Mapping the Intellectual Structure of Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

To explore the intellectual structure of mobile ad hoc networks (MANET) research in the last decade, this study identified the most important publications and the most influential scholars as well as the correlations among these scholar’s publications. In this study, bibliometric, social network analysis techniques are used to investigate the intellectual pillars of the MANET literature. By analyzing 41,001 citations of 1,941 articles published in SCI and SSCI journal in MANET area between 2001 and 2010, this study maps a knowledge network of MANET studies. The results of the mapping can help identify the research direction of MANET research and provide a valuable tool for researchers to access the literature in this area.