Indoor Air Quality: Bibliometric Analysis of the Published Literature Between 2018 and 2023

Abstract

This bibliometric study employs a rigorous approach to scrutinize and visually represent the existing body of literature on indoor air quality (IAQ). Utilizing the Scopus collection database, we conducted an exhaustive exploration of published research literature in the IAQ field. The study involves a thorough visual analysis using Harzing's Publish and Perish and VOSviewer software programs, examining parameters such as citations, publication year, journals, authors, research institutions, countries, and research topics. A total of 1729 pieces of literature related to IAQ research from 2018 to 2023 were retrieved. The dominant formats were articles and conference papers, underscoring their significance in IAQ documentation. Primary subject areas included “Engineering” and “Environmental Science,” highlighting the multidisciplinary nature of IAQ studies. The upward trend in IAQ publications, reaching 330 articles in 2023, emphasizes the growing importance of this field. However, citation impact varied, emphasizing the need to assess research quality alongside quantity. Global distribution identified leading countries, including the United States, China, and the United Kingdom, which were also top contributors in co‐authorship and country‐level analyses. The top journals were “Building and Environment” and “Sustainable Cities and Society,” showcasing varying publication and citation powers. Notable impactful articles in the IAQ domain were led by Agarwal et al. and Van Tran, Park, and Lee. Keyword co‐occurrence analysis identified thematic clusters, with keywords such as “Indoor Air Quality (IAQ),” “Air Quality,” and “Indoor Air Pollution” dominating the literature. Through a comprehensive analysis of published literature, this study provides a visual representation of studies with significant contributions to the IAQ field, offering insights into its development and changes from 2018 to 2023. The findings also guide future IAQ research directions.