Data-driven representation of space syntax research in urban planning: A scientometric and network analysis approach using the Scopus Database (2017–2026)

Baharinezhad, Marjan; Akbari, Parviz

doi:10.22034/uep.2026.587744.1931

Data-driven representation of space syntax research in urban planning: A scientometric and network analysis approach using the Scopus Database (2017–2026)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Marjan Baharinezhad ¹

Parviz Akbari ²

¹ PhD Candidate in Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Engineering, Larestan Higher Education Complex, Fars, Iran

10.22034/uep.2026.587744.1931

Abstract

This study maps the scientific landscape of space syntax research in urban planning using scientometric methods and network analysis, without addressing this domain’s theoretical foundations. The research data were extracted from the Scopus database using a systematic review procedure, and after data cleaning and screening, 739 articles were selected for final analysis. The analyses were conducted using VOSviewer, based on indicators such as keyword co-occurrence, total link strength, normalized citation counts, and the country-level co-authorship network. The findings indicate that scientific output in this field has exhibited a continuous upward trend, entering a phase of accelerated growth between 2017 and 2022. Keyword network analysis identified five major thematic clusters: urban planning and spatial analysis, spatial theory and configuration, urban morphology and development, architecture and the built environment, and visibility analysis and spatial tools. The keywords “space syntax” and “spatial analysis” constitute the core of the field’s knowledge structure and exhibit the highest total link strength. In addition, the themes of urban planning, urban design, and land use, despite their comparatively lower frequency, show higher scientific impact. At the international level, China and the United Kingdom account for the largest volumes of scientific output, whereas the United States, Italy, and the Netherlands play a more central role within scientific collaboration networks. The results suggest that space syntax has reached scientific maturity and is transitioning from theoretical concepts toward interdisciplinary, data-driven, and problem-oriented applications in urban planning.

Keywords

Bibliometric analysis

network analysis

urban planning

space syntax

20.1001.1.28212118.1405.7.12.8.6

Subjects

Spatial Planning

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