# Application of Blockchain Technology in Emergency Management Systems: A Bibliometric Analysis
## 5 Discussion
### Main Findings
The co-citation analysis performed using CiteSpace software identified seven major clusters: personal health records (#0), humanitarian supply chain management (#1), patient journey (#2), collaborative emergency management (#3), emergency logistics (#6), smart cities (#7), and central gateway #8). The quality of the clustering is confirmed by high metrics; the average silhouette value S = 0.8459 indicates cluster homogeneity, while the modularity Q = 0.7857 demonstrates clear thematic separation. The largest cluster by the number of publications is cluster #0 (48 items), while cluster #6 is the most recent in terms of average publication year (2021). The clusters with the highest homogeneity are #1, #6, #7, and #8 (S > 0.95). Our analysis of co-citation dynamics demonstrates that early research focused on the topics of personal health records (cluster #0) and smart cities (cluster #7). In the later period, there is a growing interest in themes such as patient journey (#2), emergency logistics (#6), and collaborative emergency management (#3), reflecting the need for more resilient and integrated solutions in crisis response and healthcare. The citation burst analysis allows for the identification of the most influential publications in the field. Two main bursts are observed in the periods 2019-2021 and 2022-2024. The strongest bursts were identified for the following works: [PERSON] et al. (strength = 3.57) [61]; [PERSON] et al. (strength = 2.55) [62]; and [PERSON] et al. (strength = 2.18) [63]. The main theme of these works is the integration of blockchain technology with big data in medical systems, with a focus on privacy, interoperability, and coordination in emergency situations. The analysis of keyword citation bursts also revealed periods of intense scientific interest in specific research topics. Overall, three main stages of interest evolution were identified in the period from 2017 to 2024. The most recent stage falls in the period 2021-2024, when there is a significant interest in topics related to operational security and reliability. This is reflected in the growing interest in key concepts such as \"smart contracts\", \"secure\", and \"networks\". In addition, the long-term interest in the terms \"scheme\" and \"COVID-19\" indicates the pandemic challenges that forced the scientific community to focus on developing secure decentralized solutions for managing crisis situations, particularly in the context of healthcare and global crisis responses. RQ3: How has blockchain technology transformed emergency management practices, what challenges remain, and what are the prospective frontiers for future research? Blockchain technology demonstrates profound transformative potential in emergency management, as evidenced by our analysis of research clusters that highlight several key areas of impact:  
* Clusters #0 and #2 underscore blockchain's ability to create secure and interoperable systems for managing sensitive health data, which is particularly crucial during pandemics and other health crises. This includes secure sharing of medical records, efficient vaccine distribution tracking, and reliable contact tracing, leading to more effective and timely responses. * Clusters #1 and #6 demonstrate blockchain's capacity to revolutionize humanitarian supply chains by providing real-time tracking of resources, ensuring transparency in aid distribution, and enhancing coordination among diverse stakeholders. This addresses critical issues such as fraud and information asymmetry, leading to more efficient and accountable disaster relief efforts. * Cluster #3 highlights blockchain's potential to enable secure and coordinated communication and task assignment among various actors, including drones, vehicles, and command centers. This fosters more efficient and accountable multi-agency responses during complex emergencies. * Cluster #7 illustrates how blockchains can enhance the security and transparency of urban data ecosystems, improving the responsiveness and reliability of emergency services within smart cities.