R Language for Environmental Design Academic Research Analysis

Abstract

Environmental design provides crucial solutions for achieving sustainable development goals while offering new opportunities to improve human living conditions and enhance social welfare. This study employs bibliometric analysis using the R language to examine environmental design-related journal articles collected from the WoS database between 2000 and 2024, quantitatively analyzing the overall development of the environmental design research field over the past two decades. Currently, environmental design research is experiencing rapid development. Through cluster analysis, three major research hotspots in this field have been identified: green buildings and sustainable urbanization, ecological restoration and environmental governance, and the application of intelligent technology in environmental design. Through evolution analysis, the logical development of environmental design research has been determined, with technological innovation playing a pivotal role in the field’s advancement. Following this logic, we propose three frontiers with explosive development in the environmental design field: human-centered environmental design, intelligent technology application, and regional cultural adaptability. Environmental design represents a core research direction in architecture, urban planning, and environmental science disciplines, and serves as a crucial domain for emerging technologies to empower sustainable development. The research findings clearly present the current status, evolutionary logic, and research frontiers of this field, providing valuable references for its further development.

1. Introduction

Urban spaces are continuously being developed in metropolitan areas globally to accommodate increasing population densities [1]. The rapid urbanization process has brought unprecedented challenges and opportunities to the development of environmental design [2]. Environmental design integrates science, art, technology, and ecological principles to plan, design, and optimize the natural and built environment, aiming to achieve harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature while improving ecological sustainability and human well-being [3]. Environmental design addresses global challenges like climate change, resource depletion, and urbanization pressures [4].

Environmental design, a critical discipline in human development, synthesizes multiple domains including scientific principles, ecological considerations, technological innovations, and cultural contexts, thus ensuring social equity, promoting prosperity, and fostering harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Currently, research in environmental design spans a wide range of topics and employs diverse methods to address complex sustainable development challenges [5,6,7].

Research directions primarily include the development of green building technologies, urban resilience planning, sustainable landscape design, and integrating innovative technologies into environmental design [8]. Researchers employ various methods, such as case studies, computational models, participatory design processes, and field empirical studies, to assess the effectiveness and impact of different design strategies [9]. Contemporary research foci within environmental design encompass several critical domains: climate-adaptive architectural strategies that respond to regional microclimatic variations; biophilic design methodologies that systematically integrate natural elements and patterns to enhance human-nature connectivity; implementations of circular economy frameworks that optimize resource efficiency and minimize waste throughout the building lifecycle; and the deployment of advanced computational tools, particularly Building Information Modeling (BIM) and parametric design systems, to facilitate data-driven sustainable design decision-making processes [10].

Emerging trends indicate an increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches, combining insights from environmental psychology, social sciences, and data analysis to create more comprehensive and adaptive design solutions [11,12,13]. Despite significant progress, current research still faces numerous challenges, including the lack of a comprehensive framework for evaluating sustainability outcomes, limited integration of local and indigenous knowledge systems, and a need for more longitudinal studies to assess the long-term impacts of environmental design interventions. Despite significant advancements in environmental design, existing research remains insufficient in terms of systematic reviews and quantitative analysis, particularly regarding the effective achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through design strategies. The predominant research paradigm remains anchored in conventional methodological approaches, exhibiting a significant underutilization of emergent computational technologies, including machine learning algorithms, large-scale data analytics, and advanced computational modeling frameworks that could substantially enhance analytical precision and predictive capacity in environmental design science [14,15]. Such epistemological lacunae significantly impede the formulation of scientifically robust guidelines and evidence-informed policy instruments essential for operationalizing environmental design principles in practical contexts. Therefore, an urgent need exists for a comprehensive systematic review and analysis of environmental design research to address these gaps.

This study aims to systematically review the current status of environmental design research through programming, the R language, and bibliometrics in terms of temporal scope. This study systematically analyzes environmental design research spanning from 2000 to 2024. Regarding research content, we examine research capacity through the analysis of core authors, publishing journals, and contributing countries, while investigating the current research landscape through the analysis of research themes and focal points. Subsequently, by integrating evolutionary trends and research directions, we provide a comprehensive systematic analysis of the environmental design research landscape.

The rest of this paper is organized as follows: Section 2 reviews the research literature in the relevant field, clarifying the definition and source of the research object, as well as the value and significance of the research. Section 3 introduces the data source and research methods, and designs the framework. Section 4 analyzes the data results, including research progress, research fields, hot spots, strategies, and so on. Section 5 discusses the prospects and research outlook, and Section 6 discusses the conclusion.

2. Literature Review

2.1. Definition of Environmental Design

Environmental design mainly emphasizes that humans are the protagonists of the environment and aims to coordinate the interrelationships among “humans-buildings-environment” to achieve harmony and unity [16]. It is based on several core principles, including energy efficiency, resource optimization, and enhancing human well-being through spatial design [17,18,19]. Frameworks such as the SDGs further emphasize these values, highlighting the importance of creating equitable and sustainable urban and rural environments [20]. Globally, countries support the development trends of environmental design through targeted policy measures. For example, the United States widely promotes the LEED certification; China has the “Sponge City” program; Copenhagen has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2024; and Germany has established the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB) certification system, a holistic assessment methodology that evaluates environmental, economic, sociocultural, and functional aspects of buildings throughout their life cycle, exemplifying the multidimensional regulatory approaches being adopted across diverse jurisdictions [21,22,23,24]. These policies regulate green building practices and inject a higher level of scientific rigor and operational precision into environmental design.

