Embedding Planar Graphs at Fixed Vertex Locations

Abstract.

 Let G be a planar graph of n vertices, v ₁,…,v _n , and let {p ₁,…,p _n } be a set of n points in the plane. We present an algorithm for constructing in O(n ²) time a planar embedding of G, where vertex v _i is represented by point p _i and each edge is represented by a polygonal curve with O(n) bends (internal vertices). This bound is asymptotically optimal in the worst case. In fact, if G is a planar graph containing at least m pairwise independent edges and the vertices of G are randomly assigned to points in convex position, then, almost surely, every planar embedding of G mapping vertices to their assigned points and edges to polygonal curves has at least m/20 edges represented by curves with at least m/40³ bends.