Trends and prospects of engineering disasters in cold regions: insights from a bibliometric and review analysis

This bibliometric analysis of 7593 cold region engineering disaster papers (2000–2025) reveals a paradigm shift toward interdisciplinary research integrating permafrost ecology and low-carbon infrastructure amid global warming. Early studies focused on single-discipline challenges, while recent work prioritizes multi-hazard interactions. Keyword co-occurrence highlights ‘climate change’ and ‘permafrost degradation’ as central themes, with China’s Qinghai–Tibet and Sichuan–Tibet corridors identified as critical vulnerability zones due to rapid infrastructure expansion. Future research must model cascading disaster chains from warming-human activity interactions using multi-field coupling frameworks that integrate remote sensing, CMIP6 climate data, and machine learning. Tools are needed to quantify exposure and repair costs under 2035 scenarios, enhanced by BeiDou-based real-time monitoring of slopes and permafrost. Policy integration is crucial: embedding hazard hotspots into national standards and implementing risk-veto mechanisms. Case studies (e.g., Sichuan–Tibet Railway) stress balancing development with ecological resilience. These strategies align cold region engineering with permafrost sustainability under dual carbon goals, ensuring long-term resilience. The study advances understanding of climate-adaptive infrastructure design through combined bibliometric and review insights.