Unlocking the Positive Impact of Bio-Swales on Hydrology, Water Quality, and Biodiversity: A Bibliometric Review

Tong Chen, Mo Wang (), Jin Su () and Jianjun Li
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Tong Chen: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Mo Wang: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Jin Su: Guangdong Provincial Ecological Restoration Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
Jianjun Li: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: Bio-swales have gained significant attention as an effective means of stormwater management in urban areas, reducing the burden on conventional rainwater management systems. Despite this increasing interest, a comprehensive assessment of the status of bio-swale research is lacking. In response, this article employs two powerful information-visualizing software tools, the “Bibliometrix” R package and “CiteSpace”, to conduct a quantitative investigation of 323 English language sources published in the Web of Science prior to 2022. The objective is to provide a comprehensive examination of bio-swale research from multiple perspectives, shedding light on current advancements and future research trends. The findings reveal (1) a persistent annual increase in bio-swale-related publications and (2) the predominant focus on regulating services, such as hydrology, water quality, and biodiversity, with hot topics within these areas, including the influencing factors, climate, modeling, soil contaminants, and biodiversity at both macro and micro levels. Furthermore, our study concludes that future research necessitates interdisciplinary and interterritorial collaboration, a broader focus that encompasses the social, economic, ecological, and engineering aspects of bio-swales, and the adoption of diverse research methodologies. Given the currently limited research on biodiversity in bio-swales, this area holds the potential to become a future research hotspot. By harnessing the insights and findings of our study, researchers can gain a more profound understanding of the current state of bio-swale research and devise effective strategies to further propel this critical area of study.

Keywords: bio-swale; Bibliometrix; CiteSpace; hydrology; water quality; biodiversity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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