The correlation between water sensitive urban design and urban climate: A bibliometric analysis

The rapid population growth in the past two centuries has caused a significant rise in urbanisation, leading to various environmental impacts. To address these negative consequences, the adoption of new technologies is crucial. One such approach is Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD). This study aims to investigate the relationship between Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and urban climate, particularly in the context of challenges posed by urban sprawl, such as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect and stormwater pollution. Employing a bibliometric analysis and utilising the similar visualisation software (VOSviewer), the research analyses publications from 2014 to 2023 to identify prominent countries, institutions, authors, journals, and emerging research trends. A total of 38 publications documented in the Scopus database were reviewed as of January 2024. The findings reveal that 2022 marked a peak in research output, with the Journal of Hydrology leading in publications and Simon C. Beecham recognised as the foremost author. Notably, Australia contributed 37% of the total publications, with Monash University identified as a key institutional contributor. The analysis uncovered critical themes related to water management, climate resilience, and sustainable urban practices, underscoring their interconnectedness. Despite these insights, the study identified a significant gap in the literature regarding the interplay between WSUD, low-impact development (LID), sustainable urban drainage (SUD), thermal comfort, and UHI. This gap indicates a fertile area for future research, presenting a roadmap for scholars to explore these connections more comprehensively.