A navigability entropy model for street networks

Abstract

In this paper, we propose novel local and global models of street network entropy that measure levels of navigability given only limited local directional information. These models are defined for individual locations and entire street networks. Both models are derived using a generalised model of entropy from the field of game theory, which considers a decision-maker attempting to perform a task in the presence of incomplete information. We argue that the proposed models are more interpretable and useful than existing models of street network entropy since they measure the uncertainty of navigation, which is the task street networks are intended to facilitate. We demonstrate this utility by performing an empirical analysis of the entropy properties of UK city street networks.