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Building life cycle assessment research: A review by bibliometric analysis

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  • Geng, Shengnan
  • Wang, Yuan
  • Zuo, Jian
  • Zhou, Zhihua
  • Du, Huibin
  • Mao, Guozhu

Abstract

This study aims to examine the literature related to the building life cycle assessment (LCA) that are published from 2000 to 2014 by means of bibliometric methods based on databases of the Science Citation Index and Social Science Citation Index. Of 2025 retrieved publications, 95% were journal articles. The patterns of these articles were investigated such as subject categories, journals, countries, institutions, hot topics and the most highly cited articles. The results showed a rapid growth of building LCA related publications with the USA being the leading country in terms of contributing to the largest number of articles and possessing the greatest influence. Norwegian University Science and Technology is the leading university in terms of building LCA research, which is followed by University of California at Berkeley. All the top 15 institutions possess a favorable cooperative relationship with other institutions. Most journal articles were associated with energy (521 articles), followed by material (388), sustainability (304), carbon (299) and technology with 180. According to the comprehensive analysis of the keywords, it can be concluded that subtopics such as energy, materials, environmental impacts and sustainable development will be prominent directions of future building LCA research, while life cycle costing and life cycle inventory will continue to be the common research methods. These findings help to identify hotspots in the building LCA research. Similarly, this study provides useful inputs for the decision making on the subtopic selection and publication strategy in the building LCA research.

Suggested Citation

  • Geng, Shengnan & Wang, Yuan & Zuo, Jian & Zhou, Zhihua & Du, Huibin & Mao, Guozhu, 2017. "Building life cycle assessment research: A review by bibliometric analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 176-184.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:76:y:2017:i:c:p:176-184
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2017.03.068
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    Cited by:

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    2. Seungjun Roh & Sungho Tae & Rakhyun Kim, 2018. "Analysis of Embodied Environmental Impacts of Korean Apartment Buildings Considering Major Building Materials," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, May.
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    4. Maximilian Schildt & Johannes Linus Cuypers & Maxim Shamovich & Sonja Tamara Herzogenrath & Avichal Malhotra & Christoph Alban van Treeck & Jérôme Frisch, 2023. "On the Potential of District-Scale Life Cycle Assessments of Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-33, July.
    5. Cellura, Maurizio & Guarino, Francesco & Longo, Sonia & Mistretta, Marina, 2017. "Modeling the energy and environmental life cycle of buildings: A co-simulation approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 733-742.
    6. Hache, Emmanuel & Palle, Angélique, 2019. "Renewable energy source integration into power networks, research trends and policy implications: A bibliometric and research actors survey analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 23-35.
    7. Madelyn Marrero & Maciej Wojtasiewicz & Alejandro Martínez-Rocamora & Jaime Solís-Guzmán & M. Desirée Alba-Rodríguez, 2020. "BIM-LCA Integration for the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Urbanization Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-24, May.
    8. Jaime Solís-Guzmán & Cristina Rivero-Camacho & Desirée Alba-Rodríguez & Alejandro Martínez-Rocamora, 2018. "Carbon Footprint Estimation Tool for Residential Buildings for Non-Specialized Users: OERCO2 Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-15, April.
    9. Eloise Leonora Gnoatto & Andreza Kalbusch & Elisa Henning, 2019. "Evaluation of the Environmental and Economic Impacts on the Life Cycle of Different Solutions for Toilet Flush Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-12, August.
    10. Patricia González-Vallejo & Radu Muntean & Jaime Solís-Guzmán & Madelyn Marrero, 2020. "Carbon Footprint of Dwelling Construction in Romania and Spain. A Comparative Analysis with the OERCO2 Tool," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-22, August.
    11. Rabbat, Christelle & Awad, Sary & Villot, Audrey & Rollet, Delphine & Andrès, Yves, 2022. "Sustainability of biomass-based insulation materials in buildings: Current status in France, end-of-life projections and energy recovery potentials," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    12. Mona Abouhamad & Metwally Abu-Hamd, 2020. "Life Cycle Environmental Assessment of Light Steel Framed Buildings with Cement-Based Walls and Floors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-17, December.
    13. Seungjun Roh & Sungho Tae & Rakhyun Kim & Suroh Park, 2019. "Probabilistic Analysis of Major Construction Materials in the Life Cycle Embodied Environmental Cost of Korean Apartment Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-13, February.
    14. Seungjun Roh & Sungho Tae & Rakhyun Kim, 2018. "Developing a Green Building Index (GBI) Certification System to Effectively Reduce Carbon Emissions in South Korea’s Building Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, June.
    15. Goune Kang & Hunhee Cho & Dongyoun Lee, 2019. "Dynamic Lifecycle Assessment in Building Construction Projects: Focusing on Embodied Emissions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-16, July.
    16. Nguyen, Ai Linh & Liu, Wenyuan & Khor, Khiam Aik & Nanetti, Andrea & Cheong, Siew Ann, 2020. "The golden eras of graphene science and technology: Bibliographic evidences from journal and patent publications," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 14(4).
    17. Dongyoun Lee & Goune Kang & Chulu Nam & Hunhee Cho & Kyung-In Kang, 2019. "Stochastic Analysis of Embodied Carbon Dioxide Emissions Considering Variability of Construction Sites," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-12, August.
    18. Yahong Dong & Md. Uzzal Hossain & Hongyang Li & Peng Liu, 2021. "Developing Conversion Factors of LCIA Methods for Comparison of LCA Results in the Construction Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.
    19. Li, Clyde Zhengdao & Lai, Xulu & Xiao, Bing & Tam, Vivian W.Y. & Guo, Shan & Zhao, Yiyu, 2020. "A holistic review on life cycle energy of buildings: An analysis from 2009 to 2019," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).

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