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Cited by 476Smart Cities and TechnologiesSustainable Urban and Rural DevelopmentE-Government and Public Services

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Smart Cities—A Structured Literature Review

Open access
Gracias, Jose Sanchez, Parnell, Gregory S., Specking, Eric, Pohl, Edward A., Buchanan, Randy·2023·Smart Cities
DOI 10.3390/smartcities6040080
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Abstract

Smart cities are rapidly evolving concept-transforming urban developments in the 21st century. Smart cities use advanced technologies and data analytics to improve the quality of life for their citizens, increase the efficiency of infrastructure and services, and promote sustainable economic growth. Smart cities integrate multiple domains, including transportation, energy, health, education, and governance, to create an interconnected and intelligent urban environment. Our research study methodology was a structured literature review using Web of Science and Google Scholar and ten smart city research questions. The research questions included smart city definitions, advantages, disadvantages, implementation challenges, funding, types of applications, quantitative techniques for analysis, and prioritization metrics. In addition, our study analyzes the implementation of smart city solutions in international contexts and proposes strategies to overcome implementation challenges. The integration of technology and data-driven solutions in smart cities has the potential to revolutionize urban living by providing citizens with personalized and accessible services. However, the implementation also presents challenges, including data privacy concerns, unequal access to technology, and the need for collaboration across private, public, and government sectors. This study provides insights into the current state and future prospects of smart cities and presents an analysis of the challenges and opportunities they present. In addition, we propose a concise definition for smart cities: “Smart cities use digital technologies, communication technologies, and data analytics to create an efficient and effective service environment that improves urban quality of life and promotes sustainability”. Smart cities represent a promising avenue for urban development. As cities continue to grow and face increasingly complex challenges, the integration of advanced technologies and data-driven solutions can help to create more sustainable communities.

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  • Smart city governance plays a critical role in enhancing government process efficiency.

    “Smart city governance plays a critical role in improving public service standards (Gao et al., 2020; Tan and Taeihagh, 2020) and enhancing government process efficiency (Gracias et al., 2023; Kuzior et al., 2023).”

    From Smart city governance and interoperability: enhancing human security in Yogyakarta and Makassar, Indonesia (2025) · cites this paper as Gracias et al., 2023

    Section 3.3.2 (Governance; page unavailable) says smart city applications in governance can transform city operations and that smart city technology can improve the efficiency of public services. Section 3.5 also identifies streamlined permitting as a possible smart city project. These passages support a link to more efficient government processes, but frame it as a potential benefit rather than establishing that governance plays a critical role in producing it. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Smart city governance is a multi-dimensional approach that integrates technology, policy, and citizen engagement to drive sustainable urban development.

    “However, the concept of a smart city extends beyond mere technological advancements; it includes smart city governance (Gracias et al., 2023), a multi-dimensional approach that integrates technology, policy, and citizen engagement to drive sustainable urban development.”

    From Smart city governance and interoperability: enhancing human security in Yogyakarta and Makassar, Indonesia (2025) · cites this paper as Gracias et al., 2023

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Metadata

Authors
Gracias, J. S., Parnell, G. S., Specking, E., Pohl, E. A., & Buchanan, R.
Affiliations
  • University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (US)
  • U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (US)
Corresponding author
Parnell, Gregory S.
ORCID
Venue
Smart Cities
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2023-07-11
Volume
6
Issue
4
Pages
1719-1743
ISSN
2624-6511 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/smartcities6040080
OpenAlex
W4384067905
Cited by
476
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 137 · 2025: 164 · 2024: 147 · 2023: 28
FWCI
102.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Smart Cities (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Urban Studies › Smart Cities and Technologies
  • Social Sciences › Urban Studies › Sustainable Urban and Rural Development
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › E-Government and Public Services
Keywords
data privacy, digital divide, public-private collaboration, urban sustainability, smart city definition, smart city applications

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