Bibliometric Review of Bio-Based Building Materials and a Comparison with Prior Research: Toward Probabilistic Approaches for Material Variability

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this article is to extend previous bibliometric research on bio-based building materials by conducting a comparative analysis. The objective is to expand the initial study by applying a broader and more inclusive set of search terms to evaluate the sensitivity of Web of Science to keyword variations. In parallel, a separate bibliometric analysis is performed on research related to probabilistic approaches, which are essential for managing the variability and uncertainty in building material properties. Finally, a third bibliometric analysis is carried out at the intersection of these two fields: bio-based building materials and probabilistic methods. This integrated analysis aims to highlight the existing gap in the literature. The findings reveal the limited application of probabilistic approaches in the study of bio-based building materials and underscore the need to incorporate uncertainty quantification and stochastic modeling to understand better and optimize these sustainable construction resources. Overall, the results highlight two main outcomes. First, they demonstrate the strong sensitivity of bibliometric outcomes to the choice of search terms and databases, emphasizing the need for transparent and consistent keyword strategies; second, they show that the overlap between probabilistic approaches and bio-based materials research remains extremely limited, underscoring the importance of fostering stronger integration between these areas.