Interactive Data Visualization for Decision-making in Government-funded Advanced Research Computing Service

Abstract

Data-driven decision-making has become more prevalent in the field of digital government. Data visualization as a key tool for data exploration, can help decision makers quickly understand data and grasp insights behind pages of spreadsheets. To better support scientific discovery through advanced research computing, the U.S. National Science Foundation has funded the cyberinfrastructure programs including TeraGrid, XSEDE, and ACCESS for over twenty years. These programs have generated extensive data about the awarded projects along with their resource allocation and usage. However, existing visualization tools for these data were not designed for in-depth analysis or direct decision-making support. This research investigated the needs of resource providers and users, analyzed the data collected from TeraGrid and XSEDE projects between 2003 and 2022, and developed a publicly accessible interactive visualization dashboard. The goal of this visual platform is to enable resource providers and users to independently explore data through graphs and tables and make informed comparisons and decisions. Resource providers can use the platform to study and compare trends in resource allocation and usage across projects funded at various institutions and within different fields, identify more efficient resource users and research directions, and provide personalized services to institutions and principal investigators in need. Resource users can search for potential collaborators and helpers from successful cyberinfrastructure project awardees in similar fields, nearby locations, or related research topics. Additionally, this paper demonstrates the practical application of the visualization dashboard through three examples: a research-intensive institution, an under-represented minority-serving institution, and a junior researcher from a specific field of science, showcasing how each can leverage the platform for decision-making.