MapReduce-Based Distributed K-Shell Decomposition for Online Social Networks

Social network analysis comprises a popular set of tools for the analysis of online social networks. Among these techniques, k-shell decomposition of a graph is a popular technique that has been used for centrality analysis, for communities discovery, for the detection of influential spreaders, and so on. The huge volume of input graphs and the environments where the algorithm needs to run i.e., large datacenters, makes none of the existing algorithms appropriate for the decomposition of graphs into shells. In this article, we develop for the first time in the literature, a distributed algorithm based on MapReduce for the k-shell decomposition of a graph. We furthermore, provide an implementation and assessment of the algorithm using real social network datasets. We analyze the tradeoffs and speedup of the proposed algorithm and conclude for its virtues and shortcomings.