Bibliometric analysis of urban ecological spaces: research trajectories and future outlook

Urban ecological spaces (UES) are pivotal to advancing urban sustainability, yet systematic and comprehensive evaluations remain limited. This study employs CiteSpace to perform a bibliometric analysis of 7,035 publications indexed in the Web of Science, providing an integrated assessment of research trajectories, thematic structures, and emerging frontiers. The findings reveal three major insights. First, UES scholarship has progressed through three distinct phases: an exploratory phase grounded in ecological foundations; a phase of accelerated interdisciplinary growth; and a recent phase of theoretical consolidation and technological sophistication. Despite this progression, UES as an integrated concept remains insufficiently mainstreamed, with research still disproportionately focused on green spaces, while studies on blue spaces, though limited, are increasing. Second, the geographical distribution of contributions has shifted from early European dominance to substantial outputs from North America, China, and other emerging economies, reflecting a diversification of global scholarship. Third, the thematic scope has expanded from environmental concerns to encompass social dimensions, notably public health, equity, and ecosystem services. Methodological advances in GIS, big data analytics, machine learning, and participatory social media data have further enriched UES research. This study underscores the interdisciplinary and strategic significance of UES in shaping future urban planning and policy.