Dual communities in spatial networks

TL;DR

This paper introduces the concept of dual communities in spatial networks, showing they emerge as a distinct phase in optimized network structures and help prevent failure spreading in supply systems.

Contribution

It defines dual communities as a new class of network communities and demonstrates their role in enhancing network robustness against failures.

Findings

Dual communities are a distinct phase in optimized spatial networks.

Traditional and dual communities both suppress failure spreading.

Dual communities emerge naturally under network optimization processes.

Abstract

Both human-made and natural supply systems, such as power grids and leaf venation networks, are built to operate reliably under changing external conditions. Many of these spatial networks exhibit community structures. Here, we show that a relatively strong connectivity between the parts of a network can be used to define a different class of communities: dual communities. We demonstrate that traditional and dual communities emerge naturally as two different phases of optimized network structures that are shaped by fluctuations and that they suppress failure spreading, which underlines their importance in understanding the shape of real-world supply networks.