Recent Publication Trends of Systems Engineers: Journals, Topics, and the Impact of Open Access

This study conducts a systematic review to elucidate where systems engineers predominantly publish, the thematic focus of their publications, and how open access influences citation rates. Utilizing data extracted from the OpenAlex database, we analyze publications from selected systems engineering journals and their authors’ wider body of work since 2019. Our findings indicate that while systems engineers publish across a diverse range of journals, there is a concentrated focus within specific, systems-oriented venues. Subfield and topic trend analyses reveal a significant shift towards interdisciplinary research areas, with emerging fields like human-system interaction and digital trans-formation gaining prominence. Moreover, the analysis supports the advantage of open access publications in enhancing citation rates, suggesting that increased accessibility leads to greater dissemination and impact. This work provides valuable insights into publication trends in systems engineering, highlighting the field’s evolving scope and the beneficial impact of open access on research visibility.