A Hybrid Visual Analytics Approach to Dynamic Space-Based Networks

The dynamic nature of space-based networks poses a significant challenge of visualizing and analyzing its topological structure and metrics. In this paper, a hybrid visual analytics approach is proposed to assist researchers to gain an insight into dynamic space-based networks. Three core components are integrated into the visual analytics approach: first, a visual model based on filmstrip metaphor is proposed, which employs online graph layout algorithm to visualize the latest time slice and utilizes offline algorithm to analyze the previous time slices within some observation window, then, we present a dynamic network layout strategy based on regularized graph layout framework that the independent structure of sub networks is taken into account to produce more interpretable layouts, finally, two significant network metrics with respecting to time-varying paths, i.e., reach ability and edge between ness centrality, are visualized and analyzed. The proposed hybrid visual analytics approach can be applied to some representative space-based networks to illustrate the benefit of visualization and analysis for producing reasonable and comprehensible results.