This paper discusses two prominent forms of network analysis: Dijkstra’s shortest path analysis, and off-kilter network analysis.
Dijkstra’s algorithm presents a very simple form of network analysis by regarding the path from point A to point B through a series of nodes and arcs, which are accounted simply by length. Indeed, the authors make a point that original network analyses were affected by computer scientists, and did not account for the inherently geographical nature of transportation and movement. Namely, it does not account for directionality or geographical coordinates. Off-kilter analysis recognizes these issues by accounting for external factors, and partitioning flows of movement depending on the maximum allocated capacity of these certain roads. This needed situation for speed and efficiency is illustrated in disaster scenarios by the authors, where precarious roads and a mass of traffic need to be accounted for quickly and dealt with efficiently.
This was written in 1992, at the cusp of a widespread informatics revolution in the home market. As it stands right now, Dijkstra’s analysis is still highly relevant, I believe that it is used in Google Maps for directions, though I have the sense that off-kilter analysis has become a viable option for many people. With traffic collection data such as Waze collecting cell-phone information, paired with basic information about current infrastructure, it has become possible for GPS services to account for the dynamic changes in traffic data for users of infrastructure.
I can’t help but feel that this is nonetheless a still rudimentary network analysis, there are still many more factors that could potentially be quantifiable and added into the algorithm. What about greenhouse gas emissions, or the level of scenery? I wonder how easily those things could be accounted for. I am still wondering about the accountability of qualifiable data as playing a part into network analysis. Perhaps in the future our GPS’ could account for personal preferences and tailor their network analysis to the individual itself? This would raise questions over privacy, perhaps. Though with growing levels of information being tracked anyway, it’s almost something to be expected. I would be interested in knowing more about the evolution of network analysis, and I am looking forward to the presentation on Monday