IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v14y2025i6p1185-d1668724.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Current Status and Prospects of Ecological Restoration and Brownfield Reuse Research Based on Bibliometric Analysis: A Literature Review

Author

Listed:
  • Lin Zhang

    (School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China)

  • Yuzhou Wang

    (School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China)

  • Qi Ding

    (School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China)

  • Yang Shi

    (School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China)

Abstract

Ecological restoration and brownfield reuse are important issues in the current field of urban sustainable development and environmental protection. This paper adopts bibliometric and network analysis methods, using more than 600 literature from Web of Science (WOS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases as research objects, to analyze the research trends, main researchers, contributions of different disciplines, and research hotspots in ecological restoration and brownfield reuse. Based on the results of quantitative analysis, this paper reviews the main research theories, methods, and technologies of ecological restoration and brownfield reuse at home and abroad, as well as response strategies in different regions and future prospects under challenges. Among the top 10 disciplines in terms of disciplinary contribution, the discipline with the highest relevance in the research articles of CNKI is “Environmental Science and Technology”, accounting for approximately 47.24%. The discipline with the highest relevance in the research articles of WOS is “Building Science and Engineering”, accounting for approximately 61.21%. In terms of research theories and methods, emphasis is placed on the application of ecological engineering, landscape ecology, land economics, and sustainable development methods. At the same time, adaptive management methods are emphasized, aiming to achieve a balance between ecological protection and urban development. In terms of response strategies for different regions, the main strategies for ecological restoration and brownfield reuse are proposed from five main aspects: reducing soil erosion and controlling water pollution, restoring ecological communities and enhancing biodiversity, landscape reshaping and spatial transformation, tourism development, and leisure space design. Based on the current challenges in technology, law, funding, management, and society, research prospects for strengthening interdisciplinary integration, digital drive, interdisciplinary collaboration, and multi-party cooperation in the future are proposed. It can be seen that research in this field is no longer just a simple ecological issue, but a comprehensive social problem.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin Zhang & Yuzhou Wang & Qi Ding & Yang Shi, 2025. "Current Status and Prospects of Ecological Restoration and Brownfield Reuse Research Based on Bibliometric Analysis: A Literature Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-32, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:6:p:1185-:d:1668724
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/6/1185/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/6/1185/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Melanie Malone, 2022. "Seeking justice, eating toxics: overlooked contaminants in urban community gardens," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(1), pages 165-184, March.
    2. Zeke Lian & Huichao Hao & Jing Zhao & Kaizhong Cao & Hesong Wang & Zhechen He, 2022. "Evaluation of Remote Sensing Ecological Index Based on Soil and Water Conservation on the Effectiveness of Management of Abandoned Mine Landscaping Transformation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Sessa, Maria Rosaria & Russo, Alessio & Sica, Francesco, 2022. "Opinion paper on green deal for the urban regeneration of industrial brownfield land in Europe," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    4. Rongkui Su & Yangyang Wang & Shunhong Huang & Runhua Chen & Jun Wang, 2022. "Application for Ecological Restoration of Contaminated Soil: Phytoremediation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-6, October.
    5. Carolin Maertens, 2024. "What’s in a landscape? Nature, memory, and tourism in Bitterfeld-Wolfen’s post-mining landscape, East Germany," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(7), pages 1001-1014, October.
    6. Guillaume Jacek & Anne Rozan & Isabelle Combroux, 2022. "Are Mechanical and Biological Techniques Efficient in Restoring Soil and Associated Biodiversity in a Brownfield Site?," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, November.
    7. Isabelle Laffont-Schwob & Jacques Rabier & Véronique Masotti & Hélène Folzer & Lorène Tosini & Laurent Vassalo & Marie-Dominique Salducci & Pascale Prudent, 2020. "Functional Trait-Based Screening of Zn-Pb Tolerant Wild Plant Species at an Abandoned Mine Site in Gard (France) for Rehabilitation of Mediterranean Metal-Contaminated Soils," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-21, July.
    8. Lucia Ludovici & Maria Chiara Pastore, 2024. "Informal Urban Biodiversity in the Milan Metropolitan Area: The Role of Spontaneous Nature in the Leftover Regeneration Process," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-19, July.
