Visual Representation of Multiple Associations in Data using Constrained Graph Layout

Abstract

This paper presents a new approach for simultaneously visualizing multiple exclusive associations, defined on the same dataset, using constrained graph layout. We work with two different associations at a time, which can be represented as a binary graph operation. Given an initial graph layout which represents an association of the data, another set of constraints is applied to the graph to represent a second association on the same dataset to obtain the final layout. Our motivation is to preserve some features of the first layout as well as to achieve a simultaneous view of both the associations. We use this approach generically for three applications: for visualization of data with geometric and categorical constraints, respectively. We further propose to extend it to multiple associations, by using the binary operation multiple times.