Skip to main content
Log in

A multi-agent-based algorithm for data clustering

  • Regular Paper
  • Published:
Progress in Artificial Intelligence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Clustering algorithms aim to detect groups based on similarity, from a given set of objects. Many clustering techniques have been proposed, most requiring the user to set critical parameters, such as the number of groups. This work presents the implementation and evaluation of a clustering algorithm based on a multi-agent system, which automatically detects the number of groups and the group labels for a given dataset. Groups formed during the clustering process emerge as patterns from the interaction among agents. The proposed algorithm is experimentally validated over benchmark datasets from the literature. The quality of clustering results is computed using seven internal indexes and one external index. Under this methodology, the proposed algorithm is compared to K-means and DBSCAN (density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise).

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

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. https://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/.

References

  1. Agogino, A., Tumer K., A.: Multiagent coordination approach to robust consensus clustering. Adv. Complex Syst. pp. 165–198 (2010)

  2. Chaimontree S., Atkinson, K., Coenen, F.: A multi-agent based approach to clustering: Harnessing the power of agents. In: International Workshop on Agents and Data Mining Interaction ADMI 2011: Agents and Data Mining Interaction, pp. 16–29. Springer (2011)

  3. Cohen, S.C.M., de Castro, L.: Data clustering with particle swarms. In: IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation, CEC 2006, pp. 1792–179. IEEE (2006)

  4. Davies, D.L.: A cluster separation measure. IEEE Trans. Pattern Anal. Mach. Intell. pp. 224–227 (1979)

  5. Deneubourg, J., Goss, S., Franks, N., Sendova, F.A., Detrain, C., Chrétien, L.: The dynamics of collective sorting robot-like ants and ant-like robots, from animals to animats. In: 1st International Conference on Simulation of Adaptive Behaviour, pp. 356–363. AAAI Press (1991)

  6. Dunn, J.C., Bouldin, D.W.: A fuzzy relative of the ISODATA process and its use in detecting compact well-separated clusters. J. Cybernet. pp. 32–57 (1973)

  7. Eaton, J.W., Bateman, D., Hauberg, S., Wehbring, R.: GNU Octave version 4.2.2 manual: a high-level interactive language for numerical computations (2018). https://www.gnu.org/software/octave/doc/v4.2.2/

  8. Ester, M., Kriegel, H.P., Sander, J., Xu, X.: Density-based algorithm for discovering clusters in large spatial databases with noise. In: KDD-96 Proceedings, pp. 226–231. AAAI Press (1996)

  9. Franti, P., Sieranoja, S.: K-means properties on six clustering benchmark datasets. Appl. Intell. pp. 4743–4759 (2018)

  10. Fu, L., Medico, E.: Flame, a novel fuzzy clustering method for the analysis of DNA microarray data. BMC Bioinformat. 8(1), 3 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Gionis, A., Mannila, H., Tsaparas, P.: Clustering aggregation. ACM Trans. Knowl. Discov. Data (TKDD) 1(1), 4 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Gueleri R.A., Zhao, L.: Data clustering based on collective behavior and self-organization. In: Workshop of Theses and Dissertations –XXVII SIBGRAPI Conference on Graphics, Patterns and Images (WTD/SIBGRAPI 2014). SBC (2014)

  13. Jhanji, P., Vij, A., Khandnor, P.: Clustering based on ant colony optimization and relative neighborhood (C-ACORN). In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Computing and Communication Systems, pp. 837–846. Springer (2018)

  14. Karaboga, D., Ozturk, C.: A novel clustering approach: Artificial bee colony (abc) algorithm. Appl. Soft Comput. pp. 652–657 (2009)

  15. Kennedy, J., Eberhart, R.: Particle swarm optimization. In: IEEE International Conference on Neural Networks, pp. 1942–194. IEEE (1995)

  16. Kubalik, J., Tichy, P., Sindelar, R., Staron, R. J.: Clustering methods for agent distribution optimization. IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybernet. Part C Appl. Rev. 40, 78 – 86 (2010)

  17. Kuwil F. H., Shaar, F.T.A.E.M.F.: A new data clustering algorithm based on critical distance methodology. Expert Syst. Appl. pp. 296–310 (2019)

  18. Lumer, E.D., Faieta, B.: Diversity and adaptation in populations of clustering ants. In: Third International Conference on Simulation of Adaptive Behaviour, pp. 501–508. MIT Press, Cambridge (1994)

  19. MacQueen, J.B.: Some methods for classification and analysis of multivariate observations. In: 5th Berkeley Symposium on Mathematical Statistics and Probability, pp. 281–297. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA (1967)

  20. Merwe, D.W.V.d., Engelbrecht, A.P.: Data clustering using particle swarm optimization. In: The 2003 Congress on Evolutionary Computation, CEC ’03, pp. 215–22. IEEE (2003)

  21. Minden, V.L., Youn, C.C., Khan, U.A.: A distributed self-clustering algorithm for autonomous multi-agent systems. In: 50th Annual Allerton Conference on Communication, Control, and Computing (Allerton), pp. 1445–1448 (2012)

  22. Monmarché, N.: On data clustering with artificial ants. Tech. rep., AAAI Technical Report WS-99-06 (1999)

  23. Moulavi, D., Jaskowiak, P. A., Campello, R. J., Zimek, A., Sander, J.: Density-based clustering validation. In: 14th SIAM International Conference on Data Mining, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics), pp. 839–847 (2014)

  24. Pal, N., Biswas, J.: Cluster validation using graph theoretic concepts. Pattern Recognit. pp. 847–85 (1997)

  25. Reynolds, C.W.: Flocks, herds and schools: a distributed behavioral model. Comput. Gr. pp. 25–34 (1987)

  26. Rousseeuw, P.J.: Silhouettes: a graphical aid to the interpretation and validation of cluster analysis. Comput. Appl. Math. pp. 53–65 (1987)

  27. Santos, D.S.D., Bazzan, A.L.C.: A biologically-inspired distributed clustering algorithm. In: 2009 IEEE Swarm Intelligence Symposium, pp. 160–167. IEEE (2009)

  28. Tomasini C., N.B.E.M.K., Emmendorfer, L.: A study on the relationship between internal and external validity indices applied to partitioning and density-based clustering algorithms. In: 19th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems - ICEIS, pp. 89–98 (2017)

  29. Ultsch, A.: Clustering with SOM: U*C. In: Proceedings of Workshop on Self-Organizing Maps (WSOM 2005), pp. 75–82 (2005)

  30. Wooldridge, M.: An Introduction to Multiagent Systems. OHN WILEY SONS, LTD, New York (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Xin, P., Sagan, H.: Digital image clustering algorithm based on multi-agent center optimization. J. Digital Inf. Manag. pp. 8–14 (2016)

  32. Xu, R., Wunsch, D.C.: Clustering. Wiley-IEEE Press, Piscataway, NJ (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Zhang, C., Ouyang, D., Ning, J.: An artificial bee colony approach for clustering. Exp. Syst. Appl. pp. 4761–4767 (2010)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Diana F. Adamatti.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Godois, L.M., Adamatti, D.F. & Emmendorfer, L.R. A multi-agent-based algorithm for data clustering. Prog Artif Intell 9, 305–313 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13748-020-00213-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13748-020-00213-3

Keywords

Navigation