Cybersecurity in the AECO Sector: A Scopus-Based Bibliometric Review of Research Trends and Future Directions

The architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) sector is undergoing rapid digital transformation, driven by Industry 4.0 technologies such as BIM, IoT, and digital twins. While these tools improve efficiency, they are increasingly blurring the lines between the digital and physical worlds, making the building sector a prime target for cyberattacks. This evolution has generated considerable academic interest, particularly since 2020, as the potential consequences of data breaches now extend beyond data loss to include disruption of physical assets. Given the need for a structured overview of this rapidly evolving field, this article provides a systematic bibliometric analysis, reported in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, of cybersecurity research in the AECO sector. From a total of 183 peer-reviewed documents, books/chapters retrieved from the Scopus database, covering the period 2004–2026 (early access), a performance analysis was first conducted to assess research productivity and geographical contributions. Next, a scientific mapping based on keyword co-occurrence visualized the knowledge base. Four major thematic clusters were identified and discussed in detail. Finally, a future research agenda is proposed, emphasizing a transition to proactive AI-based detection and holistic governance. These findings provide insights into the current research landscape and suggest opportunities for future investigation.