Management of Sustainable Infrastructure Projects: A Scientometric Analysis

Abstract

Infrastructure projects play a vital role in the social and economic developments in both developed and developing countries. In the last few years, many studies have examined the application of project management theories and practices in the context of sustainable infrastructure projects. Consequently, considerable research has been performed to devise new strategies and refine existing project management practices to enhance sustainability in different aspects of project delivery. Previous studies reveal various social, economic, and environmental issues encountered over the life cycle of infrastructure projects. This paper undertakes a 10-year (2010–2019) scientometric analysis of 51 relevant journal articles found in the Scopus database to identify the research trends in the management of sustainable infrastructure projects. It provides insights into the key research themes gaining the interest of the researchers globally. For instance, the review identified four major research clusters viz. sustainability metrics, processes and factors, community impact, and sustainability triangle. An enquiry into the countries and authors with the maximum number of publications and the collaborative network of the authors reveals a lack of research on project management in sustainable infrastructure projects in the context of developing countries. The findings are expected to inform future studies in this research area.