Open Knowledge Maps

Open Knowledge Maps (OKMaps) is an innovative open-science platform that transforms how researchers discover, explore, and understand scientific literature. Instead of presenting search results as long, linear lists—like Google Scholar, PubMed, or Scopus—OKMaps uses visual knowledge maps to show research areas, clusters, and conceptual relationships. This shift from text-based retrieval to visual exploration makes it one of the most intuitive and cognitively powerful discovery tools in modern research.

1. Purpose and Vision

Open Knowledge Maps was founded on a simple but transformative idea: Scientific knowledge should be openly accessible, visually navigable, and easy to explore.    

Its mission aligns closely with the principles of open science:

• Democratize access to scholarly information
• Help researchers discover relevant knowledge quickly
• Reduce information overload
• Enable interdisciplinary exploration

By offering a free, visual interface built on top of open data, OKMaps reduces barriers that traditionally separate scientific communities.

2. How It Works: Visual Search Powered by Open Data

OKMaps generates knowledge maps using metadata from major open scholarly databases such as:

• OpenAIRE
• BASE
• PubMed (through open APIs)
• Other open repositories

These sources provide access to millions of open-access scientific papers. When a user enters a research query, OKMaps:

1. Retrieves hundreds of related papers
2. Clusters them into thematic groups
3. Visualizes the clusters as a map with concept-labeled areas
4. Allows users to drill down into each cluster to read or download papers

The interactive map enables users to grasp an entire research field in seconds—something traditional search engines cannot provide.

3. Key Features

a. Visual Topic Clusters

• Papers are grouped by thematic similarity
• Clusters reveal subfields, debates, and conceptual neighborhoods
• Helps users quickly identify trends and knowledge gaps

b. Interactive Exploration

• Click on a cluster to open relevant papers
• Expand or collapse areas of interest
• Review abstracts and access open versions where available

c. Works Across Disciplines

OKMaps covers diverse areas:

• Life sciences
• Computer science
• Medicine
• Environmental studies
• Humanities & social sciences
• Engineering
• Interdisciplinary domains

d. Based on Open Infrastructure

One of OKMaps’ greatest strengths is its reliance on open metadata and open-access publications—making it part of the global movement to liberate scholarly knowledge.

e. Community & Collaborative Tools

Open Knowledge Maps supports:

• Community-curated collections
• Research maps for specific groups
• The Open Knowledge Maps Community for crowd-driven development

4. Strengths

1. Unique Visual Approach

OKMaps stands out as one of the first major attempts to visualize academic search results, offering:

• Faster literature reconnaissance
• Intuitive navigation
• Better understanding of research landscapes

2. Highly Accessible

• Entirely free
• No login required
• Works in the browser
• Ideal for students, independent scholars, and researchers in resource-limited environments

3. Excellent for Interdisciplinary Work

Visual connections make it easier to:

• Spot overlapping fields
• Find related topics outside one’s immediate domain
• Identify potential collaborators

4. Supports Open Science

The project aligns with open-access and FAIR principles, helping break the monopoly of closed bibliometric systems.

5. Limitations

1. Dependent on Open Metadata

Because OKMaps relies exclusively on open datasets:

• Closed databases like Web of Science and Scopus are not included
• Some disciplines with low open-access adoption may be underrepresented

2. Map Accuracy Varies

Cluster quality depends heavily on:

• Metadata richness
• Similarity algorithms
• Coverage in open repositories

3. Not a Full Bibliometric Tool

Compared to tools like Dimensions or lens.org, OKMaps:

• Does not offer citation analysis
• Has limited filtering and metrics
• Focuses more on exploration than analytics