Graphs depicted as node-link diagrams are widely used to show relationships between entities. However, node-link diagrams comprised of a large number of nodes and edges often suffer from visual clutter. The use of edge bundling remedies this and reveals high-level edge patterns. Previous methods require the graph to contain a hierarchy for this, or they construct a control mesh to guide the edge bundling process, which often results in bundles that show considerable variation in curvature along the overall bundle direction. We present a new edge bundling method that uses a self-organizing approach to bundling in which edges are modeled as flexible springs that can attract each other. In contrast to previous methods, no hierarchy is used and no control mesh. The resulting bundled graphs show significant clutter reduction and clearly visible high-level edge patterns. Curvature variation is furthermore minimized, resulting in smooth bundles that are easy to follow. Finally, we present a rendering technique that can be used to emphasize the bundling.
Description
Force-Directed Edge Bundling for Graph Visualization - Holten - 2009 - Computer Graphics Forum - Wiley Online Library
%0 Journal Article
%1 CGF:CGF1450
%A Holten, Danny
%A Van Wijk, Jarke J.
%D 2009
%I Blackwell Publishing Ltd
%J Computer Graphics Forum
%K bundling directed edge force graph visualization
%N 3
%P 983--990
%R 10.1111/j.1467-8659.2009.01450.x
%T Force-Directed Edge Bundling for Graph Visualization
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8659.2009.01450.x
%V 28
%X Graphs depicted as node-link diagrams are widely used to show relationships between entities. However, node-link diagrams comprised of a large number of nodes and edges often suffer from visual clutter. The use of edge bundling remedies this and reveals high-level edge patterns. Previous methods require the graph to contain a hierarchy for this, or they construct a control mesh to guide the edge bundling process, which often results in bundles that show considerable variation in curvature along the overall bundle direction. We present a new edge bundling method that uses a self-organizing approach to bundling in which edges are modeled as flexible springs that can attract each other. In contrast to previous methods, no hierarchy is used and no control mesh. The resulting bundled graphs show significant clutter reduction and clearly visible high-level edge patterns. Curvature variation is furthermore minimized, resulting in smooth bundles that are easy to follow. Finally, we present a rendering technique that can be used to emphasize the bundling.
@article{CGF:CGF1450,
abstract = {Graphs depicted as node-link diagrams are widely used to show relationships between entities. However, node-link diagrams comprised of a large number of nodes and edges often suffer from visual clutter. The use of edge bundling remedies this and reveals high-level edge patterns. Previous methods require the graph to contain a hierarchy for this, or they construct a control mesh to guide the edge bundling process, which often results in bundles that show considerable variation in curvature along the overall bundle direction. We present a new edge bundling method that uses a self-organizing approach to bundling in which edges are modeled as flexible springs that can attract each other. In contrast to previous methods, no hierarchy is used and no control mesh. The resulting bundled graphs show significant clutter reduction and clearly visible high-level edge patterns. Curvature variation is furthermore minimized, resulting in smooth bundles that are easy to follow. Finally, we present a rendering technique that can be used to emphasize the bundling.},
added-at = {2011-10-06T17:56:57.000+0200},
author = {Holten, Danny and Van Wijk, Jarke J.},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2aa5c49a03d4776d7e91582b5e17421ad/rwoz},
description = {Force-Directed Edge Bundling for Graph Visualization - Holten - 2009 - Computer Graphics Forum - Wiley Online Library},
doi = {10.1111/j.1467-8659.2009.01450.x},
interhash = {3125ca0fc7953bb9ced6c54b920dc118},
intrahash = {aa5c49a03d4776d7e91582b5e17421ad},
issn = {1467-8659},
journal = {Computer Graphics Forum},
keywords = {bundling directed edge force graph visualization},
number = 3,
pages = {983--990},
publisher = {Blackwell Publishing Ltd},
timestamp = {2011-10-06T17:56:57.000+0200},
title = {Force-Directed Edge Bundling for Graph Visualization},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8659.2009.01450.x},
volume = 28,
year = 2009
}