2.2. Development Path of Environmental Design

Environmental design has evolved from a specialized discipline into an interdisciplinary field that integrates architecture, landscape, and urban planning, as shown in Figure 1.

Environmental design has undergone remarkable changes over the past century. It has gradually become an interdisciplinary field, integrating architecture, landscape, and urban planning. In the early 20th century, the Modernist movement emerged, and the Bauhaus School focused on human-centred architectural and spatial design [25]. The Athens Charter (1933) put forward the concept of human-oriented urban design, which profoundly impacted global urban development [26]. After the 1960s, the awakening of ecological awareness propelled Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to become a design standard, and legislation such as the National Environmental Policy Act in the United States came into being [27]. In 1987, the authors of the Brundtland Report first proposed “sustainable development”, emphasizing inter-generational responsibility [28]. In 1992, the Rio Earth Summit adopted Agenda 21, establishing a global framework for environmental cooperation [29]. Entering the 21st century, green architecture and sustainable design have become mainstream. Certification systems such as LEED and BREEAM have promoted the popularization of low-carbon buildings, and innovative technologies have accelerated the digital transformation of environmental design [30]. Meanwhile, international agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement have further promoted the concept of environmental protection, and countries have gradually established unified environmental design specifications [31]. Overall, the development of environmental design reflects humanity’s continuous exploration of the coordinated development of ecology, society, and technology.

3. Methodology

3.1. Data Sources

To ensure the high quality and reliability of the literature sample, this study obtained the original data through the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database produced by Clarivate [32]. This database is the most comprehensive and authoritative database covering disciplines globally [33]. To establish methodological rigor and ensure comprehensive bibliometric representation, this study incorporated five authoritative citation indices maintained by Clarivate Analytics: the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), the Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI), the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-Expanded), the Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Science (CPCI-S), and the Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Social Sciences & Humanities (CPCI-SSH).

This study set multiple search criteria with a period starting from 2000. The reason is that in 2000, the Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) held a conference mainly discussing “Environmental Design and Social Change”, which prompted the academic and practical circles to think more deeply about the social role of environmental design and explore how to promote more positive social changes through design [34]. The data retrieval ended on 31 December 2024. The “Full Record and Cited References” option was selected during the screening process, and the search results were exported as a text-format file.

To ensure the quality and reliability of the literature review, we employed a rigorous multi-step screening approach. Initially, we conducted preliminary deduplication using reference management software, followed by manual screening. Our screening process was guided by the framework proposed by Su et al. (2019) and informed by domain experts’ insights, establishing comprehensive inclusion and exclusion criteria.

These criteria specifically targeted core elements of environmental design research, emphasizing implementation strategies and critical influential factors. To maintain objectivity and inter-rater consistency, three independent researchers conducted literature assessments. Disagreements were resolved through collaborative discussion and collective decision-making.

Following systematic screening, a total of 2539 publications meeting the research theme were ultimately selected for analysis. The literature screening process was completed on 7 January 2025.

3.2. Research Method

Bibliometrics is a comprehensive analytical tool that combines mathematics, statistics, and literature research methods to quantitatively analyze existing literature data, such as bibliographic records and abstracts, intending to reveal the knowledge structure and evolutionary trajectory of specific research fields [35]. The term “bibliometrics” was first introduced by Pritchard in 1969 as a replacement for “statistical bibliography” and has since evolved into a core analytical framework within the field of information science. By employing techniques such as knowledge mapping and cluster analysis, bibliometric methods offer a systematic and visually intuitive approach to depicting the development pathways and research hotspots of academic disciplines.

Today, bibliometrics is widely applied to multidimensional analyses of research progress, including identifying the evolution of research themes, revealing emerging trends, and evaluating key contributors. Reviewing the current state of research helps to identify existing gaps and critical issues, while trend analysis can provide insights into future research directions and priorities. Moreover, metrics such as citation frequency are useful in assessing academic influence, enabling the identification of leading researchers and institutions, and offering both theoretical grounding and empirical support for further studies.

3.3. R Language Platform

The R language is a programming language used for statistical analysis, data visualization, and data science, and is widely applied in data mining and analysis [36]. Compared with software such as CiteSpace, SciMat, and VOS viewer, Bibliometrix (4.2.1) is an open-source tool based on the R programming language, developed by Professor Massimo Aria and his team from the University of Naples Federico II in Italy [37]. It is specifically designed for bibliometric analysis and knowledge graph construction. As a platform entirely based on the R language, Bibliometrix takes full advantage of R’s powerful data processing, analysis, and visualization capabilities and performs outstandingly, especially in the trend, structural, and impact assessment of academic literature. It supports the multidimensional visualization of academic networks. Particularly in the analysis of international cooperation and the mapping of trend-topic graphs, significant advantages are demonstrated by the flexibility and precision of the R language [38]. Since its release, Bibliometrix has been continuously updated to enhance its functions and adapt to new data formats, further improving the application effect of the R language in bibliometric analysis. As a freely generated open-source software, Bibliometrix is copyright-free, and users are free to download, use, and modify it for a wide range of academic research and data analysis applications.

