A Data Analytics and Machine Learning Approach to Develop a Technology Roadmap for Next-Generation Logistics Utilizing Underground Systems

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors present the article entitled “A Data Analytics and Machine Learning Approach to Develop a Technology Roadmap for Next-Generation Logistics Utilizing Underground Systems ”. The article presents the following concerns:

• It is possible to use the affiliation number if authors are from the same institution.

• Please add quantitative values in the Abstract section in order to highlight the findings of the work.

• Lines 47-51: Line According to the state of the art, what are some specific subfields that require attention? Please describe it to improve the controversy.

• Please list the main contributions of the work at the end of the Introduction section.

• After the contributions, please add the structure of the manuscript.

• Table 1: It is suggested to describe the importance of the period when describing the dataset. 

• Table 1: Please specify the period for the work [17]. Also, is the heading 'Dataset' correct, or do the authors intend to refer to the number of patents?

• Please ensure that the equations are numbered using integers. Also, check that the formulas are written out and not included as images.

• LDA is defined multiple times.

• In the methodology, it is suggested to add a flowchart that describes the research methodology.

• I suggest removing Table 9 to avoid redundancy, as the indicators are defined in subsections 3.3.1 to 3.3.5.

• Lines 493-496: How were the 208 words considered? Was Equation 1.3 considered to obtain that number?

• The authors present in sub-sections 5.3 and 5.4 some comparative studies. However, It is suggested to add a table that summarizes and compares the main contributions of the work vs the already reported in the literature in order to highlight the novelty.

Author Response

See the uploaded file.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

See the letter attached

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I found the article submitted for review extremely interesting and scientifically important. The authors conducted a complex, multi-stage study, which was very well described and adequately presented in tables and graphs. I consider the subject of "Logistics Utilizing Underground System" itself, an extremely important area. I believe that this is a promising direction for the development of logistics systems of highly urbanized cities. What I found lacking in the article was precisely this context. In both the introduction and theoretical background, the authors paid little attention to Logistics Utilizing Underground Systems. The main part of the article to a thorough discussion of the research methodology, including the rationale for the patent analysis.  It is introduced into the consideration very quickly, without explaining the need for its application. Little attention is also paid to the title itself, namely data analysis and machine learning. And here the question arises whether the title of the publication needs to be so general, whether it is not worth narrowing it down to the key aspects of the article.  At the same time, I think this title is very catchy and will attract readers.

I believe that there is a lack of a solid presentation of the context of underground logistics systems, their conditions, limitations and role in the sustainable development of the city, dependent on the characteristics of the city itself.  The authors point to publications discussing very different applications of the patent analysis method. True, it is widely used for considering the problem of innovation in various technological areas. In my opinion, a stronger grasp of contemporary ULS development would be valuable instead. 

I think that linking patent analysis to technologies for underground logistics is an interesting research direction. The authors have constructed the research methodology well, justifying it comprehensively. The methodological part of the work does not raise my objections. The authors also conducted a study of technological evolution and related patents. They identify key technologies for ULS.

Table 16, important for the article, is difficult to interpret for the reader.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors answered all my concerns. However, there are some minor concerns before publication:

*Table 23: I recommend that this table could be improved if the authors added references to the table to exemplify the areas and literature reported. For example, what works focus on specific technologies in the area of ​​ULS Technologies.

*I recommend that authors provide vectorized figures in order to see details.

Author Response

See the attached file for the replies to the reviewer's comments

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Thanks for addressing the comments.

Author Response

Thank you. Please see the attached file for the replies,

Author Response File: Author Response.docx