From uncharted waters to a mapped horizon: Building a research intelligence app with Power BI and integrated open and institutional data
Date
2026-06-03
Authors
Giesbrecht, Karina
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Abstract
What does it look like to chart a research data landscape when the map doesn't yet exist? This presentation traces the development of the Research Intelligence (RI) App at the University of Victoria (UVic), a Power BI platform that consolidates over 15 open and institutional data sources into a unified, accessible tool for evidence-informed decision-making.
The RI App organizes UVic's research ecosystem across six domains: People, Grants, Expertise, Scholarly Works, Innovation, and Rankings. Six purpose-built dashboards — including a new International Connections dashboard that maps global co-authorship networks — serve over 100 users, from executive leadership and Deans to Faculty Grants Officers and librarians, supporting both exploratory analysis and repeatable queries. Data integration is handled through a Python-based ETL pipeline built on a Medallion architecture (Bronze, Silver, Gold), drawing on sources including internal systems (Grants, HR), open platforms (OpenAlex, ORCID, CAUBO), and global university rankings (THE, QS, ARWU, Maclean's).
Built in alignment with DORA and the Leiden Manifesto, the platform is designed as a tool for insight and storytelling, not surveillance or ranking. Attendees will come away with practical strategies for building research intelligence capacity at their own institutions, including approaches to data integration, responsible metrics, stakeholder engagement, and fostering a collaborative data community.
Description
Presented at the Bibliometrics and Research Impact Community (BRIC) 2026 Conference, June 2–4, 2026, in Edmonton, Alberta. Delivered as a 20-minute short presentation. Speaker notes are included in the slides.
Keywords
research intelligence, Power BI, bibliometrics, data integration, open data, research dashboards, responsible metrics, data visualization
Citation
Giesbrecht, K. (2026, June 3). From uncharted waters to a mapped horizon: Building a research intelligence app with Power BI and integrated open and institutional data [Conference presentation]. Bibliometrics and Research Impact Community (BRIC) 2026 Conference, Edmonton, AB, Canada.