Adaptive clustering algorithm for community detection in complex networks

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2008 Oct;78(4 Pt 2):046115. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.78.046115. Epub 2008 Oct 30.

Abstract

Community structure is common in various real-world networks; methods or algorithms for detecting such communities in complex networks have attracted great attention in recent years. We introduced a different adaptive clustering algorithm capable of extracting modules from complex networks with considerable accuracy and robustness. In this approach, each node in a network acts as an autonomous agent demonstrating flocking behavior where vertices always travel toward their preferable neighboring groups. An optimal modular structure can emerge from a collection of these active nodes during a self-organization process where vertices constantly regroup. In addition, we show that our algorithm appears advantageous over other competing methods (e.g., the Newman-fast algorithm) through intensive evaluation. The applications in three real-world networks demonstrate the superiority of our algorithm to find communities that are parallel with the appropriate organization in reality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Animals
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Community Networks*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Humans
  • Models, Statistical
  • Reproducibility of Results