Xiao, W. and Wang, L., 2020. Identify and analyze the “important nodes and key linkages” of coastal city cluster using network analysis. In: Yang, Y.; Mi, C.; Zhao, L., and Lam, S. (eds.), Global Topics and New Trends in Coastal Research: Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 103, pp. 789–792. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

Over the past decade, more and more countries have regarded the development of marine economy as the new opportunities of economic growth. Coastal city cluster is a form of the advanced stage of city development. It covers dozens of cities, and different cities have different influences and importance, forming multi-level of network structure. The coastal city clusters as the spatial places for marine economy have been a hot topic among scholars. However, few literature probed into the key linkages and important nodes of coastal city clusters. This paper constructs the network model of coastal city cluster, then designs basic correlation tree algorithm to identify the important nodes and key linkages of coastal city clusters. Finally empirical analysis is done with Shandong Province of China as an example. The methods designed by this paper provide quantitative evidence to the strategy-making regarding the development of oceanic economy. Meanwhile, empirical studies reveal that these methods enable new and effective research approaches for the studies into the coastal city cluster.