A bibliometric analysis of the impact of climate change on immovable cultural heritage employing Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Abstract This study presents the first large-scale bibliometric analysis of academic research applying Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to explore the relationship between climate change and immovable cultural heritage. Drawing on 82 English-language publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection (1994–2024), the study maps the field’s evolution over the past three decades. Results show a steady increase in publications and citations, reflecting the growing importance of GIS as a methodological bridge linking environmental sciences, geosciences, and heritage management. Research has primarily focused on climate risk assessment (CRA), particularly hazard, exposure, and vulnerability mapping, while studies addressing adaptation planning or governance remain limited. The prominence of environmental and geoscientific disciplines underscores strong technical foundations, yet collaboration across social and policy domains remains fragmented. The relatively modest use of AI-based modelling and remote sensing also points to untapped potential for technological innovation. Overall, the findings indicate a rapidly expanding but still consolidating research landscape and highlight the need for greater interdisciplinarity, interoperable data infrastructures, and integrative approaches to support evidence-based heritage management and climate adaptation.