The Application of Emerging Technologies in Urban Development: A Review of Global Experiences and Their Implementation in Iran with a Sustainable-Development Approach

The rapid pace of urbanisation in the twenty-first century has created complex challenges for city managers in the fields of resource management, transportation, energy and the environment. Emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data and the Digital Twin have been proposed as novel solutions for achieving sustainable urban development. Adopting an analytical-descriptive approach, this paper examines the application of these technologies in urban development. The first section reviews successful global experiences, including case studies of Shenzhen (China), Boston and Barcelona (USA and Spain), Dubai (UAE), Singapore and Copenhagen, and analyses the practical uses of these technologies in improving urban quality of life, increasing efficiency and reducing environmental impacts. The current state of technology adoption in Iran is then assessed, focusing on pilot projects in Tehran and Mashhad. The findings show that, despite the considerable benefits of these technologies in optimising resources and enhancing citizen participation, their implementation faces technical, financial, social and institutional challenges. Finally, drawing on global experiences and Iran’s local conditions, the paper proposes strategies such as developing digital infrastructure, establishing legal frameworks, expanding public–private partnerships and capacity-building for human resources in order to harness these technologies effectively for sustainable urban development.

کلیدواژه ها:

sustainable development ، urban development ، emerging technologies ، artificial intelligence