The Present and Future Trends of Low-Power and Energy-Efficient Monitoring Research Through Science Mapping Analysis

In the context of global decarbonization and sustainable energy transitions, low-power and energy-efficient monitoring systems have emerged as a critical enabler across domains such as smart grids, wireless sensor networks, industrial monitoring, and biomedical applications. This study presents a comprehensive scientometric and bibliometric analysis of research spanning five decades (1978-2024), drawing on 648 publications retrieved from Scopus. Using Biblioshiny for performance analysis and VOSviewer for co-occurrence mapping, the study evaluates publication and citation growth, leading authors, institutions, countries, and thematic clusters shaping the field. Results indicate a steady annual growth rate of 9.27%, with significant acceleration after 2010, reflecting the impact of Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, embedded controller architectures, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven analytics. Keyword and co-occurrence analyses highlight “energy efficiency,” “monitoring,” and “wireless sensor networks” as dominant themes, while emerging trends emphasize low-power electronics, adaptive optimization, and edge-intelligent systems. Highly cited works reveal three major trajectories: (i) foundational frameworks in energy efficiency and sensor networks, (ii) diagnostic and monitoring innovations through low-power embedded systems, and (iii) next-generation intelligent architectures integrating AI, digital twins, and cyber-physical energy systems. Despite rapid advances, gaps remain in scalability, cross-domain interoperability, and safety-certified low-power architectures. By consolidating fragmented contributions across 50 years, this review delivers the first longitudinal science mapping of energy-efficient monitoring research, offering actionable insights for researchers, industry practitioners, and policymakers to accelerate innovation toward resilient, intelligent, and sustainable monitoring solutions.