Assessing the impact of IoT on civil engineering: a bibliometric perspective

Abstract

The civil engineering industry is undergoing a digital transformation driven by the Internet of Things (IoT). While applications in structural health monitoring and smart cities are emerging rapidly, the research landscape remains fragmented, complicating efforts to grasp the field’s development and address knowledge gaps. This study thoroughly investigates the global research landscape concerning IoT applications in civil engineering, closing the gap and aiding researchers and practitioners in their future applications. A combined bibliometric and content analysis approach was employed, with data extracted from the Web of Science (WoS) core collection. From an initial pool of 2,098 publications, a rigorous filtering process yielded 1,434 relevant papers published from 2011 to 2025. The methodology included bibliometric analysis using co-occurrence and co-citation investigations with VOSviewer software to map intellectual structures and collaboration networks, accompanied by a systematic content analysis to identify key research areas. Results indicate a consistent increase in research activity, revealing a growing interest in IoT applications in the civil engineering industry. Six areas were identified: 1) Smart Cities; 2) Structural Health Monitoring and Corrosion Detection; 3) Durability, Resilience, and Seismic Monitoring; 4) Building Information Modeling (BIM); 5) Smart Construction Sites; and 6) Groundwater Management. It is noticeably concluded that IoT in civil engineering is evolving from conceptual exploration to practical application, yielding significant benefits such as enhanced productivity, reduced costs, and improved safety. Furthermore, IoT supports sustainable practices by minimizing environmental impacts and enabling data-driven decision-making, potentially transforming operational efficiency in the industry.