IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jftint/v13y2021i8p203-d607873.html

Ambalytics: A Scalable and Distributed System Architecture Concept for Bibliometric Network Analyses

Author

Listed:
  • Klaus Kammerer

    (Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany)

  • Manuel Göster

    (Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany)

  • Manfred Reichert

    (Institute of Databases and Information Systems, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany)

  • Rüdiger Pryss

    (Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany)

Abstract

A deep understanding about a field of research is valuable for academic researchers. In addition to technical knowledge, this includes knowledge about subareas, open research questions, and social communities (networks) of individuals and organizations within a given field. With bibliometric analyses, researchers can acquire quantitatively valuable knowledge about a research area by using bibliographic information on academic publications provided by bibliographic data providers. Bibliometric analyses include the calculation of bibliometric networks to describe affiliations or similarities of bibliometric entities (e.g., authors) and group them into clusters representing subareas or communities. Calculating and visualizing bibliometric networks is a nontrivial and time-consuming data science task that requires highly skilled individuals. In addition to domain knowledge, researchers must often provide statistical knowledge and programming skills or use software tools having limited functionality and usability. In this paper, we present the ambalytics bibliometric platform, which reduces the complexity of bibliometric network analysis and the visualization of results. It accompanies users through the process of bibliometric analysis and eliminates the need for individuals to have programming skills and statistical knowledge, while preserving advanced functionality, such as algorithm parameterization, for experts. As a proof-of-concept, and as an example of bibliometric analyses outcomes, the calculation of research fronts networks based on a hybrid similarity approach is shown. Being designed to scale, ambalytics makes use of distributed systems concepts and technologies. It is based on the microservice architecture concept and uses the Kubernetes framework for orchestration. This paper presents the initial building block of a comprehensive bibliometric analysis platform called ambalytics, which aims at a high usability for users as well as scalability.