3.4. Technical Route

The research began from a macro-level perspective, focusing on key issues in environmental design. Employing bibliometric analysis strategies using R, it delved into the intrinsic structure of the literature, including co-occurrence keyword analysis, author and journal clustering, and institutional distribution using various quantitative methods. In exploring research trends and prospects, we focused on examining the academic evolution of core thematic areas such as environmental design, social impact, and green building, and systematically analyzed research hotspots in relevant journals. Following a rigorous literature search and screening, we ultimately obtained 2529 high-quality articles, laying a solid data foundation for subsequent in-depth analysis. This diverse, interdisciplinary, and systematic research approach not only ensures the academic rigor of the study but also provides a new perspective and profound insights for understanding the complex ecosystem of environmental design research.

4. Results

4.1. Research Progress Overview

4.1.1. Publication Trends

The statistical analysis and visualization of annual publications reveal the development trends in environmental design research, reflecting the dynamic changes in research topics, technological advancements, and academic activities [39]. The statistical data is sourced from the keyword “environmental design” search results in the WoS database and compiled using the Excel tool. As shown in Figure 2, the research development in environmental design exhibits distinct phased characteristics. The trend of changes in the number of publications can be divided into three stages: the accumulation period (2000–2009), the rapid development period (2010–2019), and the adjustment and focus period (2020–2024).

From 2000 to 2009, the number of articles on environmental design grew slowly. The annual number of articles remained relatively low with inevitable fluctuations. The research development in this stage was relatively stable, affected by the low global attention to economic and environmental issues. During this period, although the Kyoto Protocol came into force in 2005, its impact on environmental design research was limited due to the lack of specific implementation guidelines and the absence of major economies like the United States. The 2008 global financial crisis further constrained research funding and slowed down academic activities in this field. From 2010 to 2014, research in the field of environmental design gradually accelerated, and the number of articles increased significantly. Especially in 2013 and 2014, the annual number of published articles rose remarkably. This rapid growth during this period was closely related to promoting the sustainable global development agenda. The Rio+20 Conference in 2012 marked a turning point, where the concept of “green economy” was formally introduced into the global development agenda. Additionally, the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program, launched in 2014, allocated significant funding for sustainable development research, including environmental design.

Subsequently, there was a rapid growth from 2015 to 2020. Multiple international policies drove the research development in this stage, and the research topics gradually shifted to specific areas such as green buildings, ecological planning, and low-carbon design. In 2015, the SDGs released by the United Nations proposed optimizing resource utilization efficiency and reducing environmental pollution through design [15]. At the same time, several European countries implemented the Eco-Design Directive, making environmental design gradually become an essential part of global sustainable development [40]. The Chinese government’s “13th Five-Year Plan” (2016–2020) also emphasized green building and sustainable urban development, leading to a surge in related research publications. These policies promoted research in green buildings, ecological planning, and low-carbon design, further accelerating the growth of the literature.

After 2020, the annual number of publications in the field of environmental design fluctuated. This trend is related to the global economic and social adjustments after the pandemic. Economic pressure led to reduced investment in environmental design in various countries [41]. At the same time, the restrictions on offline academic conferences and international cooperation weakened the breadth of academic exchanges. Nevertheless, during this period, the research direction gradually focused on application-oriented topics such as resilient urban design, carbon-neutral building design, and green infrastructure optimization, demonstrating the great potential of environmental design in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable urban construction. The European Green Deal (2019) and China’s “dual carbon” goals (2020) continued to drive research in sustainable design despite the pandemic challenges.

4.1.2. Publication Regions

Obtaining data on the distribution of cooperative countries is of great significance for understanding the research priorities of different countries in this field, promoting international academic exchanges, and predicting future cooperation opportunities and directions. In the software, the types of “Countries” and “Social Structure” within the “Authors” category were selected to conduct a visual analysis of the cooperation network of various countries in environmental design. As of December 31, 2024, the sample data covered 88 countries and regions.

Table 1. The five main contributing countries in environmental design research from 2000 to 2024.

No.	Country	Articles	Articles %	SCP	MCP	MCP %
1	USA	665	26.3	600	65	9.8
2	China	376	14.9	310	66	17.6
3	United Kingdom	140	5.5	105	35	25
4	Canada	95	3.8	84	11	11.6
5	Australia	93	3.7	72	21	22.6

lists the top five countries with the most significant number of articles published in this field. The United States (665 articles), China (376 articles), the United Kingdom (140 articles), Canada (95 articles), and Australia (93 articles) have become leading countries in promoting research progress in this field.

