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Emerging Trends and Knowledge Structures of Urbanization and Environmental Sustainability: A Regional Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Abdulaziz I. Almulhim

    (Department of Urban and Regional Planning, College of Architecture and Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Simon Elias Bibri

    (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering Institute, Visual Intelligence for Transportation, GC C1 383 (Bâtiment GC), Station 18, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
    Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability, Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima 739-8530, Japan)

  • Ayyoob Sharifi

    (Graduate School of Humanities and Social Science, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS), Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8530, Japan)

  • Shakil Ahmad

    (Central Library, Building-A3, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia)

  • Khalid Mohammed Almatar

    (Department of Urban and Regional Planning, College of Architecture and Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31451, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

More than 59 million people reside in the six member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) (the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia). The rate of urbanization is more than 80% in each of these countries. To better understand the trends and knowledge structures and to aid policy design and implementation, more research is needed on the topic of urbanization in GCC countries. In order to address this knowledge gap, bibliometric analysis and scientific mapping procedures utilizing VOSviewer were employed. A total of 415 academic papers covering four decades, from 1980 to 2021, were collected from the Web of Science database and split into three time periods: 1980–2017, 2018–2019, and 2020–2021. The findings indicate that the topics related to sustainable development, environmental regulations, renewable energy, and smart cities have received the most attention. In addition, land use planning, urban growth, and energy consumption have been dominant themes over different periods. Several intertwined factors have contributed to the evolution of research over these periods. These include the widespread diffusion of the sustainability agenda, the rise of advanced ICT, and the escalating rate of urbanization. It can also be explained by the fact that the world has been grappling with numerous environmental challenges, increasingly requiring innovative solutions for sustainability. The findings of this study can be used to develop better strategies for sustainable urban development in the region.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdulaziz I. Almulhim & Simon Elias Bibri & Ayyoob Sharifi & Shakil Ahmad & Khalid Mohammed Almatar, 2022. "Emerging Trends and Knowledge Structures of Urbanization and Environmental Sustainability: A Regional Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-23, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:20:p:13195-:d:942225
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Fahimeh Mofrad & Maria Ignatieva, 2022. "What Is the Future of the Bush Capital? A Socio-Ecological Approach to Enhancing Canberra’s Green Infrastructure," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Mohammad Arif & Adel S. Aldosary, 2023. "Urban Spatial Strategies of the Gulf Cooperation Council: A Comparative Analysis and Lessons Learned," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-29, September.
    4. Xirui Li & Junqi Tang & Weidong Li & Qingmin Si & Xinyao Guo & Linqing Niu, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization of Aviation Carbon Emissions Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-20, March.
    5. Elissa Ayoub & Bradley Freeman, 2023. "People, Planet, and Profits: Comparing Media Treatment of Dubai Sustainable City," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, August.

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