Internet of Things in construction: trends and adoption insights from a scientometric perspective

The adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the construction industry has garnered significant academic interest, with a notable increase in research over the past decade. This study conducts a scientometric review of 428 papers published between 2010 and 2024, aiming to identify key trends, highlight emerging themes, and offer directions for future research to avoid redundancy. Through bibliographic coupling and scientific network analysis, the review uncovers prominent co-occurring keywords and themes, such as the integration of IoT with artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud and edge computing, Building Information Modelling (BIM), and Digital Twins. A major finding is that improving safety, particularly in worker health and underground construction, is the most frequently addressed objective. Other focal areas include post-occupancy analysis, site management, infrastructure development, life cycle management, and prefabrication. However, the research highlights significant gaps. While IoT and BIM integration are well-explored, their application to worker safety and underground construction remains limited. The combination of Digital Twins and IoT is also underutilized in design evaluation, prefabrication, and life cycle management. This review underscores the complementary roles of various technologies and calls for interdisciplinary collaboration to fully realize the potential of IoT in advancing safety and efficiency in the construction industry.