Advancing Efficiency and Sustainability in Road Construction: A Bibliometric Review of Recent Innovations and Challenges

It is well documented that road construction is a pillar of well-balanced socioeconomic development worldwide. The first decades of the new millennium have witnessed unprecedented development in road construction activities in emerging economies and the Global South. At the same time, the construction industry is widely considered to be a rather conservative one, based on traditional technologies and materials. However, the development of materials science increases the possibilities and volumes of by-products from various technologies, and the selective collection of garbage necessitates innovation in the road construction sphere. The goal of this paper is to provide a broad overview of innovations in road construction. Based on a bibliometric approach, the article analyses the various trends in round construction, where the increasing pressure to reduce costs and the environmental footprint drives deep-rooted innovation through the use of new materials and the optimisation of technologies and management methods. Our results highlight the potential for significant improvements in road construction efficiency, environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness through the adoption of these technologies and methodologies, as well as a trend towards more efficient, sustainable, and technologically advanced road construction practices, with a focus on overcoming traditional inefficiencies and environmental concerns. Future research should continue to focus on addressing these challenges and developing comprehensive, adaptable solutions for the road construction industry, while leveraging the latest findings in this area.