Landslides: Visualization of the Global Conceptual Trend

Purpose: This study discovers the global knowledge structure of landslide research over the past twenty years in Researchers' research outputs.Methodology: This study uses co-word analysis to determine and visualize the global structure of landslide knowledge, track the most widely used subjects, and choose the conceptual dynamics in research on landslides.  This scientometric method was used to study data from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) regarding ۹۱۸۵ landslide research publications produced from ۲۰۰۰ to ۲۰۲۰.Findings: The keyword “geographic information systems (GIS)” had the highest frequency, and the phrase “landslide susceptibility” was the most often used co-word pair. Co-word analysis produced ۱۵ thematic clusters. Cluster ۸ has the highest density among the clusters, and the highest centrality was seen in Cluster ۱. Most of the thematic clusters are located in the third quadrant of the strategic diagram, indicating either emerging or declining clusters. The maturity and cohesion of each cluster show their trends. Conclusion: Co-word analysis, as a suitable and powerful tool, can visualize the scientific and intellectual structure of landslides and track the most used topics, and determine the conceptual dynamics and areas of Landslide research, and its results will be of great help to research and practical planners and policymakers. The results of the study significantly help researchers and applied planners and policymakers in adopting appropriate measures to reach more effective solutions in the shortest possible time. Also, develop research evaluation policies, and university managers aimed to create research evaluation policies.Value:The research has also explored the complex relationships governing international studies, illuminates angles, highlights research gaps, and leads scholars and analyses. These results will pave the paths forward for planners and policymakers in organizations and centers actively addressing landslide management’s strategic plans. Subsequent studies could focus on the examination of the networks of collaboration between centers and researchers, and their impacts on decision-making.