The Evolution of Smart Green Cities Research: A Global Bibliometric Analysis of Knowledge Structures, Emerging Themes, and Future Directions

Authors

  • Taufik Nugroho Department of Islamic Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Airlangga
  • Mumuh Muhammad Department of Islamic Economics and Finance, Faculty of Economics and Business Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
  • Risa Sari Pertiwi Department of Islamic Economic Law (Muamalah), STAI Sabili Bandung
  • Adem Esen Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Faculty of Political Sciences, Istanbul University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26905/jrei.v7i2.17792

Keywords:

Bibliometric analysis, Knowledge mapping, Smart green cities, Sustainable urban development, Thematic evolution

Abstract

The growing convergence of digital transformation and sustainability agendas has accelerated scholarly interest in smart green cities as a strategic model for sustainable urban development. However, a comprehensive understanding of the intellectual structure, thematic evolution, and global research trends in this field remains limited. This study aims to map the development of smart green cities research through a bibliometric analysis of 672 Scopus-indexed publications published between 2003 and 2025. Using the Bibliometrix package in R, the study examines publication trends, leading sources, country contributions, collaboration patterns, and thematic structures. The findings reveal a substantial increase in research output since 2016, with rapid growth after 2020, reflecting the increasing importance of sustainability-driven urban transformation. Sustainable development, smart city, and urban planning emerge as dominant foundational themes, while digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data, represent emerging research frontiers. This study provides a comprehensive knowledge map that supports future research and evidence-based policymaking for smart and sustainable urban development.

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Published

2026-08-18

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2026): Agustus 2026

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Articles

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