Decentralized Detection of Structural Hole Spanners in Large Evolving Networks

This project focuses on identifying nodes that act as *structural hole spanners* in large, dynamically changing networks. Structural hole spanners are nodes that bridge gaps (structural holes) between otherwise disconnected or weakly connected groups in a network. These nodes play a critical role in controlling information flow, enabling innovation, and influencing network dynamics. The project aims to develop decentralized algorithms to detect such nodes efficiently in large-scale networks that evolve over time, without relying on centralized control or global network knowledge.

This project has the potential to provide valuable insights into network dynamics, optimize information flow and improve network robustness for various applications. This could benefit fields like network reliability and social network analysis, where structural hole spanners can identify critical sections in the network whose break-down will cause greatest damage (maximum separation). It will also benefit IoT networks, where detecting such nodes can improve network robustness and resource allocation effectiveness. The project contributes to the growing body of research in decentralized network analysis and network resilience, offering innovative solutions for handling large-scale dynamic systems.