Integrating lean and robotics in the construction sector: a scientometric analysis

The integration of lean construction and construction robotics is an important research topic because it can significantly improve the construction industry’s efficiency, eliminate waste, and increase productivity. However, there is currently a scarcity of research on this subject, which makes it a key area for future studies. This study conducts a scientometric review analysis of lean construction and construction robotics, focusing on academic publications worldwide between 2012 and 2024. This study considers keywords, co-authors, co-citations, and country/region analyses. This study includes 842 articles from journals and conference papers obtained from Scopus, where 736 papers are related to lean construction, 194 are related to construction robotics, and 18 contain both lean construction and construction robotics. Network maps are built and analyzed to determine the major areas of interest within each field, be that lean construction or construction robotics. The study found that research in both domains is becoming more popular and that there is room for advancement in the intersection of lean construction and construction robotics, particularly around offsite construction. Based on these findings, it may be assumed that future studies including both subjects will grow.