The nexus between digitalization and sustainability: A scientometrics analysis
Digitalization and sustainability are among the most critical mega-trends in 21st century. The nexus between digitalization and sustainability unfolds exciting opportunities in addressing global challenges, creating a just and sustainable society and laying the groundwork for achieving the Sustainab...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023023794 |
| _version_ | 1797815731604160512 |
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| author | Leila Irajifar Hengcai Chen Azadeh Lak Ayyoob Sharifi Ali Cheshmehzangi |
| author_facet | Leila Irajifar Hengcai Chen Azadeh Lak Ayyoob Sharifi Ali Cheshmehzangi |
| author_sort | Leila Irajifar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Digitalization and sustainability are among the most critical mega-trends in 21st century. The nexus between digitalization and sustainability unfolds exciting opportunities in addressing global challenges, creating a just and sustainable society and laying the groundwork for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Several studies have reviewed the link between these two paradigms and how they mutually impact one another. However, most of these reviews are qualitative and manual literature reviews that are prone to subjectivity and so lacking the required rigor. Given the above, this study aims to provide a comprehensive and objective review of the knowledge base on how digitalization and sustainability actually and potentially contribute to each other and highlight the key research that links these two megatrends. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of academic literature is conducted to objectively visualize the research status quo across time, disciplines, and countries. The Web of Science (WOS) database was searched for relevant publications published between January 1, 1900, and October 31, 2021. The search returned 8629 publications, of which 3405 were identified as primary documents pertaining to the study presented below. The Scientometrics analysis identified prominent authors, nations, organizations, prevalent research issues and examined how they have evolved chronologically. The critical review of results reveals four main domains in research on the nexus of sustainability and digitalization including Governance, Energy, Innovation, and Systems. The concept of Governance is developed within the Planning and Policy-making themes. Energy relates to the themes of emission, consumption, and production. Innovation has associated with the themes of business, strategy, and values & environment. Finally, systems interconnect with networks, industry 4.0, and the supply chain. The findings are intended to inform and stimulate more research and policy-making debate on the potential interconnection between sustainability and digitization, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:27:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bc296832627e470fa024a151965c6000 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:27:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc296832627e470fa024a151965c60002023-05-31T04:44:29ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-05-0195e15172The nexus between digitalization and sustainability: A scientometrics analysisLeila Irajifar0Hengcai Chen1Azadeh Lak2Ayyoob Sharifi3Ali Cheshmehzangi4School of Architecture & Urban Design, RMIT University, Australia; Corresponding author.Department of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, ChinaFaculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University of Tehran, Tehran, IranNetwork for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS), Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan; Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, JapanDepartment of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China; Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, JapanDigitalization and sustainability are among the most critical mega-trends in 21st century. The nexus between digitalization and sustainability unfolds exciting opportunities in addressing global challenges, creating a just and sustainable society and laying the groundwork for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Several studies have reviewed the link between these two paradigms and how they mutually impact one another. However, most of these reviews are qualitative and manual literature reviews that are prone to subjectivity and so lacking the required rigor. Given the above, this study aims to provide a comprehensive and objective review of the knowledge base on how digitalization and sustainability actually and potentially contribute to each other and highlight the key research that links these two megatrends. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of academic literature is conducted to objectively visualize the research status quo across time, disciplines, and countries. The Web of Science (WOS) database was searched for relevant publications published between January 1, 1900, and October 31, 2021. The search returned 8629 publications, of which 3405 were identified as primary documents pertaining to the study presented below. The Scientometrics analysis identified prominent authors, nations, organizations, prevalent research issues and examined how they have evolved chronologically. The critical review of results reveals four main domains in research on the nexus of sustainability and digitalization including Governance, Energy, Innovation, and Systems. The concept of Governance is developed within the Planning and Policy-making themes. Energy relates to the themes of emission, consumption, and production. Innovation has associated with the themes of business, strategy, and values & environment. Finally, systems interconnect with networks, industry 4.0, and the supply chain. The findings are intended to inform and stimulate more research and policy-making debate on the potential interconnection between sustainability and digitization, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023023794DigitalizationSustainabilitySmart citiesSustainable development goalsScientometric analysis |
| spellingShingle | Leila Irajifar Hengcai Chen Azadeh Lak Ayyoob Sharifi Ali Cheshmehzangi The nexus between digitalization and sustainability: A scientometrics analysis Heliyon Digitalization Sustainability Smart cities Sustainable development goals Scientometric analysis |
| title | The nexus between digitalization and sustainability: A scientometrics analysis |
| title_full | The nexus between digitalization and sustainability: A scientometrics analysis |
| title_fullStr | The nexus between digitalization and sustainability: A scientometrics analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The nexus between digitalization and sustainability: A scientometrics analysis |
| title_short | The nexus between digitalization and sustainability: A scientometrics analysis |
| title_sort | nexus between digitalization and sustainability a scientometrics analysis |
| topic | Digitalization Sustainability Smart cities Sustainable development goals Scientometric analysis |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023023794 |
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