
arXiv: 2301.03638
A searcher faces a graph with edge lengths and vertex weights, initially having explored only a given starting vertex. In each step, the searcher adds an edge to the solution that connects an unexplored vertex to an explored vertex. This requires an amount of time equal to the edge length. The goal is to minimize the weighted sum of the exploration times over all vertices. We show that this problem is hard to approximate and provide algorithms with improved approximation guarantees. For the general case, we give a (2e+ε)-approximation for any ε > 0. For the case that all vertices have unit weight, we provide a 2e-approximation. Finally, we provide a PTAS for the case of a Euclidean graph. Previously, for all cases only an 8-approximation was known.
FOS: Computer and information sciences, Traveling Repairperson Problem, Search Problem, Computer Science - Data Structures and Algorithms, Data Structures and Algorithms (cs.DS), Expanding Search, 68W25, 68R12, Graph Exploration, 004, Approximation Algorithm, ddc: ddc:004
FOS: Computer and information sciences, Traveling Repairperson Problem, Search Problem, Computer Science - Data Structures and Algorithms, Data Structures and Algorithms (cs.DS), Expanding Search, 68W25, 68R12, Graph Exploration, 004, Approximation Algorithm, ddc: ddc:004
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