Smart cities: digital transformation for sustainable urban development

Smart cities leverage information and communication technologies (ICTs), such as Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and artificial intelligence to address urban challenges around sustainability, livability, and efficiency. After reviewing the evolution of smart city definitions from techno-centric to more holistic, people-centric approaches, this chapter highlights their key enabling digital technologies. Conceptual frameworks and features, such as integrating cyber-physical systems and digital twins of the built environment, are discussed. Global smart city experiences, contrasting retrofitted and new purpose-built cities, are reviewed along with their associated challenges and solutions. Finally, aligning technology investments with local needs and participation over time is essential for utilizing digital transformation to create sustainable, livable cities, indicating that smart cities should be viewed as an ongoing process, not a destination.