    9. Xinjia Zhang & Yang Song & Shijun Wang & Sitong Qian & Jun Yang, 2021. "Exploring Research Trends and Building a Multidisciplinary Framework Related to Brownfield: A Visual Analysis Using CiteSpace," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2021, pages 1-14, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jiayu Xia & Duyuzheng Ren & Xuhui Wang & Bo Xu & Xingyao Zhong & Yajiang Fan, 2023. "Ecosystem Quality Assessment and Ecological Restoration in Fragile Zone of Loess Plateau: A Case Study of Suide County, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-32, May.
    2. Song, Yang & Lyu, Yang & Qian, Sitong & Zhang, Xinjia & Lin, Huiying & Wang, Shijun, 2022. "Identifying urban candidate brownfield sites using multi-source data: The case of Changchun City, China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    3. Meng Luo & Shengwei Zhang & Lei Huang & Zhiqiang Liu & Lin Yang & Ruishen Li & Xi Lin, 2022. "Temporal and Spatial Changes of Ecological Environment Quality Based on RSEI: A Case Study in Ulan Mulun River Basin, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-19, October.
    4. Elena Di Pirro & Rúben Mendes & Teresa Fidélis & Lorenzo Sallustio & Peter Roebeling & Marco Marchetti & Bruno Lasserre, 2022. "The Embeddedness of Nature-Based Solutions in the Recovery and Resilience Plans as Multifunctional Approaches to Foster the Climate Transition: The Cases of Italy and Portugal," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-19, August.
    5. Jannesar Niri, Anahita & Poelzer, Gregory A. & Zhang, Steven E. & Rosenkranz, Jan & Pettersson, Maria & Ghorbani, Yousef, 2024. "Sustainability challenges throughout the electric vehicle battery value chain," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    6. Rachid Belaroussi & Margherita Pazzini & Israa Issa & Corinne Dionisio & Claudio Lantieri & Elena Díaz González & Valeria Vignali & Sonia Adelé, 2023. "Assessing the Future Streetscape of Rimini Harbor Docks with Virtual Reality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-25, March.
    7. Tomáš Krejčí & Josef Navrátil & Stanislav Martinát & Ryan J. Frazier & Petr Klusáček & Kamil Pícha & Jaroslav Škrabal & Robert Osman, 2021. "Spatial Unevenness of Formation, Remediation and Persistence of Post-Agricultural Brownfields," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-18, March.
    8. Wenli Dong & Xinyue Gao & Xiaowei Chen & Lihan Lin, 2023. "Industrial Park Renovation Strategy in a Poverty-Alleviated County Based on Inefficient Land Evaluation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-21, June.
    9. Yifan Shen & Qi Li & Xiangjun Pei & Renjie Wei & Bingmei Yang & Ningfei Lei & Xiaochao Zhang & Daqiu Yin & Shijun Wang & Qizhong Tao, 2023. "Ecological Restoration of Engineering Slopes in China—A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.
    10. Federico Lopez-Muñoz & Waldo Soto-Bruna & Brigitte L. G. Baptiste & Jeffrey Leon-Pulido, 2025. "Evaluating Food Resilience Initiatives Through Urban Agriculture Models: A Critical Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-34, March.
    11. Shanshan Feng & Jiake Shen & Shuo Sheng & Zengqing Hu & Yuncai Wang, 2023. "Spatial Prioritizing Brownfields Catering for Green Infrastructure by Integrating Urban Demands and Site Attributes in a Metropolitan Area," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-29, April.
    12. Jian Cui & Ehsan Sharifi & Carlos Bartesaghi Koc & Linna Yi & Scott Hawken, 2025. "Factors Shaping Biodiversity in Urban Voids: A Systematic Literature Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, April.
    13. Heng Zhang & Guiwen Liu & Qingye Han & Gong Chen, 2022. "Mapping the Barriers of Utilizing Public Private Partnership into Brownfield Remediation Projects in the Public Land Ownership," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    14. Koutra, Sesil & Bouillard, Philippe & Becue, Vincent & Cenci, Jeremy & Zhang, Jiazhen, 2023. "From ‘brown’ to ‘bright’: Key issues and challenges in former industrialized areas," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    15. Ruth Mevianna Aurora & Katsunori Furuya, 2023. "Spatiotemporal Analysis of Urban Sprawl and Ecological Quality Study Case: Chiba Prefecture, Japan," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-21, November.
    16. Rongkui Su & Tianzhi Xie & Haisong Yao & Yonghua Chen & Hanqing Wang & Xiangrong Dai & Yangyang Wang & Lei Shi & Yiting Luo, 2022. "Lead Responses and Tolerance Mechanisms of Koelreuteria paniculata : A Newly Potential Plant for Sustainable Phytoremediation of Pb-Contaminated Soil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-16, November.
    17. Maeve Malone & Kabindra M. Shakya, 2024. "Trace Metal Contamination in Community Garden Soils across the United States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-19, February.
    18. Dejana Nedučin & Milena Krklješ, 2022. "Culture-Led Regeneration of Industrial Brownfield Hosting Temporary Uses: A Post-Socialist Context–Case Study from Novi Sad, Serbia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-26, December.
    19. Yu-Le Zhang & Guan-Di He & Ye-Qing He & Teng-Bing He, 2022. "Bibliometrics-Based: Trends in Phytoremediation of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-16, November.
    20. Qianrong Jiang & Honglei Chen & Zeding Fu & Xiaohua Fu & Jiacheng Wang & Yingqi Liang & Hailong Yin & Junbo Yang & Jie Jiang & Xinxin Yang & He Wang & Zhiming Liu & Rongkui Su, 2022. "Current Progress, Challenges and Perspectives in the Microalgal-Bacterial Aerobic Granular Sludge Process: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-19, October.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:6:p:1185-:d:1668724. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.