1. Visualizing and Analyzing NIAID’s Research Portfolio Dolan Ghosh, Ph.D., and Marie Parker Office of Strategic Planning, Initiative Development, and Analysis National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
Why Build a Visual Analytic Tool?
(NIAID’s tool was built using Tableau)
NIAID has rich, complex data that describes the Institute’s funded research portfolio. Analysis and visualization of this data frequently uncovers hidden information, increases transparency and is used by NIAID staff and stakeholders. In the past, this data was accessed through spreadsheets, and was cumbersome to analyze and visualize. We have built a dashboard that makes accessing and using this data more easy and efficient.
Benefits of a Dashboard
Analyze Data in Real Time
Provide real-time connection to databases. Connecting live to the database allows the user to automatically analyze and visualize updated data, without having to download data everyday.
Interact With Data: Interaction allows the end user to
Gain insight easily and quickly.
Analyze data as questions evolve (analysis on the fly).
Slice and dice information as needed without learning custom coding languages.
Select and filter on data to answer specific questions using the drilldown feature.
Conduct quick and easy trend analyses over time without having to compile data from multiple spread-sheets over several years.
Eliminate the need for multiple flat spread-sheets through the use of relational databases.
Compare large datasets easily with visual cues.
Personalize Data
Allows analysts to present the right amount of information, from a snapshot view to project level details.
A hover option provides additional information and underlying data without cluttering up the view.
Users can choose from a suite of chart/graph options for appropriate representation of different data types.
Share Analysis Among Users
Static spreadsheets or other common file formats can be uploaded, cleaned for easy data analysis.
This allows multiple users to work from the same data source, which improves reproducibility of results and can be shared and edited by a group.
Improved Data Quality
Allowing multiple users to access the same data allows identification and reconciliation of data errors and inconsistencies and helps improve data quality.
Better understanding of, accessibility to and interaction with the data. The tool allows the user to uncover information that might have remained otherwise unknown and to quickly respond to specific questions about a given portfolio.
A more efficient method of analyzing portfolios.
A Summary View
Customization of Views
Highlights of Dashboard Features
Custom Visuals
Details on Demand
Filter and Select
Search and Export
Users request data.
Database experts build custom query and generate spreadsheets for multiple years and dimensions.
Subject matter experts verify queried results and then share with users, if correct. Else, revise if necessary.
Users compile spreadsheets.
Analyze and visualize.
Revise if necessary.
Users open dashboard.
Select and filter.
Comparing Previous and Current Method of Analysis
From Spreadsheets
From Dashboard
A Detailed View
Conclusion