Research hotspots and trends in heritage building information modeling: A review based on CiteSpace analysis

The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Heritage building information modeling (HBIM), a digital method for conserving architectural heritage, has recently attracted significant attention worldwide. However, a comprehensive analysis of hotspots and trends and a complete workflow for practical HBIM application have been lacking. This article analyzes HBIM research progress, hotspots, and trends since 2010 using the CiteSpace scientometric tool on 372 highly relevant documents from the Web of Science Core Collection. Literature co-citation analysis, keyword co-occurrence analysis, cluster analysis, and keyword burst detection were conducted. Findings indicate HBIM research remained in the conceptualization stage from 2010–2017, with accelerated attention since 2017 as technologies matured and uses expanded into multidisciplinary fields, such as artificial intelligence. Four highly cited co-citation clusters—semiautomatic 3D modeling, heritage information system, pilot study, and virtual reality—reflect key hotspots and frontiers. In the Discussion, a systematic and complete HBIM workflow for heritage architecture is proposed at three levels: modeling, data exchange/database creation, and auxiliary management. The article further analyzes development directions in heritage building conservation and sustainable development, providing theoretical and practical references and proposing future research directions.

Ziyi Zhang, Yiquan Zou