Research on water distribution systems from the past to the future: a bibliometric review

ABSTRACT

Water distribution systems play a vital role in the transportation of drinking water. By the combination of traditional literature review, bibliometric analysis and scientific knowledge mapping, this study evaluated 6,968 related literatures extracted from the database of Science Citation Index-Expanded from 1998 to 2019 to quantitatively analyze and visualize current research hotspots and emerging trends. The results revealed that water quality and optimal design of systems were research hotspots in the early periods, however in recent years, certain keywords that are more in accord with the characteristics of the times such as climate change, resilience, leak detection and energy recovery have appeared with high frequency, indicating that the research on water distribution systems might have turned from the study of single system to the overall consideration of the system and external environment. Therefore, the future studies may focus on (1) impact of climate change on water distribution systems (2) research on the resilience of urban water supply infrastructure (3) more accurate leak detection and more effective leakage control management (4) energy efficiency improvement and energy recovery in water distribution systems.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• water distribution systems
• bibliometric analysis
• research progress
• hotspot prediction
• CiteSpace

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China [grant number51178303]; the Training Program for Innovative Research Team in Tianjin Institutions of Higher Education [TD13-5021]; and the Tianjin Key Laboratory of Hazardous Waste Safety Disposal and Recycling Technology. The writers also thank the reviewers for their detailed comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China [grant number 51178303]; the Training Program for Innovative Research Team in Tianjin Institutions of Higher Education [grant number TD13-5021]; and the Tianjin Key Laboratory of Hazardous Waste Safety Disposal and Recycling Technology.

Notes on contributors

Yang Li

Yang Li, master student.

Xia Li

Xia Li, master supervisor, associate professor of environmental engineering. Among her recent articles are A scientometric review of the research on the impacts of climate change on water quality during 1998–2018 (China 2020) and Enhanced lake-eutrophication model combined with a fish sub-model using a microcosm experiment (China 2020).