Visual analysis of postmortem interval estimation trends and collaborative networks: a 15-year study (2006-2020)

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Biotechnology
• Data Science

Background:

• Postmortem interval (PMI) estimation is crucial in forensic investigations.
• The field has seen consistent growth in literature indexed by Web of Science (WOS) from 2006 to 2020.
• Understanding research trends and collaborations is vital for advancing PMI methodologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To visually analyze developmental trends and research hotspots in PMI estimation literature.
• To examine collaborative efforts among authors, countries, and institutions in PMI research.
• To identify emerging technologies and interdisciplinary approaches driving innovation in PMI.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace.5.7.R2 software.
• Visual analysis of literature indexed by Web of Science (WOS) from 2006-2020.
• Examination of keyword co-occurrence, author, country, and institutional networks.

Main Results:

• Consistent growth in PMI estimation literature over 15 years.
• Key research hotspots include blowfly, mitochondrial DNA, and virtual autopsy.
• Technological advancements like RNA stability analysis and virtual autopsy are significant.
• Scientific institutions dominate affiliations, with a trend of co-occurrence and multi-clustering in country collaborations.

Conclusions:

• Traditional PMI methods are maturing alongside innovative, interdisciplinary approaches.
• Technological advancements are key drivers in the evolution of PMI research.
• This study provides a roadmap for future PMI investigations by identifying emerging trends and hotspots.