Visual Analysis of Double-Layer Networks Using a 2.5D Method

Networks in real world usually have multiple layers. Most of the current works concentrate on the single-layer network. Visualization of double-layer networks using 2.5D method is proposed in this paper to reveal the network structure and interdependent relations within network layers. A context-preserving layout method and matrix transformation is adopted to preserve node positions and reduce visual clutters within network layers. Visual analysis is conducted based on the 2.5D visualization, focusing on the interdependent relations and node importance evaluation. The proposed method ensures satisfying readability of the network structural features and demonstrates the relations in the network.