Flattening Multiparameter Hierarchical Clustering Functors

Abstract: We bring together topological data analysis, applied category theory, and machine learning to study multiparameter hierarchical clustering. We begin by introducing a procedure for flattening multiparameter hierarchical clusterings. We demonstrate that this procedure is a functor from a category of multiparameter hierarchical partitions to a category of binary integer programs. We also include empirical results demonstrating its effectiveness. Next, we introduce a Bayesian update algorithm for learning clustering parameters from data. We demonstrate that the composition of this algorithm with our flattening procedure satisfies a consistency property.