Shortest Path Map Equivalence Decompositions and Applications

Abstract

Given a polygonal domain $P$ in the plane, the shortest path map with respect to a point $s$, denoted by $SPM(s)$, is the decomposition of $P$ into cells such that shortest paths from $s$ to all points $t$ in the same cell have the same vertex sequence. The shortest path map equivalence decomposition of $P$ is the decomposition of $P$ into cells so that $SPM(s)$ is topologically equivalent for all points $s$ in the same cell. In this paper, we prove new upper bounds on the combinatorial complexities of the $SPM$-equivalence decompositions under various settings, depending on whether $s$ and/or $t$ are restricted to the boundary of $P$. We also propose new algorithms to compute these decompositions. Further, our results lead to new solutions to several other problems, including answering two-point shortest path queries in $P$, and computing geodesic diameter and center of $P$.

To appear in ESA 2026