Abstract:
Complex graphs, ones containing thousands of nodes of
high degree, are difficult to visualize. Displaying all of the
nodes and edges of these graphs can create an incomprehensible
cluttered output. This paper presents a simplification algorithm
that may be applied to a complex graph in
order to produce a controlled thinning of the graph. Using
importance metrics, the simplification process removes
nodes from the graph, leaving the central structure for visualization
and evaluation. The simplification algorithm
consists of two steps, calculation of the importance metrics
and pruning. Several metrics based on various topological
graph properties are described. The metrics are then
used in a pruning process to simplify the graph. Nodes,
along with their corresponding edges, are removed from
the graph, while maintaining the graph's overall connectivity.
This simplificleaner, more meaningful visual representation
of the graph's structure; thus
aiding the analysis of the graph's underlying data.
