TOBAE: A Density-based Agglomerative Clustering Algorithm

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This paper presents a novel density based agglomerative clustering algorithm named TOBAE which is a parameter-less algorithm and automatically filters noise. It finds the appropriate number of clusters while giving a competitive running time. TOBAE works by tracking the cumulative density distribution of the data points on a grid and only requires the original data set as input. The clustering problem is solved by automatically finding the optimal density threshold for the clusters. It is applicable to any N-dimensional data set which makes it highly relevant for real world scenarios. The algorithm outperforms state of the art clustering algorithms by the additional feature of automatic noise filtration around clusters. The concept behind the algorithm is explained using the analogy of puddles ('tobae'), which the algorithm is inspired from. This paper provides a detailed algorithm for TOBAE along with the complexity analysis for both time and space. We show experimental results against known data sets and show how TOBAE competes with the best algorithms in the field while providing its own set of advantages.