Approximate nearest neighbor search in metrics of planar graphs

Ittai Abraham, Shiri Chechik, Robert Krauthgamer, Udi Wieder

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Investigate the problem of approximate Nearest-Neighbor Search (NNS) in graphical metrics: The task is to preprocess an edge-weighted graph G = (V,E) on m vertices and a small "dataset" D ∪ V of size n ≤ m, so that given a query point q ∈ V, one can quickly approximate dG(q,D) (the distance from q to its closest vertex in D) and find a vertex a ∈ D within this approximated distance. We assume the query algorithm has access to a distance oracle, that quickly evaluates the exact distance between any pair of vertices. For planar graphs G with maximum degree Δ, we show how to efficiently construct a compact data structure - of size Õ(n(Δ + 1/∈)) - that answers (1 + ∈)-NNS queries in time Õ(Δ + 1/∈). Thus, as far as NNS applications are concerned, metrics derived from bounded-degree planar graphs behave as low-dimensional metrics, even though planar metrics do not necessarily have a low doubling dimension, nor can they be embedded with low distortion into ℓ2. We complement our algorithmic result by lower bounds showing that the access to an exact distance oracle (rather than an approximate one) and the dependency on Δ (in query time) are both essential.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationApproximation, Randomization, and Combinatorial Optimization. Algorithms and Techniques - 18th International Workshop, APPROX 2015, and 19th International Workshop, RANDOM 2015
EditorsNaveen Garg, Klaus Jansen, Anup Rao, Jose D. P. Rolim
PublisherSchloss Dagstuhl- Leibniz-Zentrum fur Informatik GmbH, Dagstuhl Publishing
Pages20-42
Number of pages23
ISBN (Electronic)9783939897897
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2015
Event18th International Workshop on Approximation Algorithms for Combinatorial Optimization Problems, APPROX 2015, and 19th International Workshop on Randomization and Computation, RANDOM 2015 - Princeton, United States
Duration: 24 Aug 201526 Aug 2015

Publication series

NameLeibniz International Proceedings in Informatics, LIPIcs
Volume40
ISSN (Print)1868-8969

Conference

Conference18th International Workshop on Approximation Algorithms for Combinatorial Optimization Problems, APPROX 2015, and 19th International Workshop on Randomization and Computation, RANDOM 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPrinceton
Period24/08/1526/08/15

Keywords

  • Data structures
  • Nearest neighbor search
  • Planar graphs
  • Planar metrics
  • Planar separator

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