Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: Euler diagrams are a popular technique to visualize set‐typed data. However, creating diagrams using simple shapes remains a challenging problem for many complex, real‐life datasets. To solve this, we propose RectEuler: a flexible, fully‐automatic method using rectangles to create Euler‐like diagrams. We use an efficient mixed‐integer optimization scheme to place set labels and element representatives (e.g., text or images) in conjunction with rectangles describing the sets. By defining appropriate constraints, we adhere to well‐formedness properties and aesthetic considerations. If a dataset cannot be created within a reasonable time or at all, we iteratively split the diagram into multiple components until a drawable solution is found. Redundant encoding of the set membership using dots and set lines improves the readability of the diagram. Our web tool lets users see how the layout changes throughout the optimization process and provides interactive explanations. For evaluation, we perform quantitative and qualitative analysis across different datasets and compare our method to state‐of‐the‐art Euler diagram generation methods.
Source: Computer Graphics Forum
DOI: 10.1111/cgf.14814
Institutions: University of Konstanz, IBM (United States)
Language: English
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,710
Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
OpenAlex ID: W4382240153