U.S. Seaports and Megaregions: A Social Network Analysis Approach

The rise of “megaregions” has aroused great interest in transportation studies. In the context of this concept, this study applies social network analysis methods to investigate freight flows through seaports in the U.S., which has received relatively little research attention to date. Using data from Freight Analysis Framework version 3 (FAF3), different centrality measures of social network analysis are brought forward to examine and compare the existing and emergent seaport freight distribution patterns in the U.S. The objective of this analysis is to understand the intricate connections within the network. In addition to providing a general description across the nation, the analysis will place an emphasis on Norfolk, Virginia, with other key port areas along the Atlantic coast. It will provide insights on presumed economic interactions among seaports and megaregions. The analysis validates the central roles of Los Angeles, New York and Houston, as key hubs of international freight flows. Most key port areas belong to megaregions, while others are also geographically very close to megaregions. The distribution of freight flows between these key port areas and megaregions appears to be quite stable beyond 2007 until 2040. Though still in its exploratory phase, the study points to a plethora of research possibilities for freight flow analysis using social network analysis methods.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AW010(2) AW010 Paper Review Subcommittee
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Gifford, Jonathan
  • Schintler, Laurie
  • Zhou, Xin
  • Daito, Nobuhiko
  • Yuan, Junyang
  • Chen, Zhenhua
  • Li, Jing
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2012-1-22 to 2012-1-26
• Date: 2012

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 18p
• Monograph Title: TRB 91st Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic impacts; Freight traffic; Network analysis (Planning); Ports
• Candidate Terms: Social networking
• Identifier Terms: Freight Analysis Framework
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Freight Transportation; I70: Traffic and Transport;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01373230
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 12-3821
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 21 2012 2:06PM