A Bibliometric Mapping of Digital Twins and AI: Scientific Trends and Research Frontiers

Ahmet Doğan; Ahmet Yurtsal; Şerife Keleş

A Bibliometric Mapping of Digital Twins and AI: Scientific Trends and Research Frontiers

Abstract

This study examines the literature on integrating digital twins and artificial intelligence using bibliometric data to analyze productivity and collaboration. It presents publication distribution by year, leading countries, institutions, and authors, and identifies research trends through keyword and thematic cluster analyses. The results highlight the increasing importance of this integration and the growing trend of international collaboration. Data were collected on June 23, 2025, from the Web of Science Core Collection using the query ‘(TI=(Digital Twin) AND TS=(artificial intelligence)) AND (DT==(“ARTICLE”))’, yielding 657 articles analyzed with VOSviewer (v1.6.20). Findings show that authors such as Tao and Fei, despite few publications, have high influence, while Fan and Zhong gained recognition with a single highly cited study. Strategic connectors include Wang, Fei-Yue, and Lv, while Zhang and Meng serve as “hidden stars.” Institutionally, NTNU stands out for centrality, while Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics leads in publication quantity but lags in impact. China dominates output, while the U.S., the U.K., and Canada excel in collaborative efforts. Thematic results reveal applications across manufacturing, healthcare, engineering, and city management, supported by machine learning, deep learning, 6G, and edge computing, as well as important social aspects like ethics and governance.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Artificial Intelligence (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ahmet Doğan
0000-0002-7116-3558
Türkiye

Ahmet Yurtsal ^*
0000-0003-0523-3519
Türkiye

Şerife Keleş
0009-0006-5771-6458
Türkiye

Publication Date

April 30, 2026

Submission Date

February 14, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 16, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA76HG69NX

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Doğan, A., Yurtsal, A., & Keleş, Ş. (2026). A Bibliometric Mapping of Digital Twins and AI: Scientific Trends and Research Frontiers. Gazi Journal of Engineering Sciences, 12(1), 122-142. https://izlik.org/JA76HG69NX

AMA

1.Doğan A, Yurtsal A, Keleş Ş. A Bibliometric Mapping of Digital Twins and AI: Scientific Trends and Research Frontiers. GJES. 2026;12(1):122-142. https://izlik.org/JA76HG69NX

Chicago

Doğan, Ahmet, Ahmet Yurtsal, and Şerife Keleş. 2026. “A Bibliometric Mapping of Digital Twins and AI: Scientific Trends and Research Frontiers”. Gazi Journal of Engineering Sciences 12 (1): 122-42. https://izlik.org/JA76HG69NX.

EndNote

Doğan A, Yurtsal A, Keleş Ş (April 1, 2026) A Bibliometric Mapping of Digital Twins and AI: Scientific Trends and Research Frontiers. Gazi Journal of Engineering Sciences 12 1 122–142.

IEEE

[1]A. Doğan, A. Yurtsal, and Ş. Keleş, “A Bibliometric Mapping of Digital Twins and AI: Scientific Trends and Research Frontiers”, GJES, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 122–142, Apr. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA76HG69NX

ISNAD

Doğan, Ahmet - Yurtsal, Ahmet - Keleş, Şerife. “A Bibliometric Mapping of Digital Twins and AI: Scientific Trends and Research Frontiers”. Gazi Journal of Engineering Sciences 12/1 (April 1, 2026): 122-142. https://izlik.org/JA76HG69NX.

JAMA

1.Doğan A, Yurtsal A, Keleş Ş. A Bibliometric Mapping of Digital Twins and AI: Scientific Trends and Research Frontiers. GJES. 2026;12:122–142.

MLA

Doğan, Ahmet, et al. “A Bibliometric Mapping of Digital Twins and AI: Scientific Trends and Research Frontiers”. Gazi Journal of Engineering Sciences, vol. 12, no. 1, Apr. 2026, pp. 122-4, https://izlik.org/JA76HG69NX.

Vancouver

1.Ahmet Doğan, Ahmet Yurtsal, Şerife Keleş. A Bibliometric Mapping of Digital Twins and AI: Scientific Trends and Research Frontiers. GJES [Internet]. 2026 Apr. 1;12(1):122-4. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA76HG69NX