On Topological Measures and Network Vulnerability Patterns: A Comparative Analysis

ORCID

Saei: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8125-435X; Tajik: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9481-7307

MSU Affiliation

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering; Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Creation Date

2026-06-01

Abstract

This paper explores the nexus of network-level topological measures, known as Global Measures (GMs), to illustrate the role of topological characteristics in explaining infrastructure resilience within the context of network vulnerability. We utilize the 38 most commonly used GMs in transportation, power grid, water, and community network studies to quantify connectivity, accessibility, and criticality levels of the 15 popular topologies in social and physical network studies. Statistical analyses highlight variable contradictory and confirmatory relationships among the GMs across different network topologies and sizes. Nevertheless, we detect three distinct GM relationship patterns across different network topologies and six distinct GM relationship patterns across different network sizes. A series of multivariate linear regression models illustrate the connection between GMs and network vulnerability under different disruption patterns. These models utilize GMs as independent variables to capture the correlates of the network vulnerability magnitudes against disruption patterns. Observations confirm that information about topological characteristics is necessary but insufficient in identifying the network vulnerability unless the network vulnerability is measured (i) as a function of certain GMs’ outcomes and (ii) in combination with information on the disruption patterns across the network.

Publication Date

9-8-2025

Publication Title

Reliability Engineering and System Safety

Publisher

Elsevier

Rights

© 2025 Elsevier Ltd.

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ress.2025.111608