netwerkconcept

Netwerkconcept is a term used in Dutch-language literature to refer to a conceptual framework for understanding networks. In general, a netwerkconcept models a network as a set of nodes (actors, devices, or places) connected by edges (relationships, links, or pathways). The concept emphasizes the arrangement (topology) of connections, the attributes of nodes and edges, and the dynamics of how networks grow, change, or function over time. Networks can be directed or undirected, weighted or unweighted, static or evolving, and may form communities or modules.

Applications span many domains: social networks, information and communication networks, transportation and logistics, biological and ecological networks, economic and organizational networks. The network concept in analysis often uses graph theory and network science methods such as centrality measures (degree, betweenness, closeness), clustering, path length, modularity, and network motifs, as well as simulation and diffusion models to study spread of information or disease, resilience, or contagion.

In practice, a netwerkconcept guides design and evaluation: mapping actors and connections, identifying critical nodes or bottlenecks, assessing vulnerability, planning interventions to improve flow or robustness. The term is used across disciplines from information technology to sociology and urban planning. While there is no single universal definition, the netwerkconcept provides a common language to describe and analyze complex interconnected systems.