Modeling and Simulation Research on Public’s Emergency Knowledge Diffusion Based on Weighted Small-World Network

Yanqing Wang , Xiao Gu , Yibao Wang

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science ›› 2026, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (2) : 376 -388.

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International Journal of Disaster Risk Science ›› 2026, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (2) :376 -388. DOI: 10.1007/s13753-026-00719-9
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Modeling and Simulation Research on Public’s Emergency Knowledge Diffusion Based on Weighted Small-World Network
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Abstract

Although the significance of public emergency participation is beyond doubt, the public’s emergency knowledge in China and the present societal demands have a considerable gap. Therefore, this study constructed a theoretical model of public’s emergency knowledge diffusion based on the weighted small-world network model, and explored the diffusion patterns and influencing factors of public’s emergency knowledge under the different selection strategies of emergency knowledge senders and different network intensities by MATLAB simulation. The results show that regardless of the intensity of the relationship in the public’s emergency knowledge diffusion network, determining the sender with the knowledge priority strategy can bring a higher emergency knowledge growth rate in the short term. In addition, public participation policies, protection laws, and information technology play a positive role on the diffusion efficiency of public’s emergency knowledge, while the diffusion cost has a negative impact. Compared with weak relation networks, the diffusion efficiency is higher in strong relation networks, and the diffusion process of public’s emergency knowledge in weak relation networks is more susceptible to the influence of external factors. This study not only fills the gap in the study of public’s emergency knowledge diffusion, but also provides a theoretical reference for the improvement of public’s emergency knowledge.

Keywords

Diffusion modeling / Public’s emergency knowledge / Simulation research / Weighted small-world network

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Yanqing Wang, Xiao Gu, Yibao Wang. Modeling and Simulation Research on Public’s Emergency Knowledge Diffusion Based on Weighted Small-World Network. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2026, 17(2): 376-388 DOI:10.1007/s13753-026-00719-9

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