The different characteristics of scientific research cooperation among countries can be revealed through a detailed analysis of major countries’ scientific research contributions and cooperation models [42]. The Collaboration Coefficient (CC) is an essential indicator for evaluating the level of scientific research cooperation, and its calculation formula is:

$$CC={\displaystyle \frac{MCP}{SCP+MCP}}$$

MCP represents the number of articles jointly completed by authors from multiple countries, and SCP represents the number of articles from authors from the same country. The value of CC ranges from 0 to 1. A higher value indicates higher scientific research cooperation and vice versa. From the statistical data, the scientific research output in the United States is mainly concentrated in Single-Country Production (SCP). Among 665 articles, 600 are single-country outputs, and only 65 are the results of Multinational Cooperation (MCP), with a CC of 9.8%. Although its international cooperation is relatively limited, its influence on scientific research remains significant.

In contrast, China’s scientific research cooperation model is more global. The number of MCP accounts for 66, and the CC is 17.6%. It is worth noting that the scale of international cooperation in China is the same magnitude as that in the United States. Still, the CC is nearly eight percentage points higher, reflecting the differentiated development paths. This indicates that China is strongly willing to cooperate regionally and internationally, and its scientific research network is gradually expanding. The CC of the United Kingdom and Australia are 25% and 22.6% respectively. They rely more on international cooperation to promote innovation. These two English-speaking countries mainly drive innovation through cross-border cooperation with the United States, developed European countries, and Commonwealth member states. As shown in Figure 3, the closer the cooperation between countries is, the more critical the related research is. High-frequency collaboration often occurs within geographically proximate regions (e.g., China–Singapore, U.S.–Canada, U.K.–Netherlands), facilitated by similar policy frameworks, research funding structures, and cultural affinities. Conversely, intercontinental collaborations (e.g., China–U.K., U.S.–Australia) are typically project-based, driven by large-scale research initiatives or global sustainability programs.

Analysis of cooperation and publication trends among countries reveals the characteristics of scientific research cooperation in environmental design in different countries, highlighting the core positions of the United States and China. It emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in promoting innovation and reflects the relatively lagging status of some regions regarding global cooperation. Although the dynamics of international knowledge exchange seem crucial for driving conceptual breakthroughs, the data also reveals significant gaps in participation among developing regions.

4.1.3. Analysis of Main Journals

Bradford’s Law is a classic theory in bibliometrics used to describe the distribution law of academic literature in journals [43]. According to this Law, the distribution of literature in a specific research field usually presents a distribution pattern of core area, related area, and peripheral area. A few high-yield journals publish related literature, while most contribute only a tiny amount. This rule usually identifies core journals in a specific field and provides a basis for researchers to select key literature resources [43].

Based on the statistical data of the field of environmental design, the total amount of literature in this field is N ≈ 2529, and the total number of journals is K ≈ 1276. Through the calculation of Bradford’s Law, the distribution characteristics of journals can be divided into the following three areas:

• Core area: contains 47 journals, contributing ${\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}}$ of literature.
• Related area: contains 382 journals, contributing ${\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}}$ of literature.
• Peripheral area: contains 847 journals, contributing ${\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}}$ of literature.

The distribution ratio formula according to Bradford’s Law $n_1:n_2:n_3=1:r:r^2$, where r is the distribution constant, which the following formula can calculate:

$$r=\sqrt{{\displaystyle \frac{n_3}{n_1}}}=\sqrt{{\displaystyle \frac{847}{47}}}\approx 8.13$$

Substituting it into the proportion formula, this research obtains the distribution ratio: $n_1:n_2:n_3=1:8.13:66.06$. This result shows that although the number of journals in the core area only accounts for 3.68% of the total number of journals, they contribute many documents, reflecting the concentrated characteristics of high quality and high output.

According to Bradford’s Law, 47 journals in the field of environmental design are classified within the core zone. Among these, the top three journals by publication frequency are Sustainability, HERD: Health Environments Research & Design, and Building and Environment. Consequently, these journals are regarded as the most influential in the field.

Furthermore, the journal distribution highlights key research directions in environmental design, encompassing themes such as green buildings, sustainability, social factors, and green evaluation systems. Research in this field predominantly emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, the primary driver of innovation across diverse disciplines.

According to the analysis results of R-Bibliometrix, as shown in Figure 4, since 2015, the number of publications in the top five journals in the field of environmental design has been increasing continuously. Among them, the growth in the number of publications on sustainability is particularly significant. Since 2019, it has increased by approximately 10 articles per year on average.

In the ranking of journal citation frequency, Building and Environment receives a total of 2047 citations, securing the top position. Energy and Buildings follows this with 1595 citations, and the Journal of Environmental Psychology with 948 citations. In conclusion, across perspectives, including the number of published articles, the total citation count, or evaluation outcomes derived from Bradford’s Law, Building and Environment emerges as the preeminent and most authoritative journal in environmental design. In terms of theme distribution, these journals collectively reflect a shift in environmental design from traditional form-centered approaches to those emphasizing systems thinking, human well-being, and smart technologies. Journals like Building and Environment and the Journal of Cleaner Production drive technical advancement, while Landscape and Urban Planning and Sustainable foster social and ecological integration. This thematic diversity illustrates how environmental design is increasingly understood as a multidisciplinary, multi-scalar field. Analysis of prominent journals reveals that, within the rapidly evolving academic landscape, researchers should focus greater attention on core journals to identify prevailing research trends in this field.

