Nodegoat.net: A Comprehensive Digital Research Environment for Social and Humanities Sciences
Necmettin Semiz
Nodegoat (https://nodegoat.net) was established by Lab1100 with the aim of facilitating digital research in the field of social and humanities sciences. This platform enables researchers to create their own data models and datasets, offering a range of analytical capabilities, including spatial, network, and chronological visualization. In other words, it serves as a platform for projects and teams to manage and conduct research from start to finish (Visual 1). Setting itself apart from others, Nodegoat integrates functions found in different programs, making it a preferred option among academic institutions such as the University of Amsterdam, Leipzig University, Central European University, the University of Bern, Leiden University, and many more. The preference of these esteemed universities for Nodegoat is not surprising but rather expected.
Visual 1: Nodegoat's interface for creating and configuring data models and management infrastructure.
In the field of digital social and humanities research, scholars often find the need to use a combination of tools such as Apache OpenNLP for text analysis, Geographic Information System (GIS) programs for spatial examination, social network analysis (SNA) applications for network analysis, and programming languages like Python or R for general data analysis. However, Nodegoat stands out by consolidating these functions into a single application. Individuals proficient in using Nodegoat can efficiently perform a wide range of tasks without the need for multiple separate tools.
Nodegoat has been employed in various research projects demonstrating its adaptability across different domains. Examples include projects like "The Political Actors and Networks of the March of Ancone in the 13th and 14th Centuries" (Visual 2), "The Study of Noble Borders in Early Modern Italy" (Visual 3), "Analysing Languages and Dialects Spoken in the Napoleonic Empire" (Visual 4), and "FORMAL. Mapping Fountains over Time and Place" (Visual 5). These examples showcase Nodegoat's usability in research spanning politics, geography, philology, and architecture. Its ability to make these areas accessible for researchers is particularly crucial for those engaging in interdisciplinary work. For instance, a historian interested in leveraging sociological data analysis can seamlessly integrate both disciplines using Nodegoat, even incorporating philological, geographical, and other analyses within the platform. Importantly, this can be achieved without the need for multiple programs, as Nodegoat operates as a comprehensive, web-based solution.
Visual 2: The Political Actors and Networks of the March of Ancone in the 13th and 14th Centuries
Visual 3: The Study of Noble Borders in Early Modern Italy
Visual 4: Analysing Languages and Dialects Spoken in the Napoleonic Empire
Visual 5: FORMAL. Mapping Fountains over Time and Place
In addition to its online resources, Nodegoat organizes workshops in various countries. While these workshops have predominantly taken place in Europe since 2014, there have been exceptional instances in the United States and the United Arab Emirates. Nodegoat is widely used in Europe and introducing the app to other countries by such workshops is highly needed.
The Nodegoat website provides a comprehensive guide for researchers considering the use of the platform. This guide includes detailed information on data modeling, including how to handle uncertain data within Nodegoat. The "Getting Started" section provides content that informs new users about data processing and practical usage of Nodegoat. Furthermore, the platform offers specific information on data creation and exploration in various research areas. The website emphasizes Nodegoat's data export and sharing capabilities, making it a versatile tool for research dissemination. Its detailed guide section, coverage of usage instructions, and articles on data and data types make Nodegoat a preferable choice for those new to or considering digital research.
Nodegoat offers four different products: nodegoat.net, nodegoat One, nodegoat Grow, and nodegoat Go. While Nodegoat.net is offered for free, the costs associated with the other three products are not explicitly stated on the website. Interested individuals need to click the "Contact Us" button to obtain pricing information.
In conclusion, Nodegoat, developed by Lab1100, stands as a valuable research platform for digital social and humanities scientists. It provides a versatile environment for data modeling, analysis, and visualization. As digital social and humanities research continues to grow, Nodegoat appears to persist as a tool that researchers can use at every stage of their research to harness the power of data.