Evolution of Smart Buildings: A Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Review

In recent decades, rapid urban growth and the need to address challenges arising from climate change have driven the development of new solutions in architecture and engineering. Among these solutions, smart buildings have emerged as an innovative approach to optimise resource use, improve quality of life in urban environments, and contribute to global sustainability [1]. The world population has reached 8.16 billion inhabitants worldwide, according to United Nations estimates for 2024 [2, 3]; it is expected to reach 9.70 billion by 2050 [2], intensifying the demand for efficient and sustainable infrastructures [4]. These buildings not only respond to contemporary demands for energy efficiency [5] and infrastructural safety [6]. According to Sabando, green innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises transforms the construction sector, promoting more sustainable and climate change resilient buildings [7]. In addition, this transformation offers new opportunities for the development of cities that are more resilient and adaptable to the changing conditions of the modern world [8] (e.g., Internet of Things (IoT) and information and communication technologies (ICT)).

IoT refers to the interconnection of devices and systems through digital networks, enabling real-time data collection and analysis improving efficiency and automated decision making [9]. IoT is an important application in smart buildings, which are defined as infrastructures that integrate advanced technologies, such as automation, artificial intelligence, real-time monitoring systems [10]. In addition, they employ ICT models; it comprises intelligent models, digital tools and platforms to monitor and control the energy efficiency and performance of buildings [11], to optimise building performance in terms of energy consumption, comfort, safety [12], and sustainability. The key components of these buildings include automated energy management systems [13], sensors that detect changes in the environment [14], communication networks that enable the interconnection of devices [15], and advanced building materials that promote efficiency and resilience [16]. This approach transforms the design and operation of buildings and contributes to creating smart cities [17]. The concept of smart cities is related to buildings that enable better management of resources and help combat urban challenges, such as pollution, mobility [18], and resilience to climate change [19]. A relevant case is the Humberto Molina Astudillo Hospital in Zaruma, Ecuador, where mining activity and soil instability caused its technical closure; this case highlights the importance of geotechnical studies in developing safe and resilient infrastructures [20]. In addition, communities living in these cities benefit from safer, more efficient, and equitable environments that promote social cohesion and collective well-being [21]. In this way, both cities and their inhabitants experience an improved quality of life and environmental protection [22].

The concept of smart buildings has evolved since its earliest development in the 1980s, when it focused primarily on the automation of systems within buildings [23]. As technologies have advanced and environmental concerns have gained prominence, the approach has evolved towards a holistic view, including sustainability, energy efficiency [24] and integration with a wider urban environment [25]. This evolution has been accompanied by exponential growth in scientific research on the subject, which has generated a vast number of publications covering various areas of study, including energy efficiency [24], automation and control [26], environmental sustainability [27], user comfort and well-being [28], safety and risk management [29] and operational economy and efficiency [30]. Figure 1 shows the evolution of smart buildings over time.

Figure 1. Chronological diagram showing the evolution of smart buildings over time

3.1 Scientific production review by period

The annual growth in the publication of these papers was 9.06%, reflecting a sustained interest and development in smart building research. International collaboration is also significant, with 18.64% of publications including international co-authorships, demonstrating the global relevance of these topics in various contexts.

A total of 2,199 researchers participated in these publications, of which 113 were solo authors. The average number of co-authors per paper is 3.27, indicating a high degree of scientific collaboration favouring the integration of different perspectives and disciplines, which is key to innovative building solutions.

Figure 3 shows the evolution of scientific production in three periods: Period I (1975-2007), Period II (2007-2014) and Period III (2014-2024). During Period I, the number of annual papers was relatively low, not exceeding ten documents per year in most cases.

In Period II, an increase in production was observed, reaching between 10 and 30 documents per year, reflecting growing interest in the subject. Finally, scientific production showed a notable increase in Period III, reaching 112 papers annually. The growth trend of the output fitted an exponential function, y=0.6733e^(0.0887x), with a coefficient of determination R²=0.8561, indicating an accelerated increase in publications, particularly in the last few years of the analysis. This trend reflects the increasing attention of the scientific community to this topic in recent years. In addition, for Period 1, there were 93 documents and 731 citations; for Period 2, 72 documents and 1,056 citations; and for Period 3, 646 documents and 9,480 citations.

