The Emerging Role of Plant-Based Building Materials in the Construction Industry—A Bibliometric Analysis
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis paper evaluated the role of plant-based biological resources in the development of green building materials using bibliometric analysis. There are some comments for the author's reference:
1. The conclusion section only summarizes the bibliometric results without forming specific suggestions, which needs to be strengthened.
2. The clarity of Figure 8 needs to be improved.
Author Response
Reviewer 1
This paper evaluated the role of plant-based biological resources in the development of green building materials using bibliometric analysis. There are some comments for the author's reference:
1. The conclusion section only summarizes the bibliometric results without forming specific suggestions, which needs to be strengthened.
ANSWER
Thank you for your work. We marked the modifications and corrections in the manuscript according to your suggestions in blue.
We reworked the Conclusions and complemented the section with specific suggestions and potential actions to promote the spread of plant-based materials in the construction industry.
2. The clarity of Figure 8 needs to be improved.
ANSWER
We modified Figure 8 to enable a better interpretation of the results; we increased font size and rearranged the presented content.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis study employs a bibliometric analysis to figure out how the knowledge on green building materials has been accumulated over time. Given that sustainability is an essential part of the construction industry, this study can provide valuable implications and insights. Also, I appreciate all the efforts for the analyses. Let me point out two things which may help further develop this paper.
1. Introduction
The authors may want to rearrange the introduction part. It seems that this study draws conclusions of the bibliometric analyses. As findings, three different terms come out: green building materials, biobased materials, and plant-based resources. While these terms are well-explained in the results part, it is not crystal clear what this study actually looks into until I read the result part. Perhaps, the authors may want to elaborate how the sustainability logic has been incarnated into the construction industry and how scholars and researchers respond to this environmental change. With that, the three terms (i.e. green building materials, biobased building materials, and plant-based resources) could be briefly introduced (and defined) in the introduction section. The definitions would be helpful to understand how the authors designed its empirical analyses, extracted data, and employed certain methods.
2. Methods
The methods section could be further elaborated. Specifically, the procedures of the analyses in the flow chart (i.e. science mapping-based analysis,. classification of publications based on the list of literature integrated, and cluster analysis of topics addressed) could be specified.
3. Topic modeling
This is a suggestion; the authors may want to conduct a topic modeling with the abstracts they extracted from the database. This may show more interesting results.
That's all the comments from me. Hope these comments help to develop the paper.
Author Response
Reviewer 2
This study employs a bibliometric analysis to figure out how the knowledge on green building materials has been accumulated over time. Given that sustainability is an essential part of the construction industry, this study can provide valuable implications and insights. Also, I appreciate all the efforts for the analyses. Let me point out two things which may help further develop this paper.
1. Introduction
The authors may want to rearrange the introduction part. It seems that this study draws conclusions of the bibliometric analyses. As findings, three different terms come out: green building materials, biobased materials, and plant-based resources. While these terms are well-explained in the results part, it is not crystal clear what this study actually looks into until I read the result part. Perhaps, the authors may want to elaborate how the sustainability logic has been incarnated into the construction industry and how scholars and researchers respond to this environmental change. With that, the three terms (i.e. green building materials, biobased building materials, and plant-based resources) could be briefly introduced (and defined) in the introduction section. The definitions would be helpful to understand how the authors designed its empirical analyses, extracted data, and employed certain methods.
ANSWER
Thank you for your detailed review. We marked the modifications and corrections in the manuscript according to your suggestions in green.
We prepared a new paragraph and inserted explanations/definitions for the three terms as proposed.
2. Methods
The methods section could be further elaborated. Specifically, the procedures of the analyses in the flow chart (i.e. science mapping-based analysis, classification of publications based on the list of literature integrated, and cluster analysis of topics addressed) could be specified.
ANSWER
We added a new paragraph explaining each specific step. Please find it below the Figure 1.
3. Topic modeling
This is a suggestion; the authors may want to conduct a topic modeling with the abstracts they extracted from the database. This may show more interesting results.
ANSWER
To present the main topics addressed in the abstracts of the papers studied, we prepared scientific clusters demonstrated in Figure 6. Additionally, the re-edited Figure 8. shows yearly progress in the relevant trend.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsComments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Reviewer 3
The following are my comments on the manuscript:
1. Title: Consider modifying the title. Make it crisp.
ANSWER
Thank you for your thorough review. We marked the modifications and corrections in the manuscript according to your suggestions in yellow.
We modified the title as proposed.
2. Abstract: Needs revision. Keywords must be relevant to the study.
ANSWER
We revised the Abstract and changed the keywords to conform better to the study.
3. Introduction: First line seems confusing Has the expansion for GHG provided earlier? Looks deviated. Weather the study focuses on the need of green building or energy demand made by the construction industry.
ANSWER
We rephrased the first sentence to promote an unambiguous understanding of the core findings.
4. Material and Methods: Why WoS was preferred over the Scopus database The authors have mentioned after data cleaning. Explain what is data cleaning and how it is done.
ANSWER
The database of the Web of Science provides a great overview of studies with many bibliometric parameters that are in the range of our research interest. Additionally, the extensive filter opportunities and export options enable the use of gathered data in basic statistical platforms such as R. Therefore, we have also used WoS as our primary source of data during the preparation of several manuscripts (Tőzsér et al., 2017, Tőzsér et al., 2023).
Tőzsér, D.; Magura, T.; Simon, E. Heavy metal uptake by plant parts of willow species: a meta-analysis. J. Hazard. Mater. 2017, 336, 101–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.03.068
Tőzsér, D.; Horváth, R.; Simon, E.; Magura, T. Heavy metal uptake by plant parts of Populus species: a meta‑analysis. Environ. Sci. Pollut. R. 2023, 30, 69416–69430. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27244-2
Further, in the Materials and Methods, we added short explanations to each specific step (e.g., data cleaning) introduced in Figure 1.
5. Results and Discussion: Figures and Tables provided in this section need to be discussed elaborately
ANSWER
We inserted additional interpretations and complementations to the figures and tables.
6. Conclusions: Provide the major contributions of this study Mention the future scope of the study.
ANSWER
We complemented the Conclusions section with suggestions and future implication opportunities as proposed.
7. References: Consider latest articles.
ANSWER
We inserted new references published in 2023 into the manuscript. (See references Nr. 1, 2, 3, and 21.)
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe comments given earlier have been addressed. Hence, the manuscript can be considered for possible publication in the journal.
