Bibliometric Analysis on Earthen Building: Approaches from the Scientific Literature and Future Trends

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the earthen architecture and construction scientific literature production at present, analysing the historical evolution, research patterns and trends and the investigation of the different existing earthen building technologies. Utilising the SCOPUS database, this study analysed 3804 documents published between 1968 and 2023, with an annual growth of 16.92% since the year 2001. Key findings include the identification of top authors, institutions and collaborative networks, the co-citation analysis and the main keyword analysis and classification into different clusters. Regarding the building technologies, the results indicate a prevalence of research on vernacular earthen building techniques, mainly rammed earth and adobe masonry. Nevertheless, a growing interest in innovative methods using earth-based materials can be spotted. The bibliometric analysis identifies the development of the academic interest and emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the need for international recognition of earthen buildings. Future research should continue to explore the environmental benefits of using earthen materials, the development of earthen building techniques and systems in modern industry and the preservation of the architectural heritage and vernacular knowledge of contemporary technology.