Technological Trends in The Field of Hydrology and Environmental Sciences: A Bibliometric Analysis

The rapid advancement and widespread adoption of technology, particularly in web applications and artificial intelligence, have significantly impacted various sectors, including industry, social media, government, and research. This surge in technological utilization has played a pivotal role in the evolution of hydrogeological and environmental sciences, empowering researchers to harness available technologies for data collection, analysis, and communication. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis spanning from 2018 to mid-2023, focusing on the integration of computing technologies within the realm of hydrological sciences. Leveraging the Elsevier database, we identified 3,701 manuscripts incorporating a range of technological keywords, utilizing web mining techniques to extract pertinent information. Through the application of topic detection algorithms, we established correlations between the primary themes of the papers and technological subjects. Our findings highlight a notable increase in the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and web technologies within the hydrological sciences, signaling a promising trend towards further integration and innovation in research practices.