Characterisation of spatial network-like patterns from junctions' geometry

Abstract

We propose a new method for quantitative characterization of spatial network-like patterns with loops, such as surface fracture patterns, leaf vein networks and patterns of urban streets. Such patterns are not well characterized by purely topological estimators: also patterns that both look different and result from different morphogenetic processes can have similar topology. A local geometric cue -the angles formed by the different branches at junctions- can complement topological information and allow to quantify the large scale spatial coherence of the pattern. For patterns that grow over time, such as fracture lines on the surface of ceramics, the rank assigned by our method to each individual segment of the pattern approximates the order of appearance of that segment. We apply the method to various network-like patterns and we find a continuous but sharp dichotomy between two classes of spatial networks: hierarchical and homogeneous. The first class results from a sequential growth process and presents large scale organization, the latter presents local, but not global organization.

version 2, 14 pages

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Cited by in corpus (8)

• Urban street networks: a comparative analysis of ten European cities
• Quantifying loopy network architectures
• Exploring the Evolution of London's Street Network in the Information Space: a Dual Approach
• Topological phenotypes constitute a new dimension in the phenotypic space of leaf venation networks
• Analysis on the urban street network of Korea: Connections between topology and meta-information
• Extracting Hidden Hierarchies in 3D Distribution Networks
• Morphogenesis of complex networks: a reaction diffusion framework for spatial graphs
• Algorithms for generating planar networks simulating hierarchical patterns of cracks formed during film drying