A Scientometric Analysis of Cloud Computing Literature

The popularity and rapid development of cloud computing in recent years has led to a huge amount of publications containing the achieved knowledge of this area of research. Due to the interdisciplinary nature and high relevance of cloud computing research, it becomes increasingly difficult or even impossible to understand the overall structure and development of this field without analytical approaches. While evaluating science has a long tradition in many fields, we identify a lack of a comprehensive scientometric study in the area of cloud computing. Based on a large bibliographic data base, this study applies scientometric means to empirically study the evolution and state of cloud computing research with a view from above the clouds. By this, we provide extensive insights into publication patterns, research impact and research productivity. Furthermore, we explore the interplay of related subtopics by analyzing keyword clusters. The results of this study provide a better understanding of patterns, trends and other important factors as a basis for directing research activities, sharing knowledge and collaborating in the area of cloud computing research.