• A novel approach combines and intersects metrics for exploring urban centrality. • Public transport networks' centrality aids in predicting potential future centers. • Urban structure is influenced by and affects the distribution of transport networks. • Budapest and Vienna boast public transport networks that ensure accessibility. Transport networks play a vital role in shaping urban landscapes, influencing the prominence of certain areas while affecting others. This study examines centrality levels in Budapest and Vienna to understand the influence of public transport networks using a methodology that combines network construction with multiple centrality measures, including closeness, betweenness, straightness, and degree centrality. By integrating these metrics with urban spatial structure, the study provides an original contribution that identifies high-centrality areas and clarifies the relationship between transport networks and the functional organization of cities. Using GIS-based analysis, we identified urban zones with unexpected centrality, providing insights into potential future key locations. Conversely, established centers might lack high centrality, highlighting their local importance. Our results showed well-organized public transport networks in both cities, ensuring connectivity, accessibility, and proximity. These findings support urban planning efforts, promoting balanced development. The methodology has broader applications, providing planners with a comprehensive understanding of how transport networks influence urban spatial layouts, thereby helping to create more sustainable cities across Europe and delivering efficient public transport services to all residents.
Qasseer et al. (2026) studied this question.