Artificial Intelligence for Smart Cities: A Comprehensive Review Across Six Pillars and Global Case Studies

Rapid urbanization in the twenty-first century has significantly accelerated the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to address growing challenges in governance, mobility, energy, and urban security. This paper explores how AI is transforming smart city infrastructure, analyzing mo...

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Main Authors: Joel John, Rayappa David Amar Raj, Maryam Karimi, Rouzbeh Nazari, Rama Muni Reddy Yanamala, Archana Pallakonda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Urban Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/249
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author Joel John
Rayappa David Amar Raj
Maryam Karimi
Rouzbeh Nazari
Rama Muni Reddy Yanamala
Archana Pallakonda
author_facet Joel John
Rayappa David Amar Raj
Maryam Karimi
Rouzbeh Nazari
Rama Muni Reddy Yanamala
Archana Pallakonda
author_sort Joel John
collection DOAJ
description Rapid urbanization in the twenty-first century has significantly accelerated the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to address growing challenges in governance, mobility, energy, and urban security. This paper explores how AI is transforming smart city infrastructure, analyzing more than 92 academic publications published between 2012 and 2024. Key AI applications ranging from predictive analytics in e-governance to machine learning models in renewable energy management and autonomous mobility systems are synthesized domain-wise throughout this study. This paper highlights the benefits of AI-enabled decision making, finds current implementation barriers, and discusses the associated ethical implications. Furthermore, it presents a research agenda that stresses data interoperability, transparency, and human–AI collaboration to steer upcoming advancements in smart urban ecosystems.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2413-8851
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Urban Science
spelling doaj-art-29fd480dcedd44578e260050d898d46e2025-08-20T03:56:46ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512025-07-019724910.3390/urbansci9070249Artificial Intelligence for Smart Cities: A Comprehensive Review Across Six Pillars and Global Case StudiesJoel John0Rayappa David Amar Raj1Maryam Karimi2Rouzbeh Nazari3Rama Muni Reddy Yanamala4Archana Pallakonda5Amrita School of Artificial Intelligence, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore 641112, Tamil Nadu, IndiaAmrita School of Artificial Intelligence, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore 641112, Tamil Nadu, IndiaSchool of Public Health, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USADepartment of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USAAmrita School of Artificial Intelligence, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore 641112, Tamil Nadu, IndiaDepartment of Computer Science and Engineering, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Warangal 506004, Telangana, IndiaRapid urbanization in the twenty-first century has significantly accelerated the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to address growing challenges in governance, mobility, energy, and urban security. This paper explores how AI is transforming smart city infrastructure, analyzing more than 92 academic publications published between 2012 and 2024. Key AI applications ranging from predictive analytics in e-governance to machine learning models in renewable energy management and autonomous mobility systems are synthesized domain-wise throughout this study. This paper highlights the benefits of AI-enabled decision making, finds current implementation barriers, and discusses the associated ethical implications. Furthermore, it presents a research agenda that stresses data interoperability, transparency, and human–AI collaboration to steer upcoming advancements in smart urban ecosystems.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/249smart citiesartificial intelligencedigital governanceurban sustainabilitymachine learningIoT
spellingShingle Joel John
Rayappa David Amar Raj
Maryam Karimi
Rouzbeh Nazari
Rama Muni Reddy Yanamala
Archana Pallakonda
Artificial Intelligence for Smart Cities: A Comprehensive Review Across Six Pillars and Global Case Studies
Urban Science
smart cities
artificial intelligence
digital governance
urban sustainability
machine learning
IoT
title Artificial Intelligence for Smart Cities: A Comprehensive Review Across Six Pillars and Global Case Studies
title_full Artificial Intelligence for Smart Cities: A Comprehensive Review Across Six Pillars and Global Case Studies
title_fullStr Artificial Intelligence for Smart Cities: A Comprehensive Review Across Six Pillars and Global Case Studies
title_full_unstemmed Artificial Intelligence for Smart Cities: A Comprehensive Review Across Six Pillars and Global Case Studies
title_short Artificial Intelligence for Smart Cities: A Comprehensive Review Across Six Pillars and Global Case Studies
title_sort artificial intelligence for smart cities a comprehensive review across six pillars and global case studies
topic smart cities
artificial intelligence
digital governance
urban sustainability
machine learning
IoT
url https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/249
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