Figure 4 shows an analysis of the top ten journals that have influenced the development of the field of study on smart building interactions. The most prominent journal is Lecture Notes in Computer Science (Including Subseries), with 41 publications, followed by Sustainability with 27 papers and Buildings with 23. These sources represent key publications in the field, evidencing growing interest in sustainability, building technology, and environmental management in the built environment.

Table 2 presents a longitudinal analysis of scientific productivity in three phases (1958-2024), showing steady growth in publications and citations. In Phase I (1958-2007), there were 93 publications at a rate of 1.90 per year and 731 total citations. In Phase II [2007-2014], although publications decreased to 72, the annual average increased to 10.29 and total citations to 1,056. In Phase III [2014-2024], a remarkable increase was observed with 656 publications (65.6 per year) and 9,480 citations. Citations per publication also increased in each phase, with 7.86 in Phase I, 14.66 in Phase II, and 14.45 in Phase III. In addition, the percentage of distinct citations increased from 21.33% in Phase I to 65.40% in Phase III, indicating growing interest and increased influence of research in this field over time. These data support a correlation between scientific output and smart buildings, with Phases II and III peaks.

Period I: Initial process [1975-2007]: the first steps in building automation were observed, focusing on integrating centralised control systems for energy and climate management. This period marked the beginning of the ‘smart building’ concept, where essential technologies, such as sensors for environmental monitoring and energy management systems, began to be implemented. The first international standards promoted the interoperability between different building systems at the regulatory level, laying the foundation for the development of more efficient and sustainable buildings [39].

Figure 3. Scientific production of articles on smart constructions (linear and exponential trend adjustments exponential trend adjustments of the number of publications)

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Figure 4. Top 10 journals according to distribution of publications

Table 2. Main characteristics of the phases

Note: TP: Number of publications; TC: Number of citations; DC: Number of documents without citations.

Period II: Development [2007-2014]: the evolution of digital technologies and the IoT [40] transformed the smart building landscape. During this time, Building Information Modelling (BIM) became popular, enabling better planning and management of the building lifecycle [41]. Regulations began to focus on sustainability, driving the adoption of green technologies such as solar panels and water harvesting systems. This period also saw an increase in the implementation of communication networks connecting various systems within the building, improving operational efficiency and user experience [42].

Period III: Maturity [2014-2024]: the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in building management has intensified [43]. These innovations enable control over energy resources and facilitate predictive maintenance. Regulations have evolved to include stricter sustainability and energy efficiency standards, reflecting a global commitment to more environmentally responsible construction [44]. In addition, emerging technologies are expected to continue revolutionizing the sector, making buildings even smarter and more adaptive to users' changing needs.

Table 3 presents a ranking of the countries with the most collaborative publications related to the study of smart buildings, especially in developing countries. China leads in output and impact with 101 papers and 2,825 citations, focusing on urban sustainability, energy efficiency and advanced technologies such as the IoT [10], and the integration of renewable energy in buildings. India and Malaysia, with 48 and 40 papers, respectively, address issues such as adapting sustainable technologies to local contexts, improving urban infrastructure, water resource management and urban planning in the face of climate change [45]. The United States and the United Kingdom stand out for research on smart buildings, energy efficiency, artificial intelligence for building management, and regulations promoting green buildings, with more than 500 citations each. In the case of African countries such as South Africa, Tunisia and Egypt, research focuses on sustainability in urban environments, resilient infrastructure, efficient water management and adaptation to extreme climates [46, 47]. Finally, Australia contributes from the perspective of climate adaptation, innovative city development, and energy efficiency in building. This overview reflects the geographical distribution of academic collaboration, with a substantial contribution from Asian countries and other regions, especially in Africa [48].

Figure 5 shows the countries of the corresponding authors in a review on smart buildings in developing countries, highlighting the number of papers and the type of collaboration: ‘SCP’ (single-country publications) in blue and ‘MCP’ (multi-country collaboration) in red. China leads in mainly SCP publications, followed by India with fewer MCPs. Other prominent countries are Malaysia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Tunisia, Egypt and Nigeria, where SCPs generally outnumber MCPs, although some, such as Malaysia and Egypt, show more balance in international collaborations. This suggests a leadership role for China and other emerging countries in smart building research, emphasising national collaborations and local development of these technologies.

