Skip to main content

Open Questions in Multidimensional Multilevel Network Science

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
3rd International Winter School and Conference on Network Science (NetSci-X 2017)

Part of the book series: Springer Proceedings in Complexity ((SPCOM))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Network science has made great progress in the study of binary relationships between pairs of elements. Although it has been known for decades that n-ary are ubiquitous in complex systems, progress in this area has been much slower. A condensed account is given of the family of network structures which includes graphs, networks, multilevel networks and multiplex networks for binary relations, and hypergraphs, simplices complexes and hypernetworks for n-ary relations. These structures are naturally integrated in a generalising framework. This family of network structures supports a new theory of multilevel systems where structures at one level become vertices at higher levels through part-whole aggregation interleaved with taxonomic aggregation. Although the structures presented are necessary to understand the dynamics of complex multilevel systems, there are many open questions. These are presented for consideration by the network community.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Atkin, R.H.: From cohomology in physics to Q-connectivity in social science. Int. J. Man Mach. Stud. 4 (2), 139–167 (1972)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  2. Atkin, R.H.: Mathematical Structure in Human Affairs. Heinemann Educational Books, London (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Atkin, R.H.: Combinatorial Connectivities in Social Systems. Birkhäuser, Basel (1977)

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  4. Atkin, R.H.: Multidimensional Man. Penguin Books, Harmondsworth (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Atkin, R.H., Bray, R., Cook, I.: A mathematical approach towards a social science. The Essex Review, University of Essex, Autumn 1968, No. 2, 3–5 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Atkin, R.H., Johnson, J.H., Mancini, V.: An analysis of urban structure using concepts of algebraic topology. Urban Stud. 8, 221–242 (1971)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Barabási, A.-L.: Linked. Perseus Books Group, Cambridge (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Berge, C.: Hypergraphs: Combinatorics of Finite Sets. North Holland, Amsterdam (1989)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  9. Berge, C.: Sur certains hypergraphes généralisant les graphes bipartites. In: Erdös, P., Rhényi, A., Sós, V.T. (eds.) Combinatorial Theory and Its Applications I. Proceedings of the Colloquium on Combinatorial Theory and Its Applications, 1969, pp. 119–133. North-Holland, Amsterdam (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Boccaletti, S., Bianconi, G., Criado, R., del Genio, C.I., Gómez-Gardeñes, J., Romance, M., Sendiña-Nadal, I., Wang, Z., Zanin, M.: The structure and dynamics of multilayer networks. Phys. Rep. 544, 1–122 (2014)

    Article  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  11. De Domenico, M., Solé-Ribalta, A., Cozzo, E., Kivela, M., Moreno, Y., Porter, M.A., Gómez, S., Arenas, A.: Mathematical formulation of multilayer networks. Phys. Rev. X 3, 041022 (2013). http://journals.aps.org/prx/pdf/10.1103/PhysRevX.3.041022

    Google Scholar 

  12. Dowker, C.H.: The homology groups of relations. Ann. Math. 56 (1), 84–95 (1952)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  13. Freeman, L.C., White, D.R.: Using Galois lattices to represent network data. In: Sociological Methodology, vol. 23. American Sociological Association, Washington (1993). ISBN 1-55786-464-0, ISSN 0081–1750 http://eclectic.ss.uci.edu/~drwhite/pw/Galois.pdf

  14. Freeman, L.C., White, D.R., Romney, A.K.: Research Methods in Social Network Analysis. Transaction, New Brunswick (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Johnson, J.H.: Hypernetworks for reconstructing the dynamics of multilevel systems. In: European Conference on Complex Systems 2006, Oxford, 25–29 September 2006. http://oro.open.ac.uk/4628/1/ECCS06-Johnson-R.pdf

  16. Johnson, J.H.: Hypernetworks in the Science of Complex Systems. Imperial College Press, London (2014)

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  17. Johnson, J.H.: Embracing n-ary relations in network science. In: Wierzbicki, A., Brandes, U., Schweitzer, F., Pedreschi, D. (eds.) Proceedings of 12th International Conference and School on Advances in Network Science, NetSci-X 2016, Wroclaw, 11–13 January 2016

    Google Scholar 

  18. Johnson, J.H.: Hypernetworks: multidimensional relationships in multilevel systems. Eur. Phys. J. Spec. Top. 225 (6–7), 1037–1052 (2016). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308956954_Hypernetworks_Multidimensional_relationships_in_multilevel_systems

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Supported by the UK Home Office and HEFCE through a Police Knowledge Fund grant to the Open University National Centre for Policing Research and Professional Development.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey H. Johnson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this paper

Cite this paper

Johnson, J.H. (2017). Open Questions in Multidimensional Multilevel Network Science. In: Shmueli, E., Barzel, B., Puzis, R. (eds) 3rd International Winter School and Conference on Network Science . NetSci-X 2017. Springer Proceedings in Complexity. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55471-6_10

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics