Interactive web platform for extraction and visualization of scientific journal metrics

The communication and dissemination of scientific research results through journals are essential, but measuring and showcasing their impact requires editors to use various indicators. Internationally, indexed journal databases provide metrics, but not all journals are included in them. Platforms like Google Scholar, Open Journal System, or Google Analytics generate metrics and statistics, but the lack of technical support personnel for journals complicates their usage. Therefore, we developed an interactive web tool to extract and automate data from different platforms and generate journal metrics. We utilized the R language and the Shiny package to create a user-friendly interface with tabs for different functions. Users can upload statistics documents from Open Journal System and links to profiles in Google Scholar and the repository for transformation and storage in Google Sheet. The online application extracts and loads data from four sources, cleans and transforms it into a tabular format. The data is displayed in the interface and stored in Google Sheet, allowing for downloadable transformed versions. The data in Google Sheet is integrated with Locker Studio for visualization and incorporated into the journal’s website. During tests on five scientific journals, the average time for manual data extraction and visualization was 158 minutes, while using the Shiny platform reduced it to 20 minutes. This tool facilitates the measurement and presentation of publication impact and enhances journal visibility.