Critical evaluation of off-site construction research: A Scientometric analysis

• Published in: Automation in construction Vol. 87; pp. 235 - 247
• Main Authors: Hosseini, M. Reza, Martek, Igor, Zavadskas, Edmundas Kazimieras, Aibinu, Ajibade A., Arashpour, Mehrdad, Chileshe, Nicholas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-03-2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Bibliometric; Citation analysis; Construction industry; Construction sites; Critical review; Literature reviews; Off-site construction; Publishing; R&D; Research & development; Scientometric analysis; Off-site construction; Scientometric analysis; Research; Bibliometric; Critical review
• ISSN: 0926-5805; 1872-7891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.autcon.2017.12.002

Practical interest in ‘off-site construction’ has risen remarkably over the last decade, and with it there has been a burgeoning of academic research in the field. Complementing this research, a number of literature reviews have been conducted. None, however, are systematic. This study addresses this lack, offering the first bibliometric study to explore the state of off-site construction research (OCR). A quantitative approach using ‘science mapping’ techniques is employed to examine 501 top-ranked construction journal articles. Longitudinal trends in publishing are identified, as are dominant research sub-fields, their connectedness with other areas of study, as well as citation patterns, publication journal areas of focus, key research institutions, key research persons, along with the extent to which these interact with each other in research networks. The findings are instructive in identifying the deficiencies in current research. Among these is a bias towards product research over operations and management, and a sharp compartmentalization of sub-fields, with little or no cross-fertilization between researcher areas, the researchers themselves, nor the research institutions. Clearly, this awareness will inform industry, journal editors and researchers of the need for a deeper exchange of ideas in any future research efforts.
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•501 articles from top-ranked construction journals on off-site construction are analyzed deploying scientometric techniques.•Core research areas and themes within off-site construction research are identified, visualized, and discussed.•Major scientific collaboration networks in off-site construction research are analyzed, and visualized.•Gaps in off-site construction research are identified from a quantitative, objective viewpoint, as well as from a meta-perspective.