Transportation network analysis and hub identification for exporting agricultural products

Abstract

Agriculture products are one of the main income sources of developing countries. This study analyzes the road transport system (network) to reveal the network’s structural properties and identifies hubs that consolidate agricultural products to export to China via the China-Laos railway. Analysis of 20 provinces in the Northeast of Thailand has found that the network has 340 districts connected by 1,015 transport routes. The network is sparse, in which all districts cannot be connected to each other. The network has low connectivity efficiency but has high intra-connectivity among districts in the same province. In addition, the network has a modularity structure that can develop the communities. Hubs consolidating agricultural products of the region are Na Khu, Kuchinaria, Mueng Chiyaphum, Nam Phong, Na Wa, Mueang Mukdahan, Prasat and Rasi Salai. The findings of the study draw implications for the government, sector and exporters to design and improve their operations and services.