Uncovering structural diversity in commuting networks: global and local entropy

Abstract

In this paper we revisit the concept of mobility entropy. Over time, the structure of spatial interactions among urban centres tends to become more complex and evolves from centralised models to more scattered origin and destination patterns. Entropy measures can be used to explore this complexity, and to quantify the degree of structural diversity of in- and out-flows at different scales and across the system. We use toy models of commuting networks to examine global and local measures, allowing the comparison to occur between different parts of the system. We show that entropy at the link and node level give different insights on the characteristics of the systems, enabling us to identify employment hubs and interdependencies between and within different parts of the system. We compute the measures in the commuting networks of the Northern Powerhouse and Greater South East regions in the UK to examine their relevance when studying real systems of cities. Finally we discuss how these can be used to inform planning and policy decisions oriented towards decentralisation and resilience.