A bibliometric evaluation of the use of biomimicry as a nature-compatible design approach in landscape architecture within the context of sustainability and ecology

Abstract

Background: The growing environmental crisis, driven by population increases and rapid urban development, has amplified the need for sustainable and ecological design approaches. Biomimicry, drawing inspiration from nature’s forms, processes, and systems, offers promising solutions in this context. Particularly in landscape architecture, biomimicry supports the integration of esthetics with ecological responsibility. Methods: This study presents a bibliometric analysis using the Scopus database to quantitatively assess the relationship between biomimicry and sustainable/ecological design within landscape architecture. A stepwise search strategy was applied, and the Biblioshiny tool within the version 4.2.1 of Bibliometrix package in RStudio 2024.04.1+748 software was used for data analysis and visualization. Results: A total of 1634 documents were identified under the keyword “biomimicry,” among which 210 addressed sustainability and/or ecological design. However, only three studies explicitly connected biomimicry, sustainable/ecological principles, and landscape architecture. Keyword trends, publication years, and country-level contributions were also examined. Conclusions: The findings highlight a substantial gap in the literature on the integration of biomimicry within sustainable landscape architecture. This underscores the need for further interdisciplinary research and practice that incorporates biomimetic principles to promote ecological innovation in landscape design.