GRETA analytics: Communicating the spatial dimension of energy citizenship using a collaborative Shiny app

Abstract

Research output from inter- and trans-disciplinary research projects is challenging to store, link, analyze, and communicate among stakeholders and researchers from other fields. Datasets, models, and methods are often non-interactive, hard to access and understand, and hidden in research articles with specific terminologies. Here, we present GRETA Analytics, an R Shiny application developed to communicate the output of the GRETA (GReen Energy Transition Actions) EU Horizon 2020 research project. The tool presents and visualizes data collected from qualitative case studies, an extensive multinational survey in 16 EU countries, their re-use in scenario predictions, and their framing for developing interactive transition pathways for individuals and communities. With a strong geospatial focus and a narrative design, the tool promotes collaborative sense-making processes of the real world instead of plain visualization. This paper addresses the development process, design choices, data integration strategies, architecture details, and deployment methods of the tool. We demonstrate how using collaborative and interactive dashboards can enhance the communication of research projects and support a geographical understanding of energy citizenship and energy transition actions, which were the overall goals of the GRETA project.

Keywords

• Energy citizenship
• GIS
• R Shiny
• Narrative visualization