Node importance evaluation in aviation network based on “No Return” node deletion method

• Published in: Physica A 2018-08, Vol.503, p.546-559
• Main Authors: Wen, Xiangxi, Tu, Congliang, Wu, Minggong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aviation network; Complex network; No return; Node deletion; Node importance evaluation
• ISSN: 0378-4371; 1873-2119
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2018.02.109

Node importance evaluation is of great importance in the defense and attack of aviation network, most current studies did not consider the dynamic change and specific characteristics of aviation network. On the basis of complex network theory and node deletion method, a method customized for node importance evaluation in aviation network was proposed. The main feature of the method proposed is that the node will not be returned to the network after being removed, so it is called NR method, short for “No Return”. Network efficiency, largest component size and network flow were used as the indicators of network performance. In order to quantify the three indicators, multi-attribute decision-making method was introduced, which takes individual network removed of different nodes as a solution, takes the evaluation indicators of network as the attributes of each solution. To demonstrate the method proposed, a randomly generated network, Chinese aviation network and American aviation network were chosen as test beds. The experiments’ results show that NR method is more comprehensive and accurate than other method based on single metric (e.g. K-shell and closeness method). Compared with R- strategy, NR method shows its accuracy, some potential key nodes can be discovered along with nodes deletion. •A new method — “No Return” for evaluating node importance of aviation network is proposed.•Potential key-airports in China and America can be discovered by “NR” method.•Removing nodes in the order of “NR” ranking is more destructive to aviation network.