Research Trends and Gaps in Road Infrastructure Impacted by Seawater: A Combined Systematic Literature and Bibliometric Review †

Abstract

Seawater impact poses increasing challenges to coastal road infrastructure, creating urgent needs for a comprehensive understanding of current research trends and knowledge gaps to enhance infrastructure resilience and sustainability. This study employs a combined systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis using PRISMA methodology to examine seawater-impacted road infrastructure research from 1952 to 2025. An initial dataset of 185 articles from 150 sources was filtered to 47 articles for detailed analysis, covering research by 481 authors with a 0.95% annual growth rate. Bibliometric analysis revealed significant geographic disparities, with only 13.51% of international collaborations. The United States, China, and Japan emerged as leading contributors, while Norway demonstrated the highest impact with 39.00 citations per article. Eight critical themes were identified in pavement management and infrastructure resilience, showing a shift toward technology-based solutions, including real-time monitoring technologies, sustainable materials, and adaptive management strategies. Despite growing emphasis on technological solutions, significant research gaps persist in understanding road structure–ecosystem interactions and developing comprehensive long-term monitoring methods. The study indicates an urgent need for increased international collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches combining civil engineering with environmental science to effectively address coastal road infrastructure challenges and enhance global sustainability.