Digitalization and Sustainability in Linear Projects Trends: A Bibliometric Analysis

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

-Each linear project is dealt with using different approaches. Since you have reported a few projects, state briefly about them with recent literature. What progress has been made in those fields?

-Fig 2 should be drawn properly.

-No of citations can also be added per year in Fig. 3.

-In the map, mark out the country with the number of documents over it and provide the country name with the respective document in the legend. redraw it in the tableau.

-For each different project, review the most cited paper.

-Among all the studies, add the research gap for each section, which can provide scope for future research.

 

-Conclusion should be more concise, with important findings.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The comments of this reviewer are as follows:

I think the title accurately reflects the purpose of the paper.

The abstract is concise and try to be informative in concerning to matter under investigation and research method adopted. The main results are included and reveal that trends in digitalization and sustainability in linear projects can be categorized into five main clusters…. This is ok.

The Keywords provide adequate index entries for the paper.

On Introduction section the authors affirm that “The use of digital twins in linear projects has brought about a revolutionary change in how infrastructure planning and execution is done.” The author(s) must explain and substantiate this point.

The research objectives are not sufficiently detailed. An inclusion of “Objectives” sub-section is suggested. The author(s) should improve this point.

The previous research was critically considered and included in the formulation and support of the problem under analysis.

However, it is recommended that the usefulness of Literature background be explained and how this analysis fits into the two main aims of the study (identified by authors in text).

On the conceptualization and theoretical basis of the work, the author(s) present a clear statement near the beginning of the paper explaining what problem the paper seeks to resolve.

The research design used was suitable since allowed possible to get appropriate results.

The general research method seems to have been rigorous, clear and properly accounted for. However, some options adopted in concerning to research method and resources used are not adequately explained and defended. Please see comments below.

The methodology for bibliometric analysis proposed is not sufficiently substantiated.

Problems in the formatting of figure 2 must be corrected.

Error on line 530 must be corrected.

Errors on 4.1.3. and 4.1.4 sections must be corrected.

The group of "road construction" terms is considered a niche topic. The author(s) should improve and clarify this point. 

Many results are presented. However, it is suggested that a better discussion of the results be carried out and essentially that the main results be summarized to facilitate their respective interpretation. The author(s) should improve this section.

On section “Conclusions” author(s) refer that “Technologies such as Big Data and Artificial Intelligence and Robotics have a weaker link with sustainability trends in general, suggesting a gap in this area of knowledge.” These ideas are very important but need to be more substantiated and explained how their relations with research topic of this study are. Authors should develop this part further in order to justify these claims.

It is suggested that authors clarify and further develop the reasons that justify further research and developments to a better support of the ideas proposed by the authors.

The references are up to date and represent adequately the previous work and the paper addresses the key issues encompassed by the topic.

Tables and figures are elucidative and help to understand.

The English and syntax are correct.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear authors,

 A very interesting article covering the most popular research topics related to digitalization, including not only linear projects. The added value is the identification of various relationships between linear projects and new technologies.

However, to maintain the high level of the scientific publication, it would be good to shorten it a bit. It seems too broad for an article. Some of these valuable lists could be included in the Supplementary materials section. It is left to the authors to decide which part of the research should be included.

 Kind regards

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I appreciate your efforts in the work put into this extensive research Digitalization and Sustainability in Linear Projects Trends: A Bibliometric Analysis:

-        The information is easy to navigate, and the graphic structure of the paper allows readers to analyze the concepts approached, providing an interesting insight of the topic.

-        The paper is well written according to academic standards, using proper language and scientific style.

-        The literature review provides a good background of the topic.

-        The authors bring relevant and interesting arguments.

-        The findings and also the conclusions are in line with the results of the theoretical evidence. 

 

Although, to enhance the quality of the study, it would be wise to pay attention to several issues:

-        The presented study is relatively voluminous (43 pages). Despite the very broad use of sources of information, it should be considered to make the study more compact, especially in the descriptive (theoretical) areas and table formatting, which will certainly allow better focus on the main objectives and results.

-        Some tables could be resized to shorten the number of pages (for example: Appendix 1, 2, 3).

-        At the end of the Introduction, the authors should include a paragraph outlining the structure of the paper.

-        The research objectives and questions should be presented within the Introduction section.

-        The research presented in the study has been carried out using Scopus database, however, the justification of this choice instead of another major database is absent. In this direction, authors are advised to study and cite updated works such as below:

Mapping Knowledge Area Analysis in E-Learning Systems Based on Cloud Computing. Electronics 2023, 12, 62. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12010062.

Global trends and research hotspots on HACCP and modern quality management systems in the food industry. Heliyon 2023, 9(7). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18232.

-        Authors must may more attention to the way they insert references to figures and tables in the text, as errors appear throughout the paper. See lines 530, 552, 555, 586, 593 etc.

-        Authors should check very carefully the spelling and typing mistakes, as some are still present in the paper (see line 1069, for example)

Good luck with your revision!

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing of English language required.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf