1. Visualizing USGS Research: Past, Present, and Future
Terri L. Postma, M.D.
Office of Science Quality and Integrity (OSQI)
March 14, 2018

2. Text Mining and Visualization: Why do it?
Provides information and data that can help the USGS…
Plan,
Execute, and
Evaluate
…its research policy and performance

3. Reading a Co-Occurrence Term Map
Size = Rate of Term Occurrence
geological exploration
western territory
spirit leveling
Links = Term Co-occurrence
Proximity = relatedness
USGS Publications: Inception to 1915
* source: USGS Publications Warehouse inception to 1915

4. Exploration of Western Territories
Reading a Co-Occurrence Term Map
geological exploration
Exploration of Western Territories
western territory
Energy
spirit leveling
Geographic Survey
Hydrology
Mineral resources
USGS Publications: Inception to 1915
* source: USGS Publications Warehouse inception to 1915

5. Text Mining and Visualization: Why do it?
Identify research trends
Provide an objective overview of the research
Visualize connections between disciplines and researchers
Evaluate policy impact
Plan for succession
Find opportunities for bridging gaps
Understand core competencies
Gauge influence/position/ranking

6. Text Mining and Visualization: Why do it?
Identify research trends
Provide an objective overview of the research
Visualize connections between disciplines and researchers
Evaluate policy impact
Plan for succession
Find opportunities for bridging gaps
Understand core competencies
Gauge influence/position/ranking

7. Time Series Overlay: Astrogeology Science Center
Older terms
Newer terms
2000
2017
1970
orbital science investigation
photogeology
* source: USGS Publications Warehouse inception to present

8. Text Mining and Visualization: Why do it?
Identify research trends
Provide an objective overview of the research
Visualize connections between disciplines and researchers
Evaluate policy impact
Plan for succession
Find opportunities for bridging gaps
Understand core competencies
Gauge influence/position/ranking

9. Federal Algal Bloom Research Activity
Is federal algal bloom research activity duplicative or complementary?
* source: SCOPUS – all US affiliated publications 2015 to present

10. State of the art: ‘algal bloom’ research
Water Quality
Societal impact
Toxin detection
Remote sensing
microbiology
Toxin exposure
Ecology
* source: SCOPUS – all US affiliated publications 2015 to present

11. State of the art: ‘algal bloom’ research
NOAA Research
Water Quality
Societal Impact
USGS Research
Remote sensing
Toxin detection
microbiology
Toxin exposure
Ecology
* source: SCOPUS – all US affiliated publications 2015 to present

12. Text Mining and Visualization: Why do it?
Identify research trends
Provide an objective overview of the research
Visualize connections between disciplines and researchers
Evaluate policy impact
Plan for succession
Find opportunities for bridging gaps
Understand core competencies
Gauge influence/position/ranking

13. Policy Impact: USGS Term Map Late-1990’s
Contamination terms
Hydrology
Biology (water)
Energy/mineral terms
Mapping terms
Geology
And
Geography
Biology (land)
* source: SCOPUS – all USGS affiliated publications

14. Policy Impact: USGS Term Map Mid-2010’s
Clusters are more closely related
Hydrology
Ecosystems
New cluster terms
Wildlife disease
Policy & Mapping
CLU/CSS
New clusters
Geology
And
Geography
Biology
* source: SCOPUS – all USGS affiliated publications 2015-present

15. Policy Impact: USGS Co-authorship Relationships
The rest of the authors are arrayed around the center.
38% of USGS authors with the greatest link strength are connected
* source: Publications Warehouse

16. Policy Impact: USGS Co-authorship Relationships
98% of USGS authors with the greatest link strength are connected
2015-present
* source: Publications Warehouse 2015-present

17. Text Mining and Visualization: Why do it?
Identify research trends
Provide an objective overview of the research
Visualize connections between disciplines and researchers
Evaluate policy impact
Plan for succession
Find opportunities for bridging gaps
Understand core competencies
Gauge influence/position/ranking

18. USGS Co-authorship relationships across Science Centers
Only authors with very strong linkages are shown.
Size = number of links
Proximity = relatedness of authors
Links = strength of co-authorship relationship
* source: Publications Warehouse 2012-present

19. USGS Co-authorship relationships across Science Centers
Energy & Minerals
Astrogeology SC
Geologic Hazards SC
USGS Co-authorship relationships across Science Centers
Pacific & Coastal Marine
In many cases, co-authorship relationships are strongly correlated with science center
Weak correlation with science center may suggest research integration or cross-cutting interests
Multicenter:
Water Science Centers
Ecological Science Centers
Cooperative Research Units
Hawaii Volcano SC
EROS
Pacific Islands Eco RS
* source: Publications Warehouse 2012-present

20. USGS Co-authorship relationships across Science Centers
Sumner/Alpers connection
USGS Co-authorship relationships across Science Centers
Authors connecting clusters may indicate unique areas of integrated investigation.
* source: Publications Warehouse 2012-present

21. Evolution of USGS Co-authorship relationships
Research trends may indicate whether a science center is becoming more or less integrated
Average publication date may help with succession planning
* source: Publications Warehouse 2012-present

22. Text Mining and Visualization: Why do it?
Identify research trends
Provide an objective overview of the research
Visualize connections between disciplines and researchers
Evaluate policy impact
Plan for succession
Find opportunities for bridging gaps
Understand core competencies
Gauge influence/position/ranking

23. A New Frontier to Explore: Global Research
Astronomy
Astrogeology
Space Weather
State of the art overview: extraplanetary science according to the search term ‘extraterrestrial’
(SCOPUS, all, ~2014 to present)
Extraterrestrial Life
Astrobiology/
Habitability
* source: SCOPUS - all publications 1985-present

24. A New Frontier to Explore: USGS Research
Clusters are highly integrated focusing on scientific disciplines of Geography and Geology
A few Biology and Hydrology terms are also found.
Biology
Geography
Hydrology
Reminiscent of early USGS western frontier studies….
Geology
* source: SCOPUS – USGS affiliated publications 1985-present

25. Opportunity?
The USGS integrates geology, hydrology, biology, and geography to provide credible and impartial science for the benefit of our nation and world.
USGS appears to be uniquely positioned to provide science to inform our understanding of the unlimited space frontier.

26. Text Mining and Visualization: Why do it?
Identify research trends
Provide an objective overview of the research
Visualize connections between disciplines and researchers
Evaluate policy impact
Plan for succession
Find opportunities for bridging gaps
Understand core competencies
Gauge influence/position/ranking

27. Text Mining and Visualization: Core Competencies

28. Text Mining and Visualization: National Ranking

29. Text Mining and Visualization: USGS Collaborators
* source: SCOPUS – USGS affiliated publications 2010-present

30. Summary
Text mining, bibliometric, and visualization tools provide a holistic and objective view of a body of research that can be used for:
Differentiating USGS’ body of research from other federal entities
Observing the evolution and direction of research
Demonstrate USGS research impact and value to stakeholders

31. Contact
At DOI/USGS (through March 2018): Office of Science Quality and Integrity At HHS/CMS: Performance-Based Payment Policy Group