Sectoral Interconnectedness: insight from five sectors in ‘smart’ urban planning (Energy, Transport, Waste Management, Buildings, and Cities)
Keywords:
Smart urban planning, Sectoral interconnectedness, Smart energy, Smart transport, Smart waste management, Smart buildings, Smart cities
Abstract
‘Smart’ urban planning has become integral to addressing contemporary urban challenges, with sectoral interconnectedness at the core of achieving sustainable, efficient, and resilient cities. This paper explores the level of interconnectedness across smart energy, Smart Transport, Smart Waste Management, Smart Buildings, and Smart Cities. This scope encompasses the complexities from site to city-wide scale. A mixed-method approach of qualitative thematic coding and quantitative correlation analysis, within NVivo’s suit of cluster analysis, was employed. Strong interconnectedness was found between Energy and Transport, driven by digital transformation and data-driven decision-making. Weak interconnectedness was found between transformative cross-sectoral (CS) goals, e.g., climate adaptation and sustainability, and Waste Management and Building sectors, indicating that these critical components are not yet fully integrated into smart urban frameworks. Smart Cities were the most interconnected, acting as a central platform where CS goals like sustainability, digital transformation, and real-time data utilization are most connected to. While digital tools foster intersectoral connection, sectoral silos or inconsistent interoperability may hinder the realization of holistic smart urban outcomes. The results underscore the need for cohesive frameworks that methodologically align CS goals in the sectors, ensuring that technological innovations relate to long-term environmental and social goals. This paper offers actionable insights for policymakers and urban planners to enhance cross-sector collaboration, optimize urban systems, and achieve integrated, adaptive and sustainable smart urban planning.
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References
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25. Hurlimann, A., Moosavi, S., & Browne, G. R. (2021). Urban planning policy must do more to integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation actions. Land Use Policy, 101, 105188. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.LANDUSEPOL.2020.105188
26. Javed, A. R., Shahzad, F., Rehman, S. ur, Zikria, Y. Bin, Razzak, I., Jalil, Z., & Xu, G. (2022). Future smart cities requirements, emerging technologies, applications, challenges, and future aspects. Cities, 129. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CITIES.2022.103794
27. Jiang, H. (2021). Smart urban governance in the ‘smart’ era: Why is it urgently needed? Cities, 111, 103004. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CITIES.2020.103004
28. Kondiba, V., & Kothalanka, A. (2023). Smart City Sustainability Based on IoT Technologies and Applications. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, 363, 323–334. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4717-1_30
29. Lee, J., Babcock, J., Pham, T. S., Bui, T. H., & Kang, M. (2023). Smart city as a social transition towards inclusive development through technology: a tale of four smart cities. International Journal of Urban Sciences, 27(S1), 75–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/12265934.2022.2074076
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31. Pacheco, J., & Hariri, S. (2016). IoT security framework for smart cyber infrastructures. Proceedings - IEEE 1st International Workshops on Foundations and Applications of Self-Systems, FAS-W 2016, 242–247. https://doi.org/10.1109/FAS-W.2016.58
32. Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., & Moher, D. (2020). Mapping of reporting guidance for systematic reviews and meta-analyses generated a comprehensive item bank for future reporting guidelines. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 118, 60–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLINEPI.2019.11.010
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2. Almalki, F. A., Alsamhi, S. H., Sahal, R., Hassan, J., Hawbani, A., Rajput, N. S., Saif, A., Morgan, J., & Breslin, J. (2021). Green IoT for Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Smart Cities: Future Directions and Opportunities. Mobile Networks and Applications 2021 28:1, 28(1), 178–202. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11036-021-01790-W
