Layout Options

Use: The circular layouts are highly effective for identifying central figures in a conspiracy or criminal network. By arranging entities in a circle, it emphasizes nodes with the highest number of connections, pointing to key facilitators or leaders.

Structure: Peer set / equal status entities. Examples: The circular layout is highly effective for identifying central figures in a conspiracy or criminal network. By arranging entities in a circle, it emphasizes nodes with the highest number of connections, pointing to key facilitators or leaders. Why it fits: Chords reveal reciprocity, hubs, and shortcuts while preserving equal prominence.

Structure: Circular ordering but labels are long or canvas is wide. Examples: Long‑named business units, ticket titles, legal entities with verbose names. Why it fits: Stretched ring reduces overlap; keeps the perimeter order you want.

Structure: 2‑ or 4‑bucket partitions with uneven aspect ratio. Examples: Internal vs External on long sides; North/South/East/West; Data/Compute/Network/Edge. Why it fits: Longer sides create room for labels and dense relationship segments.

Structure: 4 balanced categories. Examples: People/Places/Organizations/Events; Create/Read/Update/Delete; Risk/Cost/Value/Time. Why it fits: Each side = category; cross‑side relationships highlight interactions.

Structure: 3‑way partitions / roles. Examples: Source–Broker–Sink, Buyer–Seller–Intermediary, Red/Blue/Green teams. Why it fits: Side assignment conveys role; cross‑side relationships show flows.

Use: This is particularly useful for tracking complex financial transactions in a money laundering investigation. Its clean, grid-like structure with 90-degree angles makes it easy to follow the flow of funds between shell corporations and offshore accounts.

Structure: Technical systems with paths that benefit from right‑angle routing. Examples: The Orthogonal layout is useful for systematically comparing the attributes and connections of multiple suspects. By arranging them in a structured grid, analysts can easily spot shared contacts, common locations, or similar methods of operation. Why it fits: Edges avoid ambiguity, creating area for labels and ports.

Use: This layout is ideal for the initial exploration of a large, unstructured dataset, such as phone records. It automatically pushes highly connected individuals into clusters, revealing previously unknown cells or groups within a wider criminal enterprise.

Structure: Unknown or organic networks with emergent clusters. Examples: This layout is ideal for the initial exploration of a large, unstructured dataset, such as phone records. It automatically pushes highly connected individuals into clusters, revealing previously unknown cells or groups within a wider criminal enterprise. Why it fits: Proximity and geometry reveal hubs, communities, and bridges without imposing categories.

Use: This layout is excellent for mapping the command-and-control structure of a drug cartel or gang. It clearly visualizes the flow of power and communication from the leadership down to the street-level members.

Structure: Flows, chains, trees, DAGs. Examples: This layout is excellent for mapping the command-and-control structure of a drug cartel or gang. It clearly visualizes the flow of power and communication from the leadership down to the street-level members. Why it fits: Directionality and level ordering make parent→child and dependency semantics explicit.