%0 Journal Article %1 9904492 %A Xue, Mingliang %A Wang, Zhi %A Zhong, Fahai %A Wang, Yong %A Xu, Mingliang %A Deussen, Oliver %A Wang, Yunhai %D 2023 %J IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics %K 2023 a01 sfbtrr161 %N 1 %P 886-895 %R 10.1109/TVCG.2022.3209371 %T Taurus: Towards a Unified Force Representation and Universal Solver for Graph Layout %U https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2022.3209371 %V 29 %X Over the past few decades, a large number of graph layout techniques have been proposed for visualizing graphs from various domains. In this paper, we present a general framework, Taurus, for unifying popular techniques such as the spring-electrical model, stress model, and maxent-stress model. It is based on a unified force representation, which formulates most existing techniques as a combination of quotient-based forces that combine power functions of graph-theoretical and Euclidean distances. This representation enables us to compare the strengths and weaknesses of existing techniques, while facilitating the development of new methods. Based on this, we propose a new balanced stress model (BSM) that is able to layout graphs in superior quality. In addition, we introduce a universal augmented stochastic gradient descent (SGD) optimizer that efficiently finds proper solutions for all layout techniques. To demonstrate the power of our framework, we conduct a comprehensive evaluation of existing techniques on a large number of synthetic and real graphs. We release an open-source package, which facilitates easy comparison of different graph layout methods for any graph input as well as effectively creating customized graph layout techniques.

@article{9904492, abstract = {Over the past few decades, a large number of graph layout techniques have been proposed for visualizing graphs from various domains. In this paper, we present a general framework, Taurus, for unifying popular techniques such as the spring-electrical model, stress model, and maxent-stress model. It is based on a unified force representation, which formulates most existing techniques as a combination of quotient-based forces that combine power functions of graph-theoretical and Euclidean distances. This representation enables us to compare the strengths and weaknesses of existing techniques, while facilitating the development of new methods. Based on this, we propose a new balanced stress model (BSM) that is able to layout graphs in superior quality. In addition, we introduce a universal augmented stochastic gradient descent (SGD) optimizer that efficiently finds proper solutions for all layout techniques. To demonstrate the power of our framework, we conduct a comprehensive evaluation of existing techniques on a large number of synthetic and real graphs. We release an open-source package, which facilitates easy comparison of different graph layout methods for any graph input as well as effectively creating customized graph layout techniques.}, added-at = {2023-11-09T10:48:26.000+0100}, author = {Xue, Mingliang and Wang, Zhi and Zhong, Fahai and Wang, Yong and Xu, Mingliang and Deussen, Oliver and Wang, Yunhai}, biburl = {https://puma.ub.uni-stuttgart.de/bibtex/2720c740676fac5811fc8556bff92f3e7/christinawarren}, doi = {10.1109/TVCG.2022.3209371}, interhash = {6d702b6407fb03203d35fbaa78956dd0}, intrahash = {720c740676fac5811fc8556bff92f3e7}, journal = {IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics}, keywords = {2023 a01 sfbtrr161}, number = 1, pages = {886-895}, timestamp = {2023-11-09T10:48:26.000+0100}, title = {Taurus: Towards a Unified Force Representation and Universal Solver for Graph Layout}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2022.3209371}, volume = 29, year = 2023 }