4.1.4. Highly Productive Authors and Their Collaborative Contributions

Core authors within a discipline play a pivotal role in advancing its development, with their research directions significantly shaping its dynamic evolution [44]. Based on a statistical analysis conducted using R-Bibliometrix between 2000 and 2024, the annual publication output of the top five authors in environmental design varied. Between 2000 and 2010, comparatively fewer authors were engaged in related fields, resulting in limited publication output. Post-2010, as growing attention was directed toward environmental design topics—such as climate change and human settlement environments—the citation frequency of many authors’ works rose, suggesting that environmental design research garnered wider recognition during this period.

As shown in

Table 2. The 5 most relevant authors in the field of environmental design.

No.	Authors	Articles	Articles Fractionalized
1	Pushkar s	30	27.00
2	Abdullah a	14	3.85
3	Marzbali mh	12	3.40
4	Hasirci d	10	6.50
5	Lee j	10	3.70

, Pushkar S leads with 30 papers, followed by Abdullah A (14 papers) and Marzbali MH (12 papers). Pushkar S’s research promotes sustainable development in architecture, emphasizing environmentally friendly design and material use. Marzbali MH, conversely, focuses on the relationship between environmental sustainability and human behavior, exploring how to promote environmental protection and social harmony through scientific methods. Pushkar S has made significant contributions to the research in the field of environmental design.

We use the collaboration intensity formula proposed by Ajiferuke to measure the collaboration intensity between authors who contributed to the paper. This formula not only takes into account the author’s contribution position in the paper but also weights the importance of the contributions of different authors, thus providing a more accurate measure of collaboration intensity. The calculation formula is:

$$DC={\displaystyle \frac{N_m}{N_m+N_s}}$$

Here, $N_m$ represents the number of multi−author papers (i.e., the number of papers co−authored by two or more authors), and $N_S$ represents the number of single-author papers (i.e., the number of papers completed by a single author).

According to the data, the total number of documents is $N_t$ = 2529, the number of single-author papers is $N_S$ = 564, and the number of multi-author papers is $N_m=N_t-N_S=2529-564=1965$. This leads to the calculation:

$$DC={\displaystyle \frac{1975}{1975+564}}={\displaystyle \frac{1975}{2539}}\approx 0.78$$

This analysis demonstrates that approximately 78% of the literature on environmental design originates from collaborative endeavors, highlighting the prevailing role of teamwork in shaping the field. Within the author collaboration network, Abdullah A, Tilaki MJM, and Cozens P constitute a central cluster, suggesting a robust alignment in their research interests and topics within environmental design. Among them, Abdullah A emerges as notably influential. Concurrently, Pati D is a pivotal connector, linking diverse researchers and themes across the network.

Conversely, authors, including Farid M and Musa Y, occupy peripheral positions, indicating that their work is mainly independent or entails minimal collaboration. Although Pushkar S has contributed significantly to environmental design research, a dearth of academic partnerships has limited the broader dissemination of its impact. Collaboration among authors from diverse disciplines provides a mechanism to propel environmental design toward enhanced interdisciplinary integration, promoting more profound and innovative advancements in the field.

The analysis of core authors demonstrates the crucial role that core authors play in promoting the development of the field of environmental design. It emphasizes the importance of collaborative research in this field and contributes to the positive development of environmental design. Although Pushkar S has made significant contributions to the research in the field of environmental design, the lack of academic cooperation has hindered the diversified development of academia.

4.1.5. Institutional Analysis

Analyzing the distribution of research institutions in environmental design can identify high-output institutions and depict the pattern of research forces [45]. Such analysis helps to promote institutional collaboration and resource sharing, improve research efficiency and quality, and drive the development of the field. Figure 5 shows the institutional cooperation network for environmental design research. The nodes’ size reflects the institutions’ publication frequency, and the connecting lines represent the cooperation relationships. Universities are the main research units, and the cooperation network is close. The University of California System has the most frequent cooperation. The forms of cooperation include joint research, academic exchanges, and co-publications, reflecting the characteristics of global collaboration. Non-Western institutions such as the Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB) are gradually becoming important cooperation centers, marking the increasing influence of the Middle East and North Africa regions in this field. Developing countries are becoming an important part of the global research network. Marginal institutions such as the University of Hong Kong and Curtin University, although not dominant in the number of publications and cooperation frequency, increase the diversity of the global network and have advantages in specific fields. Research institutions in economically developed countries still hold an important position in research related to environmental design. Universities are the main research institutions in this field and are crucial in promoting its development.

Figure 6 shows that the University of California System tops the list with 74 papers, followed by the State University System of Florida and EKB in the second and third places, respectively, demonstrating the competitiveness of regional research systems. Harvard University, the University of North Carolina, etc., also stand out, expanding their influence through extensive cooperation networks.

