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Exploring Technological Trends in Logistics: Topic Modeling-Based Patent Analysis

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  • Donghyun Choi

    (School of Air Transportation and Logistics, Korea Aerospace University, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10540, Korea)

  • Bomi Song

    (School of Air Transportation and Logistics, Korea Aerospace University, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10540, Korea)

Abstract

With the strategic importance of discerning opportunities and threats from technological development to achieve sustainable competitiveness, exploring technological trends becomes critical for a successful technology strategy in logistics. Given the rapid pace of development and varying technological options, logistics also increasingly requires methodological support and appropriate data to reduce the complexity and burden of exploring technology trends. While previous research has largely relied on experts’ insights, the value of patent-based approaches for exploring technological trends has been underestimated in logistics. To address this gap, this study proposes a topic modeling-based approach using logistics-related patents registered at the United States Patents and Trademark Office (USPTO). The core of the suggested approach is latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), allowing the identification of logistics-related technological topics behind patents. The topics identified by LDA are further investigated regarding both filed-level and firm-level trends. The suggested approach is expected to offer implications of the use of patents for the purpose of exploring the trends of technology development outside the organization in logistics. In addition, we believe that the information on the technological topics and their trends generated by the suggested approach can offer an enhanced understanding of the technological landscape in logistics.

Suggested Citation

  • Donghyun Choi & Bomi Song, 2018. "Exploring Technological Trends in Logistics: Topic Modeling-Based Patent Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-26, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:8:p:2810-:d:162623
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    3. Weresa Marzenna Anna, 2019. "Technological competitiveness of the EU member states in the era of the fourth industrial revolution," Economics and Business Review, Sciendo, vol. 5(3), pages 50-71, September.
    4. Koopo Kwon & Sungchan Jun & Yong-Jae Lee & Sanghei Choi & Chulung Lee, 2022. "Logistics Technology Forecasting Framework Using Patent Analysis for Technology Roadmap," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-30, April.
    5. Rosa Maria Arnaldo Valdés & Serhat Burmaoglu & Vincenzo Tucci & Luiz Manuel Braga da Costa Campos & Lucia Mattera & Víctor Fernando Gomez Comendador, 2019. "Flight Path 2050 and ACARE Goals for Maintaining and Extending Industrial Leadership in Aviation: A Map of the Aviation Technology Space," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-24, April.
    6. Lijie Feng & Yilang Li & Zhenfeng Liu & Jinfeng Wang, 2020. "Idea Generation and New Direction for Exploitation Technologies of Coal-Seam Gas through Recombinative Innovation and Patent Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-21, April.
    7. Ghaffari, Mohsen & Aliahmadi, Alireza & Khalkhali, Abolfazl & Zakery, Amir & Daim, Tugrul U. & Yalcin, Haydar, 2023. "Topic-based technology mapping using patent data analysis: A case study of vehicle tires," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    8. Xun Zhu & Timothy J. Pasch & Mohamed Aymane Ahajjam & Aaron Bergstrom, 2022. "Environmental Monitoring for Arctic Resiliency and Sustainability: An Integrated Approach with Topic Modeling and Network Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-20, December.

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