3. Alrashed, S. (2020). Key performance indicators for Smart Campus and Microgrid. Sustainable Cities and Society, 60, 102264. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCS.2020.102264
4. Andronie, M., Lăzăroiu, G., Ștefănescu, R., Uță, C., & Dijmărescu, I. (2021). Sustainable, Smart, and Sensing Technologies for Cyber-Physical Manufacturing Systems: A Systematic Literature Review. Sustainability 2021, Vol. 13, Page 5495, 13(10), 5495. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU13105495
5. Anthopoulos, L. G. (2015). Understanding the Smart City Domain: A Literature Review. Public Administration and Information Technology, 8, 9–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03167-5_2/TABLES/4
6. Babapourdijojin, M., Corazza, M. V., & Gentile, G. (2024). Systematic Analysis of Commuting Behavior in Italy Using K-Means Clustering and Spatial Analysis: Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Transport Solutions. Future Transportation 2024, Vol. 4, Pages 1430-1456, 4(4), 1430–1456. https://doi.org/10.3390/FUTURETRANSP4040069
7. Balica, R. Ștefania, & Cuțitoi, A. C. (2022). Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Smart Mobility Technologies: Autonomous Driving Algorithms, Geospatial Data Mining Tools, and Ambient Sound Recognition Software. Contemporary Readings in Law and Social Justice, 14(2), 64–81. https://doi.org/10.22381/CRLSJ14220224
8. Borhani, A., Borhani, A., Dossick, C. S., & Jupp, J. (2022). Smart Building Conceptualization: A Comparative Analysis of Literature and Standards. Construction Research Congress 2022: Infrastructure Sustainability and Resilience - Selected Papers from Construction Research Congress 2022, 1-A, 310–318. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784483954.032
9. Braun, T., Fung, B. C. M., Iqbal, F., & Shah, B. (2018). Security and privacy challenges in smart cities. Sustainable Cities and Society, 39, 499–507. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCS.2018.02.039
10. Brčić, D., Slavulj, M., Šojat, D., & Jurak, J. (2018). The Role of Smart Mobility in Smart Cities. Road and Rail Infrastructure V, 5, 1601–1606. https://doi.org/10.5592/co/cetra.2018.812
11. Bruzzone, M., Dameri, R. P., & Demartini, P. (2021). Resilience Reporting for Sustainable Development in Cities. Sustainability 2021, Vol. 13, Page 7824, 13(14), 7824. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU13147824
12. Cai, M., Kassens-Noor, E., Zhao, Z., & Colbry, D. (2023). Are smart cities more sustainable? An exploratory study of 103 U.S. cities. Journal of Cleaner Production, 416, 137986. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2023.137986
13. Cavada, M., Hunt, D. V. L., & Rogers, C. D. F. (2016). Do smart cities realise their potential for lower carbon dioxide emissions? Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Engineering Sustainability, 169(6), 243–252. https://doi.org/10.1680/JENSU.15.00032
14. De Bem Machado, A., Dos Santos, J. R., Sacavém, A., & Sousa, M. J. (2023). Digital transformation: Management of smart cities. In Smart Cities and Digital Transformation: Empowering Communities, Limitless Innovation, Sustainable Development and the Next Generation (pp. 59–83). Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80455-994-920231004
15. De Jong, M., Joss, S., Schraven, D., Zhan, C., & Weijnen, M. (2015). Sustainable–smart–resilient–low carbon–eco–knowledge cities; making sense of a multitude of concepts promoting sustainable urbanization. Journal of Cleaner Production, 109, 25–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2015.02.004
16. Eldafrawi, M., Varghese, K. K., Afsari, M., Babapourdijojin, M., & Gentile, G. (2024). Machine Learning-Enhanced Conformal Prediction Approach for Road Traffic Accident Severity Assessment: A Case Study of Rome. https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.4679159
17. Esfandi, S., Tayebi, S., Byrne, J., Taminiau, J., Giyahchi, G., & Alavi, S. A. (2024). Smart Cities and Urban Energy Planning: An Advanced Review of Promises and Challenges. In Smart Cities (Vol. 7, Issue 1, pp. 414–444). Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7010016
18. Gazzola, P., Del Campo, A. G., & Onyango, V. (2019). Going green vs going smart for sustainable development: Quo vadis? Journal of Cleaner Production, 214, 881–892. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2018.12.234