Table 3. Ranking of countries by collaboration

Figure 6 is a ‘TreeMap’ showing key themes and their frequency of occurrence in smart building studies in developing countries. Blocks of different sizes and colours represent the themes; the size indicates the number of times each theme is mentioned, while the percentage represents its relative share.

The most prominent themes are ‘developing countries’ with 317 mentions (15%) within the developing countries in this study are India, South Africa, Egypt, Malaysia, and South America; ‘smart construction buildings’ with 207 mentions (10, followed by concepts such as; ‘sustainable development’ (5%) focusing on the use of renewable energy technologies, energy management systems (BMS) and sustainable and recycled building materials; ‘automation’ (4%) including buildings such as Residential buildings: equipped with automated systems for climate control, lighting and security.

Commercial Buildings Integrate technology to optimise space use and operational efficiency and Public Infrastructure, such as smart bridges and roads that use sensors for monitoring and maintenance; the construction industry (4%) focuses on BIM, IoT technologies, and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) [40]. Automated systems; energy efficiency (3%), where the focus is on: Efficient HVAC systems [13]. Sensor-controlled LED lighting [14] and energy monitoring to optimise consumption [15]; and architectural design (3%) where they focus their designs on: sustainability architecture using eco-friendly materials [16], adaptive architectures and involves flexible spaces that can be modified according to need and integrated technological architecture which involves spaces designed to incorporate emerging technologies such as 3D printing, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), smart materials, IoT technology, prefabricated building systems, integrated renewable energies (solar panels and geothermal systems).

Figure 5. Top 10 countries of the corresponding author

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Figure 6. Distribution of author keywords

Other relevant topics include “energy utilization,” “housing,” “performance,” and “BIM” (Building Information Modeling), each with about 2%. This map reveals a broad approach ranging from geographical and technological context to specific areas of energy efficiency, sustainability, architectural design and automation, highlighting the complexity and interdisciplinarity in studying smart buildings in developing country environments.

3.2 Scientific metrics

In bibliometric research, co-occurrence analysis is a technique that allows us to know the keywords that are part of the database related to the topic of study. This analysis included i) using VOSViewer software to represent the network and obtain 3,530 author keywords. ii) The researchers post-processed the keywords to unify similar terms. And iii). The study used a threshold of words that appeared at least ten times.

In this co-occurrence analysis, there are 60 keywords; the most important word classes are developed countries (84 occurrences), smart buildings (206 occurrences), construction (140 occurrences), energy (130 occurrences) and sustainable development (113 occurrences). Figure 7 shows nodes of different sizes (representing the frequency of the term), and the proximity of these nodes indicates their correlation. In addition, they are differentiated by color, according to the central theme of the research. The minimum word size for this analysis is 5, which gives 3 clusters.

Cluster 1 (Construction project management and planning): It focuses on concepts such as project management, design, integration, innovation, modeling, knowledge, and construction. These terms are grouped around key processes for the planning and execution of construction projects, with an emphasis on the use of modern tools such as BIM (Building Information Modeling) and related technologies. This cluster reflects how integrated methodologies improve efficiency, quality and sustainability in construction [46, 47].

Cluster 2 (Sustainable construction and reduction of environmental impact): It encompasses terms related to sustainability, such as green buildings, environmental impact, sustainable materials, life cycle, environmental technologies, as well as terms related to costs and decision making. It focuses mainly on the reduction of environmental impact in the building sector through the use of sustainable materials and technologies, considering the entire life cycle of a building, from its design to its operation [44].

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Figure 7. Keywords network

Cluster 3 (Implementation of new technologies in the construction industry): This cluster includes terms such as the IoT, smart buildings, smart homes, renewable energy, automation, and wellness-related concepts such as health and healthcare. It focuses on integrating advanced technologies and automation to improve building functionality and sustainability [26].

3.3 Synthesis of the literature review

In the systematic review performed using the PRISMA method, 43 documents focusing on research related to developing countries were selected and analyzed. Of the 43 papers analysed, 28 were from Asia, 11 from Africa, and four from America. These studies cover countries such as Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, India, and Kenya and deal with issues such as sustainability and innovation in the construction sector. These studies highlight advanced technologies, such as BIM, which has transformed project planning and execution through improved spatial coordination and reduced errors and delays. For example, in Ghana, future standards have been implemented to optimise the use of renewable energy and improve energy efficiency while lowering operating costs [46, 47].

