Investigation of Connectivity: Definition, Application, and Formulation

In this paper, we will investigate the nature of connectivity in the air transportation network. We will review definitions of air connectivity from previous literature, and based on these definitions establish a set of criteria by which to measure the quality of a connectivity metric. We will provide results of experimentation with one connectivity metric, the Air Connectivity Index, on several networks. Through this experimentation, we will explore methodological issues and areas for improvement. We will examine the use of formal and informal procedures to establish a better connectivity metric based on the quality criteria. Formal procedures may include comparing the goodness of fit of different estimators, while informal procedures may include measuring the intuitiveness of a connectivity ranking.