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A Bibliometric Analysis of the Trends and Characteristics of Railway Research

Author

Listed:
  • Diogo Da Fonseca-Soares

    (Brazilian Company of Urban Trains, Square Napoleao Laureano, 01, Varadouro, João Pessoa 58010-150, Brazil
    Department of Geographical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenue Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife 50670-901, Brazil
    Civil Engineering Department, University of Granada, Campus de Fuentenueva, s/n. E.T.S Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, 18071 Granada, Spain)

  • Josicleda Domiciano Galvinicio

    (Department of Geographical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenue Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife 50670-901, Brazil)

  • Sayonara Andrade Eliziário

    (Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba, Campus I, Castelo Branco III, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil)

  • Angel Fermin Ramos-Ridao

    (Civil Engineering Department, University of Granada, Campus de Fuentenueva, s/n. E.T.S Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, 18071 Granada, Spain)

Abstract

A retrospective bibliometric analysis of the railway sector covering the 20-year period between 2002 and 2021 was carried out to better understand the characteristics of the railway research. The Scopus database contained 1918 articles published with the keywords “Rail System”. VOSviewer software was used to create network maps from each of the variables studied. The results showed a huge increase in the number of publications over this period—notably, work written by Zhang, Y.T., who was found to be the most productive author. Engineering was found to be the most studied subject area of knowledge; Transportation Research Record was the journal with the highest number of publications; and China was revealed to be the leading country regarding this research field, Southwest Jiaotong University being the leading institution in this topic. Finally, there was a lack of research on the environmental impact and sustainability of railway systems, an area that could be opened up for future study.

Suggested Citation

  • Diogo Da Fonseca-Soares & Josicleda Domiciano Galvinicio & Sayonara Andrade Eliziário & Angel Fermin Ramos-Ridao, 2022. "A Bibliometric Analysis of the Trends and Characteristics of Railway Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:21:p:13956-:d:954890
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Mariko Almeida Carneiro & Diogo Da Fonseca-Soares & Lucian Hendyo Max Pereira & Angel Firmín Ramos-Ridao, 2022. "An Approach for Water and Energy Savings in Public Buildings: A Case Study of Brazilian Rail Company," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-13, November.

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