Topological data analysis of biological aggregation models

PLoS One. 2015 May 13;10(5):e0126383. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126383. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

We apply tools from topological data analysis to two mathematical models inspired by biological aggregations such as bird flocks, fish schools, and insect swarms. Our data consists of numerical simulation output from the models of Vicsek and D'Orsogna. These models are dynamical systems describing the movement of agents who interact via alignment, attraction, and/or repulsion. Each simulation time frame is a point cloud in position-velocity space. We analyze the topological structure of these point clouds, interpreting the persistent homology by calculating the first few Betti numbers. These Betti numbers count connected components, topological circles, and trapped volumes present in the data. To interpret our results, we introduce a visualization that displays Betti numbers over simulation time and topological persistence scale. We compare our topological results to order parameters typically used to quantify the global behavior of aggregations, such as polarization and angular momentum. The topological calculations reveal events and structure not captured by the order parameters.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Animal Distribution*
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Computer Simulation
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Statistical

Associated data

  • Dryad/10.5061/dryad.91J93

Grants and funding

This work was supported by National Science Foundation grant DMS-1412674, www.nsf.gov, to CT; National Science Foundation grant DMS-1009633, www.nsf.gov, to CT; and Simons Foundation Grant 283311, www.simonsfoundation.org, to TH. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.