19. Gjorgievski, V. Z., Markovska, N., Mathiesen, B. V., & Duić, N. (2022). Smart energy demand for the sustainable development of energy, water and environment systems. Smart Energy, 8, 100091. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SEGY.2022.100091
20. Gonzalez Venegas, F., Petit, M., & Perez, Y. (2021). Active integration of electric vehicles into distribution grids: Barriers and frameworks for flexibility services. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 145, 111060. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111060
21. Govada, S. S., Spruijt, W., & Rodgers, T. (2017). Smart City Concept and Framework. Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements, 187–198. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1610-3_7
22. Gürdür Broo, D., Bravo-Haro, M., & Schooling, J. (2022). Design and implementation of a smart infrastructure digital twin. Automation in Construction, 136, 104171. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AUTCON.2022.104171
23. Han, M. J. N., & Kim, M. J. (2024). A systematic review of smart city research from an urban context perspective. Cities, 150, 105027. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CITIES.2024.105027
24. Haydari, A., & Yilmaz, Y. (2022). Deep Reinforcement Learning for Intelligent Transportation Systems: A Survey. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 23(1), 11–32. https://doi.org/10.1109/TITS.2020.3008612
25. Hurlimann, A., Moosavi, S., & Browne, G. R. (2021). Urban planning policy must do more to integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation actions. Land Use Policy, 101, 105188. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.LANDUSEPOL.2020.105188
26. Javed, A. R., Shahzad, F., Rehman, S. ur, Zikria, Y. Bin, Razzak, I., Jalil, Z., & Xu, G. (2022). Future smart cities requirements, emerging technologies, applications, challenges, and future aspects. Cities, 129. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CITIES.2022.103794
27. Jiang, H. (2021). Smart urban governance in the ‘smart’ era: Why is it urgently needed? Cities, 111, 103004. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CITIES.2020.103004
28. Kondiba, V., & Kothalanka, A. (2023). Smart City Sustainability Based on IoT Technologies and Applications. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, 363, 323–334. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4717-1_30
29. Lee, J., Babcock, J., Pham, T. S., Bui, T. H., & Kang, M. (2023). Smart city as a social transition towards inclusive development through technology: a tale of four smart cities. International Journal of Urban Sciences, 27(S1), 75–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/12265934.2022.2074076
30. Meng, X., & Zhu, L. (2024). Augmenting cybersecurity in smart urban energy systems through IoT and blockchain technology within the Digital Twin framework. Sustainable Cities and Society, 106, 105336. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCS.2024.105336
31. Pacheco, J., & Hariri, S. (2016). IoT security framework for smart cyber infrastructures. Proceedings - IEEE 1st International Workshops on Foundations and Applications of Self-Systems, FAS-W 2016, 242–247. https://doi.org/10.1109/FAS-W.2016.58
32. Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., & Moher, D. (2020). Mapping of reporting guidance for systematic reviews and meta-analyses generated a comprehensive item bank for future reporting guidelines. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 118, 60–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLINEPI.2019.11.010
33. Russo, A. (2025). Towards Nature-Positive Smart Cities: Bridging the Gap Between Technology and Ecology. Smart Cities 2025, Vol. 8, Page 26, 8(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/SMARTCITIES8010026
Published
2025-04-23
How to Cite
Onyango, V., Forghaniallahabadi, M., Santos, S. C., & Gazzola, P. (2025). Sectoral Interconnectedness: insight from five sectors in ‘smart’ urban planning (Energy, Transport, Waste Management, Buildings, and Cities). European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 40, 465. Retrieved from https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/19399
Section
ESI Preprints
Copyright (c) 2025 Vincent Onyango, Maryam Forghaniallahabadi, Sandra Costa Santos, Paola Gazzola
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
