The considered problem is NP-complete only for d > 1. For d = 1 one
can actually compute an optimal solution in linear time with the following
algorithm: We always place the next interval (i.e., l-dimensional ball) with its left
end at the leftmost point that is not yet covered.
For d = 2 and fixed 1 L 1 we use two nested applications of the shifting strategy
from Section 2. We first cut the plane into vertical strips of width 1. D. Then, in
order to cover the points in such a strip, we apply the shifting strategy to the other
dimension. Thus, we cut the considered strip into squares of side length I.D. We
find optimal coverings of points in such a square by exhaustive search. With
(1. J2)2 = 212 disks of diameter D we can cover an 1. D x 1. D square compactly;
thus we never need to consider more disks for one square. Further, we can assume
that any disk that covers at least two of the given points has two of these points on
its border. (For disks that cover only one point the following estimate holds
trivially.) Since there are only two ways to draw-a circle of given diameter through
two given points, we only have to consider 2. (2”) possible disk positions, where fi
is the number of given points in the considered square. Thus we have to check at
most O(fi2”‘Ja2 ) arrangements of disks. We specify the position of each disk by its
center. In order to check whether an arrangement of disks is a feasible cover of the
vi points in the square, we need to determine for each point whether it is within
a distance of at most D/2 from one of the centers. Such a check will requireO(l* . fi) steps