3d radial layout for centrality visualization in graphs

Abstract

This paper presents new methods of 3D visualization of graphs that allow to highlight nodes structural centrality. These methods consist in projecting, along the vertical axis, 2D graph representations on three 3D surfaces: 1) a half-sphere; 2) a cone and 3) a torus portion. The transition to 3D allows to better handle the visualization of complex and large data that 2D techniques are generally unable to provide. The 3D radial layout techniques reduce nodes and edges overlap and improve, in some cases, the perception of nodes connectivity by exploiting differently or better the display space.