Suggested Citation

  • Klaus Kammerer & Manuel Göster & Manfred Reichert & Rüdiger Pryss, 2021. "Ambalytics: A Scalable and Distributed System Architecture Concept for Bibliometric Network Analyses," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-29, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jftint:v:13:y:2021:i:8:p:203-:d:607873
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/13/8/203/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/13/8/203/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Aria, Massimo & Cuccurullo, Corrado, 2017. "bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 959-975.
    2. M.J. Cobo & A.G. López‐Herrera & E. Herrera‐Viedma & F. Herrera, 2012. "SciMAT: A new science mapping analysis software tool," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 63(8), pages 1609-1630, August.
    3. van Eck, Nees Jan & Waltman, Ludo, 2014. "CitNetExplorer: A new software tool for analyzing and visualizing citation networks," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 8(4), pages 802-823.
    4. Fabian Meyer-Brötz & Edgar Schiebel & Leo Brecht, 2017. "Experimental evaluation of parameter settings in calculation of hybrid similarities: effects of first- and second-order similarity, edge cutting, and weighting factors," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 111(3), pages 1307-1325, June.
    5. M.J. Cobo & A.G. López-Herrera & E. Herrera-Viedma & F. Herrera, 2011. "Science mapping software tools: Review, analysis, and cooperative study among tools," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 62(7), pages 1382-1402, July.
    6. M.J. Cobo & A.G. López-Herrera & E. Herrera-Viedma & F. Herrera, 2012. "SciMAT: A new science mapping analysis software tool," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 63(8), pages 1609-1630, August.
    7. M.J. Cobo & A.G. López‐Herrera & E. Herrera‐Viedma & F. Herrera, 2011. "Science mapping software tools: Review, analysis, and cooperative study among tools," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 62(7), pages 1382-1402, July.
    8. Sebastian Grauwin & Pablo Jensen, 2011. "Mapping scientific institutions," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 89(3), pages 943-954, December.
    9. Ole Ellegaard & Johan A. Wallin, 2015. "The bibliometric analysis of scholarly production: How great is the impact?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 105(3), pages 1809-1831, December.
    10. Sven E. Hug & Michael Ochsner & Martin P. Brändle, 2017. "Citation analysis with microsoft academic," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 111(1), pages 371-378, April.
    11. McLevey, John & McIlroy-Young, Reid, 2017. "Introducing metaknowledge: Software for computational research in information science, network analysis, and science of science," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 11(1), pages 176-197.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Xingrong Guo & Yiming Guo & Yunqin Liu, 2021. "The Development of Extended Reality in Education: Inspiration from the Research Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-20, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Juan Ruiz-Rosero & Gustavo Ramirez-Gonzalez & Jesus Viveros-Delgado, 2019. "Software survey: ScientoPy, a scientometric tool for topics trend analysis in scientific publications," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 121(2), pages 1165-1188, November.
    2. Manoranjan Mishra & Sudarsan Desul & Celso Augusto Guimarães Santos & Shailendra Kumar Mishra & Abu Hena Mustafa Kamal & Shreerup Goswami & Ahmed Mukalazi Kalumba & Ramakrishna Biswal & Richarde Marqu, 2024. "A bibliometric analysis of sustainable development goals (SDGs): a review of progress, challenges, and opportunities," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 11101-11143, May.
    3. Estévez-Mendoza, Carlos & Montoro-Sánchez, Ángeles, 2024. "Exploring the relationship between innovation and corporate governance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    4. Zamani, Mehdi & Yalcin, Haydar & Naeini, Ali Bonyadi & Zeba, Gordana & Daim, Tugrul U, 2022. "Developing metrics for emerging technologies: identification and assessment," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    5. Ahmadfard, Mohammadamin & Baniasadi, Ehsan, 2025. "Borehole thermal energy storage systems: A comprehensive review using bibliometric and qualitative tools," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 387(C).
    6. Mirko Lai & Salvatore Vilella & Federica Cena & Giancarlo Ruffo, 2025. "pyBiblioNet: a Python library for a comprehensive network-based bibliometric analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 130(12), pages 7139-7190, December.
    7. Danilo Magno Marchiori & Silvio Popadiuk & Emerson Wagner Mainardes & Ricardo Gouveia Rodrigues, 2021. "Innovativeness: a bibliometric vision of the conceptual and intellectual structures and the past and future research directions," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(1), pages 55-92, January.
    8. Gaviria-Marin, Magaly & Merigó, José M. & Baier-Fuentes, Hugo, 2019. "Knowledge management: A global examination based on bibliometric analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 194-220.
    9. Zoltán Lakner & Brigitta Plasek & Gyula Kasza & Anna Kiss & Sándor Soós & Ágoston Temesi, 2021. "Towards Understanding the Food Consumer Behavior–Food Safety–Sustainability Triangle: A Bibliometric Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-23, November.
    10. Gallego-Losada, María-Jesús & Montero-Navarro, Antonio & García-Abajo, Elisa & Gallego-Losada, Rocío, 2023. "Digital financial inclusion. Visualizing the academic literature," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    11. Cihangir Kaçmaz & Osman Tayyar Çelik, 2025. "Life Satisfaction in Adolescence: A Bibliometric Analysis," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 18(5), pages 1927-1955, October.
    12. Santana, Monica & Cobo, Manuel J., 2020. "What is the future of work? A science mapping analysis," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 846-862.
    13. Dušan Nikolić & Dragan Ivanović & Lidija Ivanović, 2024. "An open-source tool for merging data from multiple citation databases," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 129(7), pages 4573-4595, July.
    14. Carmona-Lavado, Antonio & Gimenez-Fernandez, Elena M. & Vlaisavljevic, Vesna & Cabello-Medina, Carmen, 2023. "Cross-industry innovation: A systematic literature review," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    15. Gallego-Losada, Rocío & Montero-Navarro, Antonio & Rodríguez-Sánchez, José-Luis & González-Torres, Thais, 2022. "Retirement planning and financial literacy, at the crossroads. A bibliometric analysis," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    16. Pahrudin Pahrudin & Li-Wei Liu & Shao-Yu Li, 2022. "What Is the Role of Tourism Management and Marketing toward Sustainable Tourism? A Bibliometric Analysis Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-18, April.
    17. Xinxin Wang & Zeshui Xu & Yong Qin, 2022. "Structure, trend and prospect of operational research: a scientific analysis for publications from 1952 to 2020 included in Web of Science database," Fuzzy Optimization and Decision Making, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 649-672, December.
    18. A. Velez-Estevez & P. García-Sánchez & J. A. Moral-Munoz & M. J. Cobo, 2022. "Why do papers from international collaborations get more citations? A bibliometric analysis of Library and Information Science papers," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(12), pages 7517-7555, December.
    19. Eduardo Terán-Yépez & David Jiménez-Castillo & Manuel Sánchez-Pérez, 2021. "International opportunity recognition: A comprehensive bibliometric review," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 18-52, March.
    20. Irena Sajovic & Bojana Boh Podgornik, 2022. "Bibliometric Analysis of Visualizations in Computer Graphics: A Study," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440211, January.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jftint:v:13:y:2021:i:8:p:203-:d:607873. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.