IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i6p2486-d1610461.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Improving the Transport and Logistic Infrastructure of a City Using the Graph Theory Method: The Case of Astana, Kazakhstan

Author

Listed:
  • Bakyt Syzdykbayeva

    (Faculty of Economics, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan)

  • Zhanarys Raimbekov

    (Faculty of Economics, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan)

  • Ruslan Baiburiev

    (Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan)

  • Zhanar Dulatbekova

    (Faculty of Economics, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan)

Abstract

The rapid growth of cities significantly impacts the development of transport and logistics infrastructure (TLI), creating substantial challenges for the transport network and quality of life. To enhance the efficiency and sustainability of TLI, various approaches, planning methods, and management strategies are employed at the city or agglomeration level. The objective of this study was to investigate, using graph theory and correlation analysis, the relationship between the polarity and logistic flow of the city’s meso-districts. Based on these findings, recommendations for the development of the city’s transport and logistics infrastructure were proposed. The logistic flow, influenced by social, economic, institutional, and environmental factors, plays a critical role in the planning and operation of transport and logistics infrastructure within each meso-district of the city. The determination of the polarity of meso-districts was conducted based on expert assessments by specialists, while the indicators of logistic flow were derived from the average values of statistical data for the period 2021–2023. The results demonstrated that a reduction in the polarity of meso-districts—characterized by multilateral connections between meso-districts and key indicators of logistic flows—can positively influence the quality and accessibility of the city’s transport and logistic infrastructure. This approach enables the identification of the most problematic meso-districts within the city, the mapping of logistic flow directions, and the determination of strategic development pathways for the city’s transport and logistics infrastructure (TLI). Furthermore, it was established that the polarity of the meso-district graph reflects the state of traffic congestion within the districts and its environmental impact. This correlation provides valuable insights into refining the planning and development of the city’s TLI, ensuring a more sustainable and efficient urban transport system. This study contributed to the development of the city’s transport and logistics infrastructure by proposing a comprehensive model that enhances the understanding and strengthens the interconnections between meso-districts and urban logistics. The findings hold significant implications for urban planning, as they highlight the necessity of a detailed consideration of the role of meso-districts, as well as targeted investments in transport and logistics infrastructure to ensure its sustainable development in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Bakyt Syzdykbayeva & Zhanarys Raimbekov & Ruslan Baiburiev & Zhanar Dulatbekova, 2025. "Improving the Transport and Logistic Infrastructure of a City Using the Graph Theory Method: The Case of Astana, Kazakhstan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-26, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2486-:d:1610461
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/6/2486/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/6/2486/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Klose, Andreas & Drexl, Andreas, 2005. "Facility location models for distribution system design," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 162(1), pages 4-29, April.
    2. Bahareh Mansouri & Subhasmita Sahu & M. Ali Ülkü, 2023. "Toward Greening City Logistics: A Systematic Review on Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility in Managing Urban Distribution Centers," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Geunes, Joseph & Romeijn, H. Edwin & van den Heuvel, Wilco, 2016. "Improving the efficiency of decentralized supply chains with fixed ordering costs," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 252(3), pages 815-828.
    4. Hassan, Mohsen MD & Hogg, Gary L, 1987. "A review of graph theory application to the facilities layout problem," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 291-300.
    5. Techane Bosona, 2020. "Urban Freight Last Mile Logistics—Challenges and Opportunities to Improve Sustainability: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-20, October.
    6. Majid Al‐Gwaiz & Xiuli Chao & H. Edwin Romeijn, 2016. "Capacity expansion and cost efficiency improvement in the warehouse problem," Naval Research Logistics (NRL), John Wiley & Sons, vol. 63(5), pages 367-373, August.
    7. Piotr Prus & Marek Sikora, 2021. "The Impact of Transport Infrastructure on the Sustainable Development of the Region—Case Study," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-15, March.
    8. Dablanc, Laetitia, 2007. "Goods transport in large European cities: Difficult to organize, difficult to modernize," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 280-285, March.
