Evolution of Research Hotspots and Emerging Trends in Virtual Museums: A Scientometric Analysis Based on CiteSpace (2001–2025)

Authors

Jiao Liu UNIRAZAK
Muiyee Cheok

Keywords:

Virtual museums, immersive technologies, CiteSpace, scientometric analysis, disciplinary evolution

Abstract

Virtual museums, as an interdisciplinary field combining digital heritage, immersive technology, and cultural informatics, have expanded rapidly in recent years. However, existing research often emphasizes technical applications or case studies, with limited attention to the field’s overall knowledge structure and evolution. Using 356 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (2001–2025) and CiteSpace (6.2), this study conducts keyword co-occurrence, clustering, and burst analyses to map research trends. Results identify a three-stage evolution: an early phase focused on 3D modeling and system development, a middle phase emphasizing user interaction and narrative design, and a recent phase driven by artificial intelligence, immersive experiences, and metaverse applications. The field shows a clear shift from technology-centered approaches to user- and experience-oriented frameworks, alongside growing interdisciplinary integration. Meanwhile, international collaboration remains relatively fragmented, with regional clustering and limited cross-regional cooperation. Based on these findings, future research should prioritize intelligent curation, data interoperability, and globally coordinated empirical frameworks. This study provides a systematic understanding of the structural features and evolution of virtual museum research, offering theoretical and methodological insights for digital heritage and cultural communication studies.

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Published

09-07-2026

Issue

Volume 5, Issue 2, December 2025

Section

Articles

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Published by University Tun Abdul Razak (UNIRAZAK)