Since 2015, the growth rate of the number of publications by EKB has accelerated and gradually approached that of Western institutions, indicating that developing countries are experiencing rapid development in fields related to environmental design and will occupy a more significant position in the global academic network in the future. Strengthening cooperation among different institutions can greatly promote research in environmental design, drive the interdisciplinary development of environmental design, and better assist humanity in solving climate, health, and other issues.

Notably, institutions from countries such as Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, and South Korea have made significant contributions in recent years. The University of Melbourne and UNSW Sydney in Australia have published influential works on sustainable urban planning and climate-adaptive design. Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands is known for its integration of environmental performance with urban morphology. In Canada, the University of British Columbia and McGill University have focused on green architecture and human well-being in built environments. German institutions, including the Technical University of Munich, are advancing digital tools for environmental simulation and urban analytics. Meanwhile, Korean institutions such as Seoul National University have conducted cutting-edge research on high-density ecological design and smart infrastructure.

The participation of these institutions reflects the expanding global engagement in environmental design and the importance of localized strategies rooted in distinct geographic, climatic, and cultural conditions. This diversity enhances the field’s ability to generate innovative and context-sensitive solutions for sustainability.

4.2. Field of Study

4.2.1. Cited Literature Distribution Statistics

Highly cited literature in environmental design exemplifies both sustained disciplinary influence and cross-domain impact, as evidenced by distinct citation metrics [46]. Local Citation impact (LC) measures a publication’s foundational contribution within its specialized field, serving as a vital indicator of research that shapes disciplinary paradigms [47]. Conversely, Global Citation frequency (GC) gauges a study’s transnational academic relevance, highlighting its ability to transcend disciplinary boundaries and contribute to international scholarly discourse [48].

Table 3. The most influential publications on environmental design (ranked by LC).

No.	Publication	Local Citation	Global Citation	LC/GC Ratio (%)
1	A Review and Current Status of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED). Paul Cozens et al. (2015)	57	171	33.33
2	A comprehensive analysis of the credits obtained by LEED 2009-certified green buildings. Peng Wu et al. (2017)	42	111	37.84
3	A decade review of the credits obtained by LEED v2.2 certified green building projects. Peng Wu et al. (2016)	38	87	43.68
4	The influence of crime prevention through environmental design on victimization and fear of crime. Massoomeh Hedaati Marz Bali et at (2012)	33	60	55.00
5	Measuring crime prevention through environmental design. John R. Minnery and Bill Lim (2005)	31	65	47.69

presents the top five most influential papers, ranked in descending order of local citation frequency. At the forefront is Cozens P.’s 2015 study, “A Review and Current Status of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)”, with 57 local citations and 171 global citations. This work thoroughly investigates CPTED’s core principles and demonstrates their broad application across diverse global regions. Wu P.’s complementary studies on green building certification systems are closely followed (2016 and 2017). Through comparative longitudinal analyses of LEED certification patterns, these investigations establish essential frameworks for understanding regional disparities in sustainable design implementation, the evolutionary trajectories of rating system effectiveness, and systemic challenges in performance benchmarking.

These studies offer an in-depth analysis of credit-obtaining patterns, innovative aspects, and challenges associated with green building certification, shedding light on variations in adopting green building standards across different regions and industries.

This analysis of citation patterns not only provides researchers with a clear roadmap for the evolution of the discipline but also offers an evidence-based foundation for policymakers and practitioners to identify reliable environmental design principles and methodologies. Moreover, it enables insight into the potential and possibilities for future development, thereby better connecting academic exploration with human well-being.

4.2.2. Keyword Co-Occurrence Analysis

Analysis of keyword co-occurrence networks yields critical insights into the central themes and dominant research trajectories in environmental design while elucidating the robustness of interconnections among diverse research topics [49]. In Figure 7, nodes correspond to specific academic keywords, their size indicating the frequency of each theme’s appearance in the literature. Distinct colors signify different thematic categories, while the cluster structure exposes prevailing research trends and scholarly priorities.

This study utilizes the betweenness centrality and closeness centrality as primary metrics to assess keywords in environmental design [50]. These centrality measures are computed by analyzing the interrelationships among nodes within the scientific collaboration network. Keywords including “design”, “impact”, and “performance” demonstrate significantly elevated betweenness centrality, suggesting they function as essential connectors within the network. Higher betweenness centrality implies shorter relational distances between a keyword and others, emphasizing its critical role. As depicted in the figure, “design” and “impact” are conspicuously positioned within the red cluster, displaying greater node weight and elevated betweenness centrality relative to other terms. This indicates that these keywords exhibit frequent co-occurrence and constitute foundational elements of environmental design. These themes have evolved not in isolation but through mutual reinforcement, shaped by policy agendas (e.g., UN SDGs), global climate accords, and rising public awareness.

Presently, research in environmental design is predominantly conducted through interdisciplinary efforts within closely aligned traditional disciplines, with minimal investigation into emerging domains. Numerous studies primarily evaluate existing accomplishments and challenges, frequently neglecting the exploration of technical transformation pathways in environmental design. As a result, the practical potential of environmental design remains underexploited and has not been fully converted into tangible outcomes.

