Understanding Digital Turn in Urban Research: A Bibliometric Analysis of Contemporary Global Urban Literature

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the effects of digital technologies on academic knowledge production in the field of urban research. It provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of technology-based urban research literature, delineates the knowledge structure, and investigates prevalent trends. The study employs bibliometric analysis to analyze bibliographical and textual data extracted from scientific documents, which allows for the discovery of the existing epistemological structure of the discipline or research domain. The research was conducted by conducting a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the literature available in the Web of Science Core Collection regarding how concepts such as big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) are discussed in academic papers in the field of urban studies. A total of 2055 academic papers that met the established criteria were identified and analyzed using bibliometric analysis software called Bibliometrix. The results of the research aid in examining the integration of technological advancements into urban research, and reveal the temporal, spatial, and disciplinary distribution of scientific articles, as well as their reflections on new research areas and both frequently studied and yet unexplored topics.