This bibliometric review elucidates the emerging intersection of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI), demonstrating the potential to reshape urban stormwater management. The study analyzes a steadily increasing corpus of literature since 2013, pointing out considerable international collaboration. Prominent contributions originate from the United States, Canada, Italy, China, and Australia, underscoring the global acknowledgement of the potential of IoT-enhanced GSI. Diverse GSI applications such as green roofs, smart rain barrels, bioretention systems, and stormwater detention ponds have demonstrated enhanced efficiency and real-time control with IoT integration. However, existing literature reveals several challenges, notably the requirement of advanced monitoring, the development of predictive optimization strategies, and extensive scalability. Comprehensive cost–benefit analyses are also critical for the widespread acceptance of IoT-integrated GSI. Current research addresses these challenges by exploring innovative strategies such as microbial-fuel-cell-powered soil moisture sensors and large-scale RTC bioretention systems. Emphasis is also on the need for security measures against potential digital threats. Future research needs to focus on real-time data-based monitoring plans, model validation, continuous optimization, and supportive policy frameworks. As the world confronts urban development, climate change, and aging infrastructure, IoT and GSI synergism presents a promising solution for effective stormwater management and enhancement of cultural ecosystem services. Continued exploration in this promising domain is crucial to pave the way for smarter, greener urban environments.

Urban stormwater management is a critical challenge facing cities globally, with natural-based solutions (NBS) emerging as a promising approach for mitigating the impacts of urban stormwater runoff. This bibliometric review examined the research trends and hot topics related to NBS for urban stormwater management. The study utilized a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze 176 articles from the Web of Science database, covering the period from 2016 to 2022. Results showed that NBS is a widely researched topic with a growing trend in publications in recent years, led by the United States, China, and several European countries. The majority of NBS articles were research papers (82%) with a focus on environmental performance rather than social and economic dimensions. Quantitative methods were more frequently used in research articles, particularly statistical analysis/modeling. Interviews and discussions were the most common qualitative method used. The review identified the most relevant countries, affiliations, authors, and journals in the field. Furthermore, hot topics in NBS research were highlighted, including ecosystem services, climate change, and sustainability. The study also emphasized that future research perspective should focus on interdisciplinary and collaborative research, scaling up and mainstreaming NBS, and exploring new ways of integrating different disciplines and stakeholders in the research process. The findings of this review provided insights into the current state of NBS research and offer valuable information for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the field of urban stormwater management.

Bio-swales have gained significant attention as an effective means of stormwater management in urban areas, reducing the burden on conventional rainwater management systems. Despite this increasing interest, a comprehensive assessment of the status of bio-swale research is lacking. In response, this article employs two powerful information-visualizing software tools, the “Bibliometrix” R package and “CiteSpace”, to conduct a quantitative investigation of 323 English language sources published in the Web of Science prior to 2022. The objective is to provide a comprehensive examination of bio-swale research from multiple perspectives, shedding light on current advancements and future research trends. The findings reveal (1) a persistent annual increase in bio-swale-related publications and (2) the predominant focus on regulating services, such as hydrology, water quality, and biodiversity, with hot topics within these areas, including the influencing factors, climate, modeling, soil contaminants, and biodiversity at both macro and micro levels. Furthermore, our study concludes that future research necessitates interdisciplinary and interterritorial collaboration, a broader focus that encompasses the social, economic, ecological, and engineering aspects of bio-swales, and the adoption of diverse research methodologies. Given the currently limited research on biodiversity in bio-swales, this area holds the potential to become a future research hotspot. By harnessing the insights and findings of our study, researchers can gain a more profound understanding of the current state of bio-swale research and devise effective strategies to further propel this critical area of study.

Climate change represents a paramount challenge for humanity in the 21st century. Green infrastructure (GI), due to its myriad environmental and societal benefits, has emerged as an essential natural life support system and a pivotal strategy to combat climate change-induced risks. Consequently, GI has garnered considerable global interest. As of now, comprehensive and systematic environmental impact assessments of GI are underway worldwide. Nonetheless, there remains a conspicuous scarcity of life-cycle approaches to delineate the evolutionary trajectory of this domain. Employing three bibliometric software tools—the R language “Bibliometrix” package (version 4.0.1), CiteSpace (version 6.2.R2 Basic), and “VOSviewer” (version 1.6.18)—this study scrutinizes the progression of the GI paradigm until 2022. An exhaustive review of 1124 documents published on the Web of Science between 1995 and 2022 facilitates an overarching evaluation of GI, encompassing environmental, economic, and social facets from a life-cycle standpoint. The analysis results reveal that (1) the majority of current studies accentuate the economic and environmental efficacy of GI throughout its life cycle, with the social performance receiving comparatively less focus, potentially due to the difficulties in formulating a social life-cycle-assessment database; (2) contemporary research predominantly concentrates on the life-cycle carbon footprint of GI, warranting further exploration into its water and carbon footprints; and (3) multi-objective optimization emerges as a promising avenue for future GI investigations. This review thus furnishes a comprehensive understanding of the performance of GI from a life-cycle perspective.