4.2.3. Thematic Evolution and Development Trends

Understanding the thematic evolution of keywords in different periods can reveal the research system and trends [51]. This helps researchers understand the development of this field and helps with more in-depth cluster analysis. Figure 8 shows the evolution of the main map in the field of environmental design from 2000 to 2024, which is divided into four time periods. The size of the nodes represents the frequency of keyword occurrences. Curved lines connect the keywords, and different connection widths indicate the strength of the association between keywords in different periods. By analyzing the thematic evolution to predict the research development trends, we can see that future research will continue to focus on sustainability, health, data-driven decision-making, education, and interdisciplinary cooperation. This research trend not only reflects the profound influence of global environmental crises and public health incidents on the development of environmental design but also verifies the inevitable trend of the innovation of environmental design paradigms and the integration and innovation of knowledge in the context of digital transformation. Future research will follow the evolutionary logic of integrating practicality and technicality and promote the coordinated evolution of the theoretical system and practical models while addressing complex environmental challenges.

4.2.4. Past, Current, and Perspective of Environmental Design

Drawing on the frequency of keyword occurrences, the progression of keywords in environmental design may be delineated into three distinct phases, each mirroring shifts in research emphases and priorities.

During the initial phase (2002–2010), keywords including energy, design, and community coincided with increased climate awareness following the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. This period marked early attempts to reconcile traditional architecture with ecological imperatives, initiating interdisciplinary approaches to environmental design driven by recognition that sustainable solutions must address both human behavior and technological systems.

The second phase (2010–2020) marked a shift toward interdisciplinary research integrating sustainability and health. Keywords such as climate change, sustainability, health, performance, and environmental design experienced significant frequency increases, indicating a stronger alignment between environmental design and public health priorities. This progression corresponds closely to the Paris Climate Agreement and the WHO’s focus on built environment health impacts. Keywords like climate change, sustainability, and health experienced significant frequency increases. Epidemiological research confirming correlations between built environments and public health outcomes fostered disciplinary intersection, with research in this area growing approximately 15% annually.

The third phase (2020–2024), influenced by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, propelled topics including sustainability, climate change, and energy efficiency to prominence. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the significant increase in citation volume for health-related research, highlighting its elevated importance. The growth in research on indoor environment ventilation and disease transmission has changed our understanding of indoor environments. Concurrently, progress in science and technology, alongside the increasing adoption of data-driven methodologies, stimulated heightened interest in themes such as information and systems. The notion of designing healthy spaces, which rose in prominence during the pandemic, is positioned to shape architectural standards in the post-pandemic era. Furthermore, the broad implementation of digital twin technology offers the potential to transform full-life-cycle management processes in environmental design, heralding a transformative shift in the field’s future direction.

Figure 9 illustrates the strategic themes in the field of environmental design, such as design, impact, and performance, that have received extensive attention and achieved remarkable research results, representing the current cutting-edge topics.

In addition, research on building energy efficiency, especially the correlation between economics and LEED, has seen significant development. At the same time, topics related to optimization and tools are gradually being marginalized and do not show a promising development trend. Similarly, research topics related to residential buildings, life-cycle assessment, and comfort need further exploration. These areas play an important role in understanding basic concepts and theories and constructing the research system of environmental design. These changing trends reflect the evolution of the demands of the social environment, but also reveal the evolutionary logic of environmental design in responding to complex challenges through continuous technological innovation.

5. Discussion and Outlook

5.1. Discussion

This article focuses on environmental design and conducts a systematic visual analysis using bibliometric methods and the R programming language. It provides a comprehensive summary of key research in the field of environmental design, highlighting major achievements from 2000 to 2024. The study primarily relies on the WoS database, complemented by existing literature reviews to reinforce the research findings. The analysis examines various dimensions, including the annual distribution of publications, international collaboration, prominent journals, and leading authors, to present an overview of the current state of environmental design research. Additionally, keyword co-occurrence and literature influence analyses are employed to identify research hot spots and potential future directions for development in the field. The main conclusions are as follows:

• Environmental design has progressed through three distinct phases—initial accumulation (2000–2009), rapid expansion (2010–2019), and focused consolidation since 2020—reflecting a shift from foundational theory toward application-driven solutions such as green building certification, ecological master planning, and low-carbon strategies.
• International cooperation is an important driving force for the development of the field of environmental design. Countries like the United States, China, and the United Kingdom dominate this field. China’s scientific research cooperation model is gradually becoming more globalized, reflecting the country’s increasing importance in international scientific research cooperation. In addition, countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia promote innovation through close international cooperation, further strengthening the global research network.
• Journal analysis shows that Sustainability, Building and Environment, and HERD are the most influential and core journals in the field of environmental design. These journals not only lead in the number of publications but also occupy important positions in terms of citation frequency and academic influence. At the same time, Bradford’s Law reveals the core–periphery pattern of journal literature distribution in this field, further confirming a few core journals’ important role in promoting the discipline’s development.
• Regarding core authors, Pushkar S, Abdullah A, Marzbali MH, and others have played an important role in promoting the sustainable development of the architecture and environmental design field. Cooperative research is dominant, reflecting that the research in the field of environmental design depends on international cooperation and interdisciplinary collaboration, which promotes the expansion and diversity of the academic network.
• Citation bursts and keyword co-occurrence surface four emerging themes—health-centered spaces, energy-efficient retrofitting, social well-being metrics, and green building systems—pointing to fertile intersections of environmental psychology. From multiple fields such as health, sustainability, and social security, the applied research of environmental design in aspects such as social well-being, building energy efficiency, and green buildings has gradually deepened, demonstrating strong potential for interdisciplinary cooperation.

5.2. Outlook

From the above analysis, the current international research trends in environmental design have gradually shifted from focusing on traditional social issues and the environment to fields such as sustainability, climate change, and energy efficiency. At the same time, digital transformation and technology-related content have also begun to be involved in data analysis methods. In-depth interdisciplinary cooperation will be an important direction for future development. Combining recent research results and considering the cutting-edge hot spots, this study puts forward the following prospects for the future research directions of environmental design:

• Integration of Sustainability and Public Health: With the intensification of global climate change, the role of environmental design in addressing climate change and improving human health will become increasingly important. Future research should deeply explore the interrelationships among green buildings, low-carbon design, and healthy environments, and promote the construction of healthy cities and green communities. Moreover, integrating environmental performance tools (e.g., WELL, LEED, and Passive House standards) with public health indicators can provide evidence-based guidance for healthy urban development.
• Digital Transformation and Technological Innovation: The rapid development of information technology has brought new opportunities to environmental design, especially in areas such as intelligent buildings, data-driven decision-making, and technology-optimized design. With the application of technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and the Internet of Things, environmental design research will rely more on digital means, promoting precise design and intelligent management integration. Future research should explore digital twin technology for real-time simulation of building performance, as well as generative design algorithms to automatically produce energy-efficient and user-centered spatial layouts.
• Depending on Interdisciplinary Cooperation: Environmental design is not just a problem in architecture. Cross-disciplinary cooperation among sociology, psychology, urban planning, engineering, and other disciplines will be the key to future development. Researchers should strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation and communication and explore more comprehensive and innovative solutions.
• Rise of Emerging Markets: With the rise of emerging markets in the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, etc., there is huge potential for developing environmental design in these regions. Future research may focus on the specific needs of these regions and propose sustainable design strategies that adapt to the local environment and culture. Field experiments, community co-creation, and vernacular adaptation studies will be vital to ensure feasibility and long-term sustainability.
• Global Cooperation and Network Building: International cooperation remains the core force driving the progress of environmental design research, especially in global climate change, resource management, and environmental protection. International scientific research cooperation will be even closer, and transnational research projects and joint releases will become the mainstream.

5.3. Limitation

There are some limitations in this study. First, relying only on the WoS database may limit the breadth of the study and fail to cover the diverse topics and multilingual content in databases such as PubMed and CNKI. In addition, the dataset starts from 2000, and some relevant literature may be missed due to the limitation of search time, excluding early or late publications. The review does not include articles or studies published before or after this. Therefore, the results of this study are time-sensitive. Finally, space analysis is not the only available analysis tool. Other software, such as VOS Viewer (V1.6.20), Gephi (V0.10.0), or Sci2 Tool (V1.3), may also provide different perspectives and results. Future research will undoubtedly further improve the methodology of this study. Future research can further refine the methodology of this study.

Compared with previous studies, this research’s contribution to environmental design and sustainability theory lies in the in-depth bibliometric analysis, which reveals the current trends and hotspots in environmental design. The study emphasizes the role of environmental design in improving people’s living environment and ensuring their life and health. It also highlights the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation in this field. Environmental design should not only solve specific physical space problems but also assume the responsibility of enhancing human well-being, achieving social equity, and protecting the ecosystem to promote the development of environmental design.

6. Conclusions

This study uses the Bibliometrix visualization tool based on the R language, combined with the WoS Core Collection database, to systematically analyze the literature data in the field of environmental design from 2000 to 2025. By examining literature production, influential sources, regional distribution, authorship networks, and thematic evolution, it delineates the field’s structural development and dynamic trends.

Overall, the number of publications in environmental design has been increasing steadily, with an average annual publication volume of approximately 105 papers. Especially in the past decade, environmental design has gradually become an important academic field, attracting much attention. Despite a notable rise in scholarly output, international collaboration and institutional synergy remain limited, indicating the need for more robust global partnerships.

Regarding research directions, as an emerging discipline, environmental design has gradually shifted from a single-discipline field to an integrated one that incorporates multiple disciplines, such as architectural design, ecology, psychology, and sociology. Most importantly, future research is expected to be driven by intelligent systems, green technologies, and low-carbon strategies, with a growing emphasis on mental health and ecological resilience. These evolving priorities highlight the increasingly systemic and human-centered role of environmental design in responding to global challenges such as climate change and sustainable urbanization. By mapping the intellectual structure and thematic evolution of the field, this study offers theoretical insight and strategic references for advancing both academic inquiry and practical innovation in environmental design.