    9. Romeijn, H. Edwin & Shu, Jia & Teo, Chung-Piaw, 2007. "Designing two-echelon supply networks," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 178(2), pages 449-462, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Schuster Puga, Matías & Tancrez, Jean-Sébastien, 2017. "A heuristic algorithm for solving large location–inventory problems with demand uncertainty," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 259(2), pages 413-423.
    2. Tancrez, Jean-Sébastien & Lange, Jean-Charles & Semal, Pierre, 2012. "A location-inventory model for large three-level supply chains," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 485-502.
    3. Youssef Boulaksil & M. Jaafar Belkora, 2017. "Distribution Strategies Toward Nanostores in Emerging Markets: The Valencia Case," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 47(6), pages 505-517, December.
    4. Parisa Ahani & Amílcar Arantes & Rohollah Garmanjani & Sandra Melo, 2023. "Optimizing Vehicle Replacement in Sustainable Urban Freight Transportation Subject to Presence of Regulatory Measures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-18, August.
    5. Melo, M.T. & Nickel, S. & Saldanha-da-Gama, F., 2009. "Facility location and supply chain management - A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 196(2), pages 401-412, July.
    6. Raquel Soriano-Gonzalez & Elena Perez-Bernabeu & Yusef Ahsini & Patricia Carracedo & Andres Camacho & Angel A. Juan, 2023. "Analyzing Key Performance Indicators for Mobility Logistics in Smart and Sustainable Cities: A Case Study Centered on Barcelona," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-20, October.
    7. Siao-Leu Phouratsamay & Safia Kedad-Sidhoum & Fanny Pascual, 2021. "Coordination of a two-level supply chain with contracts," 4OR, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 235-264, June.
    8. Filip Škultéty & Dominika Beňová & Jozef Gnap, 2021. "City Logistics as an Imperative Smart City Mechanism: Scrutiny of Clustered EU27 Capitals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, March.
    9. Sauvey, Christophe & Melo, Teresa & Correia, Isabel, 2019. "Two-phase heuristics for a multi-period capacitated facility location problem with service-differentiated customers," Technical Reports on Logistics of the Saarland Business School 16, Saarland University of Applied Sciences (htw saar), Saarland Business School.
    10. Zhanwei Tian & Guoqing Zhang, 2021. "Multi-echelon fulfillment warehouse rent and production allocation for online direct selling," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 304(1), pages 427-451, September.
    11. Longinidis, Pantelis & Georgiadis, Michael C., 2014. "Integration of sale and leaseback in the optimal design of supply chain networks," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 73-89.
    12. Ortiz-Astorquiza, Camilo & Contreras, Ivan & Laporte, Gilbert, 2018. "Multi-level facility location problems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(3), pages 791-805.
    13. Behiri, Walid & Belmokhtar-Berraf, Sana & Chu, Chengbin, 2018. "Urban freight transport using passenger rail network: Scientific issues and quantitative analysis," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 227-245.
    14. Pedro A. P. Dias & Hugo Yoshizaki & Patricia Favero & Jose Geraldo Vidal Vieira, 2019. "Daytime or Overnight Deliveries? Perceptions of Drivers and Retailers in São Paulo City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-16, November.
    15. Rodolfo Mendoza-Gómez & Roger Z. Ríos-Mercado & Karla B. Valenzuela-Ocaña, 2019. "An Efficient Decision-Making Approach for the Planning of Diagnostic Services in a Segmented Healthcare System," International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making (IJITDM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 18(05), pages 1631-1665, September.
    16. Yang, Chao & Chen, Mingyang & Yuan, Quan, 2021. "The geography of freight-related accidents in the era of E-commerce: Evidence from the Los Angeles metropolitan area," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    17. Daniele Crotti & Elena Maggi, 2023. "Social Responsibility and Urban Consolidation Centres in Sustainable Freight Transport Markets," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 9(2), pages 829-850, July.
    18. Sandrine Ville & Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu & Laetitia Dablanc, 2010. "The limits of public policy intervention in urban logistics: The case of Vicenza (Italy) and lessons for other European cities," Post-Print halshs-00742857, HAL.
    19. Delzeit, Ruth & Britz, Wolfgang & Holm-Müller, Karin, 2011. "Modelling regional input markets with numerous processing plants: The case of green maize for biogas production in Germany," Discussion Papers 162892, University of Bonn, Institute for Food and Resource Economics.
    20. Jaros³aw Brodny & Magdalena Tutak, 2023. "The level of implementing sustainable development goal "Industry, innovation and infrastructure" of Agenda 2030 in the European Union countries: Application of MCDM methods," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 14(1), pages 47-102, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2486-:d:1610461. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.