Evaluating the evolution of urban ecosystem service assessment research through bibliometric and science mapping analysis

The concept of urban ecosystem services (UESs) gained significant recognition in the late 1990s, in the context of global urbanization. Since then, academic research on UESs has become the focal point of urban sustainability, with annual publications surpassing 600 in recent years. Although numerous comprehensive reviews have examined ecosystem services (ESs) on a global scale, few have specifically addressed UESs and their assessment. In this context, this study aims to advance the understanding of urban ecosystem service assessment (UESA) through a bibliometric and science mapping analysis of nearly three decades of research. The analysis was based on 4,821 articles retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (1996–2024) and conducted using the bibliometric and science mapping software tools VOSviewer and SciMAT. VOSviewer was specifically used to identify key research topics, influential publications, leading authors, prominent journals, and contributing countries within this domain. SciMAT was used to investigate the longitudinal development of the field’s intellectual structure, reflecting its thematic evolution. The findings reveal a shift from early emphasis on core environmental themes (ecosystem service valuation, land-use change) to a more diversified knowledge base of socio-ecological complexity. Although the field has expanded to incorporate emerging themes like cultural ecosystem services and institutional frameworks, environmental dimensions remain disproportionately dominant. This highlights a research gap in addressing socio-economic inequalities, governance dynamics, and behavioural drivers. This study provides a foundational reference for researchers and practitioners exploring the evolution of UESA and offers insights into its thematic priorities, knowledge gaps, and interdisciplinary potentials.