BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH TRENDS IN ENGINEERING FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

Bibliometric analysis of publications allows to quantify researchers' interests in this specific topic. This method enables the identification of key authors, who are publishing in this area. It is necessary to define research trends, which have developed in this specific field. It enables to determinate the main research topics, discoveries and correlations in the global knowledge network. The purpose of this work was to identify the trends and research topics in engineering for rural development. The modified method of bibliometric analysis was used, bibliometric analysis of the key word frequency of occurrence and the linkages between the key words. The analysis was performed using bibliometirc post-conference materials of the International Scientific Conference Engineering for Rural Development in Jelgava in the years 2012-2017 downloaded from Web of Science database. The data have been processed and cleaned, then analysed in VOSviewer. This program is used for creating and graphic visualisation of bibliometric maps. VOSviewer utilized the method of „visualization of similarities" VOS. In this work the program was used to create maps of terms in the version of „thermic maps". The main research topics have been presented in the form of associated networks. The last stage was detailed topical analysis and classification into groups according to selected criteria. The provided research enabled an identification of lines of the research. The main research topics in all research period were: energy qualities of plant materials, alternative fuel (biomass, biodiesel, biogas), renewable energy sources, modelling, optimisation and stimulation of processes, mechanisation of plant production and many more. This analysis can be used as a literature review in the selected knowledge area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]