The process of urbanization has accelerated economic growth while also presenting social challenges. Urban renewal is crucial for achieving sustainable urban development, especially by preserving traditional villages as cultural heritage sites within cities. This study employs Python algorithm programming and visual analysis functions to conduct a bibliometric analysis of 408 research papers on the preservation of traditional village cultural heritage in urban renewal from 1999 to 2023 in the Web of Science core database. The objective is to examine the historical background, current status, and future trends in this area. The analysis explores cooperation networks, co-citation relationships, co-occurrence patterns, and emerging characteristics of research on traditional village cultural heritage protection in urban renewal. It focuses on various aspects, such as authors, institutions, countries, journals, documents, and keywords. The results indicate that the study of traditional village cultural heritage protection in urban renewal can be divided into three developmental stages. “Sustainable development”, “cultural heritage”, “historic urban landscapes”, and “rural revitalization” are the research hotspots and future trends in this field. The results of this study provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution of research hotspots in this field and can help researchers willing to work in this research area quickly understand the research frontiers and the general situation.

The process of urbanization has spurred economic growth and social challenges, necessitating research on public spaces in urban renewal to optimize design, enhance functionality, promote sustainable urban development, and improve residents’ quality of life. However, existing studies lack in-depth discussions on development trends and research focal points. This study addresses the gap in existing literature, by conducting a bibliometric analysis using data from the Web of Science Core Collection database from 1 January 2000, to 1 April 2024. Using visualization tools such as VOSviewer and CiteSpace, the study examines publication trends, collaborative networks among countries, institutions, and authors, co-citation relationships among key journals and articles, and emerging research hotspots through keyword analysis. A total of 393 papers were analyzed, with China contributing the highest number (65), followed by the United States (51). Leading contributors include Zazzi Michele and Anguelovski Isabelle. The top three journals for publications are Sustainability, Cities, and Land. Key research trends highlight themes such as space syntax, nature-based solutions, and sustainable transportation. These findings have significant implications for urban planning and policy, suggesting that future urban development strategies should increasingly incorporate sustainable design practices and nature-based solutions to address both environmental and social challenges. By identifying global research trends and highlighting future challenges, this study provides a comprehensive overview that will help policymakers and practitioners in urban planning align their efforts with cutting-edge research and emerging best practices for more sustainable and resilient cities.

Rural settlements serve as the fundamental spatial unit in rural geography research and play a significant role in regional system research on human‒land relations. With the accelerated advances in urbanization, industrialization, and agricultural modernization, the flow of urban and rural development factors has greatly changed the social and economic forms of rural areas, further seriously restricting the sustainable development of rural economies and societies. The spatial patterns of rural settlements serve as tangible reflections of rural living and the evolution of settlement structures, directly influencing the sustainable development of rural areas and the construction of rural human settlements. Despite the increasing number of relevant studies, a comprehensive review of the field’s dynamic evolution, research frontiers, and future development trajectories remains incomplete. On the basis of the Web of Science core database, this study used CiteSpace 6.2 R4 and VOS Viewer 1.6 software to perform a full systematic review of the literature on rural settlement spatial morphology from 2000 to 2024. The goal was to determine the current state of the research, where researchers are most active, and what major ideas and trends can be expected in the field of rural settlement spatial patterns. The results indicate that (1) the spatial patterns of rural settlements are a popular topic, integrating different disciplines and covering various themes, with close regional cooperation and a growing number of publications. At the national level, China, the United States, and France lead in research output and influence in this field. (2) The main research hotspots in the field include rural residential areas, spatial organization, land use, driving mechanisms, and regional systems, all of which are related to rural sustainable development. (3) Future research trends will likely focus on the response of rural settlement spatial patterns to new urbanization processes and social contexts. The findings provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution of research hotspots, aiding researchers in related fields in quickly grasping the research frontiers and summaries.

Introduction: The acceleration of urbanization and industrial restructuring in recent years has positioned the regeneration of industrial heritage as a critical issue in urban renewal and sustainable development. However, existing research predominantly focuses on design and conservation, lacking systematic quantitative analysis of user satisfaction, which limits holistic optimization of regeneration outcomes.Methods: This study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) to quantitatively evaluate user satisfaction. A satisfaction evaluation system was constructed across six dimensions—cultural identity, environmental sustainability, social impact, technology application, spatial layout, and economic value—and empirically validated through questionnaire surveys and statistical analysis.Results: The SEM analysis revealed that social impact exerts the strongest influence on user satisfaction, emphasizing the role of community interaction and public participation. Economic value and environmental sustainability ranked second, highlighting the significance of economic benefits and ecological improvements. Cultural identity and spatial layout showed weaker effects, suggesting insufficient integration of cultural and technological elements. IPA further identified key areas for improvement, such as intelligent management systems and transportation convenience.Discussion: The findings underscore the necessity of prioritizing community engagement and economic-environmental synergies in industrial heritage regeneration. While cultural and spatial factors require deeper integration, technological innovations should be leveraged to enhance functional performance. These insights provide policymakers and urban planners with actionable strategies to balance social, economic, and cultural benefits, advancing sustainable urban development goals. The study bridges the gap between qualitative preservation and quantitative user-centric evaluation, offering a replicable framework for future heritage regeneration projects.

Urban historical heritage areas serve as vital repositories of urban culture and history, playing a crucial role in cultural inheritance and the promotion of urban development. The protection and development of these heritage areas are essential for preserving the cultural characteristics and architectural styles of cities. Despite the growing body of research, a comprehensive review of the dynamic evolution, research frontiers, and future trajectories in this field remains absent. To bridge this gap, this study draws on the Web of Science Core Collection database, selecting 828 papers published between 2000 and 2024 that focus on urban historical heritage conservation and development. By employing Python programming and network analysis tools, this study conducted a systematic analysis of research structures and trends over the past 25 years. The results indicate that countries such as China and Italy, along with their respective research institutions, are at the forefront of global research in this area. Furthermore, this study identified research hotspots, including historic districts, sustainable urban development, urban regeneration, risk assessment, 3D modeling, digital documentation, and cultural tourism. This research not only discusses the challenges faced in the field but also explores future development trends, providing new theoretical perspectives and practical guidance for subsequent studies.

Under growing recognition of the need to restore marine ecosystems and promote the sustainable use of ocean resources, this research delves into an analysis of studies on artificial reefs in the marine environment spanning from 1996 to 2024 to explore how they have evolved in supporting biodiversity growth and fishery management while also promoting ecosystem sustainability over time. Using tools like CiteSpace 6.3. R1 and VOSviewer 1.6.18, a total of 586 research publications were examined to pinpoint authors, current trends in research, and emerging focal points. This study highlights the roles played by countries such as the United States, China, and Australia, as well as esteemed institutions, like NOAA and the Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences leading the field. In this field of study, there are topics like restoring the environment to its natural state and making fisheries more sustainable by creating habitats with diverse structures and elements; this shows how artificial reef research involves different areas of expertise working together for a common goal. The findings suggest a trend towards using tools such as ecofriendly materials and 3D printing to improve the design and ecological functionality of reefs. However, some challenges still exist, such as conducting assessments on the long-term effects on the environment and finding a balance between promoting biodiversity and meeting the needs of people in terms of economic aspects. This research highlights the importance of countries working together and adapting their strategies to ensure that artificial reefs play a role in protecting marine life and using ocean resources in a sustainable way. By charting out the existing knowledge landscape, this study lays the groundwork for research endeavors focused on tackling these obstacles and propelling the field forward.