chunliangxiu fedexandupsnetworkstructureandaccessibilityanalysisbasedoncomplexnetworktheory
AT guanyiyu fedexandupsnetworkstructureandaccessibilityanalysisbasedoncomplexnetworktheory