Investigating the Evolution Path of Urban Natural Gas Pipeline Accidents Using a Complex Network Approach

A methodology utilizing complex network analysis is presented for identifying accident paths in urban natural gas pipelines. Initially, an accident chain is established by identifying hazard factors and their causal-consequence relationships. Subsequently, this accident chain is represented as a complex network, where the risk factors are transformed into nodes and the connections between nodes are assigned weights. Critical accident nodes are then identified through complex network characteristic tests and nodal analysis. Dijkstra’s algorithm is employed to estimate the shortest paths of a pipeline accident. The effectiveness of this methodology is illustrated through a case study, showing its potential for analyzing accident evolution and supporting the development of safety management and preventive measures.