Mapping Knowledge Structure and Evolution in U.S. Emergency Management Research

Abstract This study mapped the knowledge structure and examined the knowledge linkage in U.S. emergency management research from 2011 to 2024. Drawing on a conceptual framework that categorizes knowledge into scenarios, missions, and influencing factors, we constructed a dataset of publications authored by scholars affiliated with academic emergency management programs, retrieved from the Web of Science. Using bibliographic coupling and clustering analysis, we identified 22 research themes across five core research areas. Our findings indicate that although the field is thematically diverse, linkages between themes and areas remain limited. Nevertheless, knowledge integration has increased after 2016, with a few integrative hubs emerging. Further analysis of shared references suggested that integration occurred through shared theoretical or methodological foundations, asymmetric knowledge borrowing, and growing conceptual convergence. This study provided a comprehensive and empirical assessment of the interdisciplinary evolution of emergency management research and offered insights for scholars and academic program administrators seeking to strengthen knowledge integration and field development.