Mapping the structure and thematic landscape of Latin American engineering journals indexed in SciELO and Scopus

Abstract

This study presents a bibliometric and network based analysis of engineering journals published in Latin America and indexed in both SciELO and Scopus simultaneously. It aims to characterize their disciplinary scope, thematic specialization, and scientific collaboration. Using a correlation map of Scopus subject areas and performance indicators, the study identifies key contributors, highlighting the roles of leading institutions and the global visibility of top journals. Author keywords reveal thematic trends, terminological consistency, and a shift toward high-impact areas, including digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and sustainability. Inter-journal relationships are explored through keyword correlation, while citation, co-citation, and bibliographic coupling networks highlight intellectual linkages. A co-occurrence analysis identifies dominant and emerging research themes. These include sustainability, technological innovation, public health, education, and core fields like materials, optimization, and risk analysis. The findings offer a multidimensional perspective on Latin American engineering journals and their integration into the global scholarly landscape, and provide practical insights for authors, editors, and policymakers seeking to strengthen regional engineering research.