Evolution of topics and trends in emerging research fields: multiple analyses with entity linking, Mann–Kendall test and burst methods in cloud computing

The principal goal of this study is to analyze the evolution of topics and trends in emerging research fields by a combination of entity linking, Mann–Kendall test, and burst detection techniques. Multiple methods are applied here in the emerging field of cloud computing by focusing on the frequency of critical topics from 2004 to 2021. Statistical analysis reveals that the Internet of Things exhibits a significant scientific growth compared to other subject areas within the research field of cloud computing. Other emerging topics with rapid growth are computer networks, encryption, big data, distributed computing, and interaction of cloud computing with virtual machine research. The combination of different techniques can better show the complex dynamics and complementary aspects of scientific topics and trends underlying evolutionary pathways in emerging fields, such as the science and technology advances of architecture, hardware, and software components in the field of cloud computing. In scientometrics, the analysis with multiple techniques provides comprehensive scientific and technological information driving new directions in the evolution of research fields to guide R&D investments towards growing topics and technologies having the potential of supporting fruitful scientific and technological change.