Remote Sensing Application in Mountainous Environments: A Bibliographic Analysis

Simbarashe Jombo (), Mohamed A. M. Abd Elbasit, Anesu D. Gumbo and Nthaduleni S. Nethengwe
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Simbarashe Jombo: Department of Physical and Earth Sciences, Sol Plaatje University, Kimberley 8300, South Africa
Mohamed A. M. Abd Elbasit: Department of Physical and Earth Sciences, Sol Plaatje University, Kimberley 8300, South Africa
Anesu D. Gumbo: Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa
Nthaduleni S. Nethengwe: Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: Advancement in remote sensing platforms, sensors, and technology has significantly improved the assessment of hard-to-access areas, such as mountains. Despite these improvements, Africa lags in terms of research work published. This is of great concern as the continent needs more research to achieve sustainable development. Therefore, this study applied a bibliometric analysis of the annual production of publications on the application of remote sensing methods in mountainous environments. In total, 3849 original articles between 1973 and 2021 were used, and the results indicate a steady growth in publications from 2004 ( n = 26) to 2021 ( n = 504). Considering the source journals, Remote Sensing was the top-ranked, with 453 total publications. The University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was the highest-ranking affiliation, with 217 articles, and China produced the highest number of publications ( n = 217). Keywords used between 1973 and 1997, such as “Canada”, “alps”, and “GIS”, metamorphosed into “remote sensing” between 1998 and 2021. This metamorphosis indicates a change in the areas of interest and an increase in the application of remote sensing methods. Most studies were conducted in the Global North countries, and a few were published in low-impact journals within the African continent. This study can help researchers and scholars better understand the progress and intellectual structure of the field and future research directions in the application of remote sensing methods in mountainous environments.

Keywords: data scarcity; publishing equity; mountain; remote sensing; sustainable development; Africa; bibliometric analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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