Looking into mobility in the Covid-19 ‘eye of the storm’: Simulating virus spread and urban resilience in the Wuhan city region travel flow network

Recent urban and regional studies have focused on identifying positive spillover effects from intensifying flows of people in city region networks. However, potential negative spillover effects have lacked attention. The article addresses this research gap focusing on the negative spillover effects represented by Covid-19 contagion in the Wuhan regional travel flow network, China. Drawing on central place theory and central flow theory, Covid-19 spatial spread simulation scenarios are explored using a combined micro-level epidemic compartment model and urban network approach. It is found that not only centrally positioned primate but secondary cities are highly risk exposed to contagion. In addition, these cities have enhanced transmission capacity in a balanced, well-connected travel flow network, whereas a centralised or locally clustered network would be more spread resilient. Both hierarchical position and horizontal flows are found relevant for explaining Covid-19 uneven spread and for informing mobility interventions for a potential future outbreak.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.103675
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264275122001147
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02642751
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Shi, Shuai
  • Pain, Kathy
  • Chen, Xi
• Publication Date: 2022-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 103675
• Serial:
  • Cities
  • Volume: 126
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0264-2751
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/02642751

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Communicable diseases; COVID-19; Disaster resilience; Mobility; Traffic flow; Urban areas
• Geographic Terms: Wuhan (China)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01845669
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 19 2022 10:41AM