DIA2: Web-based Cyberinfrastructure for Visual Analysis of Funding Portfolios.

Area of Science:

• Information Science
• Computer Science
• Data Visualization

Background:

• Program managers and academic staff at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) manage research funding portfolios.
• Effective analysis of past and active research awards is crucial for informed future funding decisions.
• This user group possesses high domain expertise but may lack extensive visualization and visual analytics literacy, termed 'casual experts'.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a design study for the Deep Insights Anywhere, Anytime (DIA2) platform.
• To create a web-based visual analytics system tailored for NSF program managers and academic staff.
• To facilitate understanding of research funding portfolios for improved decision-making.

Main Methods:

• User-centered design approach, starting with formative interviews.
• Development of prototypes to test design concepts.
• Iterative refinement of visualizations and interface based on user feedback.
• Live deployment and evaluation with NSF stakeholders.

Main Results:

• The DIA2 platform was designed to accommodate 'casual experts' by emphasizing user experience standards.
• The system incorporates self-instructive elements and progressively refined visualizations to minimize complexity.
• Modeling the NSF's organizational structure and workflows enhanced the system's relevance and usability.

Conclusions:

• Designing visual analytics systems for casual experts requires careful attention to information design and user experience.
• The DIA2 platform demonstrates a successful approach to supporting data analysis for domain experts with limited visualization expertise.
• The study highlights the importance of user research and iterative design in developing effective data analysis tools for scientific organizations.