Meta-Analysis of Scientific Articles on the Concept of Smart Sustainable Cities in Iran and Worldwide

Document Type : Article extracted from thesis

Authors

1 Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, NT .C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Urban Planning, SR.C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Department of Geography, Yt.C., Shahreri, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, NT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Background and Objective: In recent years, with the increasing growth of the urban population and pressures from environmental, social, and economic issues, the theory of the "sustainable smart city" has become one of the key concepts in urban studies. The purpose of this research is to conduct a systematic comparative review of studies conducted in the field of the sustainable smart city at the level of Iran and the world, in order to identify and analyze theoretical patterns, commonalities and differences, as well as existing research gaps in this field.
Methodology:This study was conducted using the systematic review method with a comparative approach.The research population consisted of 31 scientific articles published in reputable domestic and international databases between 2017 and 2024, which were selected using standard methods and subjected to qualitative content analysis.
Results and Findings:The findings indicate that at the global level, the sustainable smart city paradigm is understood as a multidimensional and dynamic concept in which technology serves to achieve broader goals such as environmental sustainability, social justice, participatory governance, resilience, and improving the quality of life. In contrast, in domestic Iranian studies, the predominant emphasis has been on the technical and infrastructural aspects of smartening, while the theoretical, social, and citizen-oriented dimensions of this concept have received less attention. This gap highlights the necessity of revising research and policy-making approaches in the national context to move towards the comprehensive realization of the sustainable smart city.

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  • Receive Date 28 July 2025
  • Revise Date 10 October 2025
  • Accept Date 04 November 2025
  • First Publish Date 05 November 2025
  • Publish Date 23 August 2026