Abstract
Purpose
With the deep integration of information technologies into urban governance, smart communities have emerged as pivotal platforms for advancing sustainable urban development. However, existing research has not offered a systematic analysis or clear presentation of the field’s academic evolution and thematic structure. This study examines the literature on smart communities published between 2000 and 2024. Employing data analysis and visualization tools, it aims to trace the evolution and development trends of smart community research, map its core themes and their interrelationships, and provide actionable insights for policymaking and practical implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on 2,347 publications indexed in the Web of Science from 2000 to 2024, this study employed CiteSpace and VOSviewer to conduct co-citation analysis, keyword co-occurrence mapping, national collaboration network analysis, author and institutional contribution assessment, burst detection, and hotspot term analysis. The literature screening adhered to predefined publication-type criteria and citation-count thresholds to ensure that the results were representative and reliable.
Findings
This study, through literature analysis and data visualization in the field of smart communities, yields the following principal conclusions. First, the application of digital twin technology in optimizing smart community resources has attracted growing attention, demonstrating considerable potential in urban management, infrastructure maintenance, and resident services. Second, as technology advances, digitaltwin applications are evolving towards greater precision and efficiency, particularly by deepening their support for resource allocation and decision-making processes. Finally, the future development of smart communities will increasingly depend on the deep integration of digital twins with other cutting-edge technologies, thereby driving intelligent management and optimization of community resources.
Research limitations
This literature repository excludes grey literature and non-English publications, potentially underestimating the representativeness of grassroots innovation. Furthermore, the temporal analysis was constrained by the citation-lag effects of publications from 2000 to 2024.
Practical implications
This study proposes a decision-support toolkit tailored for municipal planners and policymakers. The toolkit comprises three core intervention strategies: multiscale environmental sensing, participatory governance protocols, and regenerative technology pathways. These measures are designed to advance the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Originality/value
By explicitly defining and applying the “thematic knowledge framework,” this paper offers a concise roadmap for the evolution of smart community research. It also provides precise guidance for designing and implementing community development strategies that align with Sustainable Development Goals.