A Scientometric Review of Present and Future Trends of Embedded Systems in the Built Environment

This study presents a scientometric review conducted to define and delineate utilization of embedded systems in construction project delivery. This was done with the view of providing directions for future studies as well as stimulating a wider debate among construction stakeholders on the use of embedded systems in the industry. The study adopted an interpretivist philosophical view using an inductive approach and a grounded theory strategy. The data used were secondary in nature and were gathered from the Scopus database using specific related keywords. Co-occurrence maps were further created based on the bibliographic data gathered using the VOSviewer text mining software. Three clusters of co-occurring keywords were formed from the analysis, and these are labelled as sensor network systems and models, real-time systems and designs, and construction process automation. The study opens a new vista in the deliberations of the studies on technological innovations in the built environment.