Analysis and Visualization of Complex Graphs

University Of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign, Urbana IL

Investigators

Abstract

The goal of this project is to develop methods enabling the visual exploration of large, complex, non-planar graphs. New algorithms are being developed for coarsening graphs that preserve the overall structure of the graph while greatly reducing its complexity. These algorithmic techniques allow for building multi-scale representations that make traditional graph analysis and data mining operations far more efficient. They also provide a basis for advanced visual exploration of complex graphs. In addition, this project is also seeking to leverage the latest advances in computer graphics hardware and rendering technology to generate graph visualizations of the greatest possible clarity in real time, so that a user can interactively explore and understand the most structurally intricate of graph structures. These technologies have broad application in many diverse and important domains, including protein function analysis, social network understanding, communication network design, data mining, and security market analysis. The new visualization methods are implemented in software systems developed in this project and released under an open source license to aid others in research and development projects. The software, publications and other information on this project can be accessed on the Web site (http://graphics.cs.uiuc.edu/~garland/research/graphs.html).