Since the mid-1970s, it has become highly acknowledged to measure and evaluate changes in international research collaborations and the scientific performance of institutions and countries through the prism of bibliometric and scientometric data. Spatial bibliometrics and scientometrics (henceforward spatial scientometrics) have traditionally focused on examining both country and regional levels; however, in recent years, numerous spatial analyses on the city level have been carried out. While city-level scientometric analyses have gained popularity among policymakers and statistical/economic research organizations, researchers in the field of bibliometrics are divided regarding whether it is possible to observe the spatial unit 'city' through bibliometric and scientometric tools. After systematically scrutinizing relevant studies in the field, three major problems have been identified: 1) there is no standardized method of how cities should be defined and how metropolitan areas should be delineated, 2) there is no standardized method of how bibliometric and scientometric data on the city level should be collected and processed and 3) it is not clearly defined how cities can profit from the results of bibliometric and scientometric analysis focusing on them. This paper investigates major challenges ahead of spatial scientometrics, focusing on the city level and presents some possible solutions.

中文翻译：

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聚焦城市层面的空间科学计量学面临的挑战

自 1970 年代中期以来，通过文献计量学和科学计量学数据的棱镜来衡量和评估国际研究合作的变化以及机构和国家的科学绩效已经得到高度认可。空间文献计量学和科学计量学（此后的空间科学计量学）传统上侧重于检查国家和区域层面；然而，近年来，在城市层面上进行了大量空间分析。虽然城市级科学计量分析在政策制定者和统计/经济研究组织中越来越受欢迎，但文献计量学领域的研究人员在是否可以通过文献计量和科学计量工具观察空间单位“城市”方面存在分歧。系统地梳理了该领域的相关研究，发现了三大问题：1）城市如何界定、大都市区如何划分没有标准化的方法；2）文献计量学和科学计量学数据如何划分没有标准化的方法应收集和处理城市层面的数据；3) 没有明确定义城市如何从以它们为重点的文献计量和科学计量分析的结果中获益。本文研究了空间科学计量学之前的主要挑战，重点是城市层面，并提出了一些可能的解决方案。2) 没有关于如何收集和处理城市层面的文献计量和科学计量数据的标准化方法； 3) 没有明确定义城市如何从以它们为重点的文献计量和科学计量分析的结果中获利。本文研究了空间科学计量学之前的主要挑战，重点是城市层面，并提出了一些可能的解决方案。2) 没有关于如何收集和处理城市层面的文献计量和科学计量数据的标准化方法； 3) 没有明确定义城市如何从以它们为重点的文献计量和科学计量分析的结果中获利。本文研究了空间科学计量学之前的主要挑战，重点是城市层面，并提出了一些可能的解决方案。