Knowledge mapping analysis of situational awareness and aviation: A bibliometric study

Abstract

This study was motivated by the observed growth and increased significance of situation awareness (SA) in recent years. Despite its acknowledged importance, a notable gap exists in the literature regarding comprehensive systematic reviews of SA within the aviation sector. This gap spurred a meticulous analysis of 754 articles from the Web of Science (WoS) core database for bibliometric knowledge mapping. The primary aim was to fill this gap and acquire a holistic understanding of SA in aviation. This analysis highlighted the USA as the primary contributor to publications, with NASA leading among the institutions in paper contributions. Human Factors and the International Journal of Aerospace Psychology were the leading journals in this domain. This bibliometric study underscored the key focus on healthcare, aviation, performance, workload, and safety through co-occurrence and co-citation analyses. A chronological examination of keywords revealed a central research trajectory centered on patient and crew safety and the impact of automation on human performance in dynamic flight scenarios. Burst keyword analysis pinpointed leading-edge research in SA within healthcare, model, and system design, and the implications of human factors. This study explored the research landscape of SA in aviation using a bibliometric approach. The outcomes shed light on the present research landscape and expedite scholars’ comprehension of advancements in this pivotal field. Finally, we derived a conceptual framework using the main components found in the literature. This framework will help researchers identify the main dimensions of SA.