Bibliometric Mapping of Data Catalogs: Exploring Advances and Key Research Actors

The chapter presents a detailed bibliometric analysis of data catalogs, focusing on their role in modern data management and the increasing importance of metadata in the era of big data. It examines the scientific production trends over time, revealing a significant uptick in publications post-2015, coinciding with the adoption of data lakes and self-service analytics tools. The analysis identifies key journals and countries that concentrate the greatest scientific production, with the United Kingdom, USA, France, and Italy emerging as significant contributors. Influential articles and research themes are highlighted, providing insights into the foundational theories and methodologies that have driven the field forward. Thematic mapping and co-occurrence network analysis offer a nuanced understanding of the intellectual landscape, revealing the interconnectedness of key concepts and the interdisciplinary nature of data cataloging research. Despite its limitations, the study underscores the critical role of data catalogs in facilitating data discovery, governance, and collaboration, paving the way for future research and advancements in this evolving field.