The focus on sustainable materials is a key pillar in these projects. Countries such as Egypt and Kenya are leading initiatives using local recycled materials, compressed earth blocks, and certified timber [40] to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. These initiatives are complemented by energy-efficient lighting, efficient air-conditioning systems, and passive techniques that maximise natural ventilation and thermal insulation. In addition, social housing projects in these regions have integrated sustainable solutions, including efficient water management and responsible urban design, improving the quality of life of communities, and fostering social inclusion and economic development [49].

The analysis also identified the countries with the highest scientific production on each continent. Nigeria and Ghana stand out in sustainability and optimisation strategy research in Africa [50]. In the Americas, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru are leaders in sustainable standards and technologies, with Ecuador being the most representative [51]. Studies on energy efficiency and resource management have been conducted in Europe, Poland, and Serbia, while in Asia, Pakistan and Bangladesh stand out for their innovative approaches, such as using stabilised earth blocks [52].

The patterns identified in adopting smart buildings in developing countries show progression aligned with innovation diffusion theory. The high concentration of publications in countries such as China and India suggest an “early adopter” effect driven by government policies and economic incentives [53]. Likewise, limited international cooperation in African and Latin American regions highlights structural barriers that slow the adoption of these technologies [54].

Advances in smart buildings in developing countries reflect a holistic approach to sustainability, modernisation, and efficiency. Technologies such as BIM and methodologies such as AHP-TOPSIS for evaluating alternative energy technologies have proven to be key tools for optimising resources and improving operational efficiency of buildings. These initiatives underline the importance of adapting sustainable solutions to local contexts and laying the foundation for a more equitable and resilient future in the building sector.

Table 4 of international standards for the management and sustainability of smart buildings includes widely recognized standards such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in North America, Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) in Europe, and Green Star in Oceania. In Asia, Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE) in Japan and ISO 14001 for environmental management stand out. In South America, the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) standard has gained popularity for its practicality and affordability in sustainability [44], especially adapted for developing countries. For example, in Colombia and Mexico, EDGE has been key in sustainable social housing projects, such as the Bosques de Aragon multifamily complex in Mexico City, which integrates the design of green spaces in a residential area [55]. In Africa, the Green Building Council of South Africa is promoting sustainable practices in buildings such as the PwC Tower in Johannesburg [56].

These standards establish guidelines to reduce water and energy consumption and promote the use of recycled materials and efficient waste management. For example, LEED-certified buildings have reported a decrease of up to 30% in energy consumption [57] and 40% in water use compared to conventional buildings [58]. In quantitative terms, projects such as the Empire State Building in New York, which obtained a LEED Gold certification, reduced operating costs by $4.4 million per year thanks to improvements in energy efficiency [59].

To implement these regulations, professionals must have specific certifications, such as LEED AP (Accredited Professional) or national agency certifications. These ensure that experts understand and can properly implement the standards, ensuring compliance with sustainability and efficiency goals [60].

Table 4. International standards for smart building management and sustainability

Figure 8 presents a thematic analysis in a two-dimensional plane, where the vertical axis represents the degree of development (density) and the horizontal axis represents the degree of relevance (centrality) of the themes in innovative and sustainable construction. Four quadrants of thematic groupings were identified: driving, core, emerging or declining, and niche. The driving theme quadrants are developing countries, smart buildings, and sustainable development, indicating importance and consolidation in the literature and reflecting the growing interest in implementing advanced technologies to improve energy efficiency and sustainability in the building sector. In the quadrant of basic topics that constitute the structural basis of the field, construction, sustainable construction, and costs appear, demonstrating the importance of efficient management of resources and expenses in sustainable infrastructure projects. Emerging or declining topics include energy management and BIM, which, although less central, show potential for evolution driven by environmental regulations and digitization of the construction process. Finally, the niche topic quadrant includes construction technologies, building codes, concentration processes, and specialized issues, with less impact on the general knowledge structure. These topics are essential for formulating regulations and methodologies to improve the safety and quality of smart buildings [80].