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This post introduces layout_as_multilevel(), a new function in the {{graphlayouts}} package. As the name suggests, this function can be use to visualize multilevel networks.

A multilevel network consists of two (or more) levels with different node sets and intra-level ties. For instance, one level could be scientists and their collaborative ties and the second level are labs and ties among them, and inter-level edges are the affiliations of scientists and labs.

The {{graphlayouts}} package contains an artificial multilevel network (igraph format) which will be used throughout this post.

data("multilvl_ex", package = "graphlayouts")

The package assumes that a multilevel network has a vertex attribute called lvl which holds the level information (1 or 2).

library(igraph)
library(graphlayouts)
library(ggraph)
library(threejs)

The underlying algorithm of layout_as_multilevel() has three different versions, which can be used to emphasize different structural features of a multilevel network.

Independent of which option is chosen, the algorithm internally produces a 3D layout, where each level is positioned on a different y-plane. The 3D layout is then mapped to 2D with an isometric projection. The parameters alpha and beta control the perspective of the projection. The default values seem to work for many instances, but may not always be optimal. As a rough guideline: beta rotates the plot around the y axis (in 3D) and alpha moves the POV up or down.

## Complete layout

A layout for the complete network can be computed via layout_as_multilevel() setting type = "all". Internally, the algorithm produces a constrained 3D stress layout (each level on a different y plane) which is then projected to 2D. This layout ignores potential differences in each level and optimizes only the overall layout.

xy <- layout_as_multilevel(multilvl_ex,type = "all", alpha = 25, beta = 45)

To visualize the network with {{ggraph}}, you may want to draw the edges for each level (and inter level edges) with a different edge geom. This gives you more flexibility to control aesthetics and can easily be achieved with a filter.

ggraph(multilvl_ex, "manual", x = xy[, 1], y = xy[, 2]) +
aes(filter = (node1.lvl == 1 & node2.lvl == 1)),
edge_colour = "firebrick3",
alpha = 0.5,
edge_width = 0.3
) +
aes(filter = (node1.lvl != node2.lvl)),
alpha = 0.3,
edge_width = 0.1,
edge_colour = "black"
) +
aes(filter = (node1.lvl == 2 &
node2.lvl == 2)),
edge_colour = "goldenrod3",
edge_width = 0.3,
alpha = 0.5
) +
geom_node_point(aes(shape = as.factor(lvl)), fill = "grey25", size = 3) +
scale_shape_manual(values = c(21, 22)) +
theme_graph() +
coord_cartesian(clip = "off", expand = TRUE) +
theme(legend.position = "none")

## Separate layouts for both levels

In many instances, there may be different structural properties inherent to the levels of the network. In that case, two layout functions can be passed to layout_as_multilevel() to deal with these differences. In our artificial network, level 1 has a hidden group structure and level 2 has a core-periphery structure.

To use this layout option, set type = "separate" and specify two layout functions with FUN1 and FUN2. You can change internal parameters of these layout functions with named lists in the params1 and params2 argument. Note that this version optimizes inter-level edges only minimally. The emphasis is on the intra-level structures.

xy <- layout_as_multilevel(multilvl_ex,type = "separate",
FUN1 = layout_as_backbone,
FUN2 = layout_with_stress,
alpha = 25, beta = 45)

Again, try to include an edge geom for each level.

cols2 <- c("#3A5FCD", "#CD00CD", "#EE30A7", "#EE6363",
"#CD2626", "#458B00", "#EEB422", "#EE7600")

ggraph(multilvl_ex, "manual", x = xy[, 1], y = xy[, 2]) +
filter = (node1.lvl == 1 & node2.lvl == 1),
edge_colour = col
),
alpha = 0.5, edge_width = 0.3) +
aes(filter = (node1.lvl != node2.lvl)),
alpha = 0.3,
edge_width = 0.1,
edge_colour = "black"
) +
filter = (node1.lvl == 2 & node2.lvl == 2),
edge_colour = col
),
edge_width = 0.3, alpha = 0.5) +
geom_node_point(aes(
fill = as.factor(grp),
shape = as.factor(lvl),
size = nsize
)) +
scale_shape_manual(values = c(21, 22)) +
scale_size_continuous(range = c(1.5, 4.5)) +
scale_fill_manual(values = cols2) +
scale_edge_color_manual(values = cols2, na.value = "grey12") +
scale_edge_alpha_manual(values = c(0.1, 0.7)) +
theme_graph() +
coord_cartesian(clip = "off", expand = TRUE) +
theme(legend.position = "none")

## Fix only one level

This layout can be used to emphasize one intra-level structure. The layout of the second level is calculated in a way that optimizes inter-level edge placement. Set type = "fix1" and specify FUN1 and possibly params1 to fix level 1 or set type = "fix2" and specify FUN2 and possibly params2 to fix level 2.

xy <- layout_as_multilevel(multilvl_ex,type = "fix2",
FUN2 = layout_with_stress,
alpha = 25, beta = 45)

ggraph(multilvl_ex, "manual", x = xy[, 1], y = xy[, 2]) +
filter = (node1.lvl == 1 & node2.lvl == 1),
edge_colour = col
),
alpha = 0.5, edge_width = 0.3) +
aes(filter = (node1.lvl != node2.lvl)),
alpha = 0.3,
edge_width = 0.1,
edge_colour = "black"
) +
filter = (node1.lvl == 2 & node2.lvl == 2),
edge_colour = col
),
edge_width = 0.3, alpha = 0.5) +
geom_node_point(aes(
fill = as.factor(grp),
shape = as.factor(lvl),
size = nsize
)) +
scale_shape_manual(values = c(21, 22)) +
scale_size_continuous(range = c(1.5, 4.5)) +
scale_fill_manual(values = cols2) +
scale_edge_color_manual(values = cols2, na.value = "grey12") +
scale_edge_alpha_manual(values = c(0.1, 0.7)) +
theme_graph() +
coord_cartesian(clip = "off", expand = TRUE) +
theme(legend.position = "none")

# 3D with threejs

Instead of the default 2D projection, layout_as_multilevel() can also return the 3D layout by setting project2d = FALSE. The 3D layout can then be used with e.g. {{threejs}} to produce an interactive 3D visualization.

xyz <- layout_as_multilevel(multilvl_ex,type = "separate",
FUN1 = layout_as_backbone,
FUN2 = layout_with_stress,
project2D = FALSE)
multilvl_ex$layout <- xyz V(multilvl_ex)$color <- c("#00BFFF", "#FF69B4")[V(multilvl_ex)$lvl] V(multilvl_ex)$vertex.label <- V(multilvl_ex)\$name

graphjs(multilvl_ex, bg="black", vertex.shape="sphere")