Smart City Gnosys
Smart city article details
| Title | The Theory Of Complexity And Sustainable Urban Development: A Systematic Literature Review |
|---|---|
| ID_Doc | 57013 |
| Authors | Abujder Ochoa W.A.; Iarozinski Neto A.; Vitorio Junior P.C.; Calabokis O.P.; Ballesteros-Ballesteros V. |
| Year | 2025 |
| Published | Sustainability (Switzerland), 17, 1 |
| DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su17010003 |
| Abstract | Urbanization is a rapidly accelerating global phenomenon that challenges sustainable development, requiring innovative frameworks for understanding and managing urban complexity. This study explores the application of Complexity Theory in sustainable urban development, framing cities as Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS), where dynamic social, economic, environmental, and technological interactions generate emergent behaviors. A systematic literature review was conducted, analyzing 91 studies retrieved from Scopus that explicitly link Complexity Theory to urban sustainability. Key findings reveal trade-offs, such as balancing economic growth with ecological preservation and social equity, while emphasizing the role of self-organization and adaptive governance in enhancing urban resilience. Concrete examples include the application of fractal analysis in urban planning to predict sprawl and optimize infrastructure and the use of system dynamics models to align smart city initiatives with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Wider co-benefits identified include improved public health through integrated green infrastructure and the reinforcement of social cohesion via participatory urban planning. This research concludes that embracing Complexity Theory enables a holistic approach to urban sustainability, fostering adaptable, resilient systems that can better manage uncertainty. This study highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative policy frameworks to navigate the multifaceted challenges of modern urbanization. © 2024 by the authors. |
| Author Keywords | Complexity Theory; sustainable; sustainable urban development; urban resilience |
Similar Articles
| Id | Similarity | Authors | Title | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
53815  | 0.902 | Lopez L.J.R.; Castro A.I.G. | Sustainability And Resilience In Smart City Planning: A Review | Sustainability (Switzerland), 13, 1 (2021) |
| 50416 | 0.897 | Ekman, U | Smart City Planning: Complexity | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF E-PLANNING RESEARCH, 7, 3 (2018) |
| 15752 | 0.888 | Rodrigues M.I.R.P.R.; Ferreira F.A.F.; Ferreira N.C.M.Q.F. | Constructing Smarter And More Sustainable Urban Ecosystems: A Dynamic Analysis Of Challenges And Initiatives | Annals of Operations Research, 347, 1 (2025) |
| 27481 | 0.884 | Kahachi H.A.H.; Abreu M.; Ehsan M. | Future Cities' Theories For Sustainable Future: A Systematic Literature Review | Futures, 164 (2024) |
| 57012 | 0.884 | Allam Z.; Bibri S.E.; Chabaud D.; Moreno C. | The Theoretical, Practical, And Technological Foundations Of The 15-Minute City Model: Proximity And Its Environmental, Social And Economic Benefits For Sustainability | Energies, 15, 16 (2022) |
| 38881 | 0.883 | Janković S. | Navigating Uncertainties In The Built Environment: Reevaluating Antifragile Planning In The Anthropocene Through A Posthumanist Lens | Buildings, 14, 4 (2024) |
| 54098 | 0.881 | Zhang X.; Bayulken B.; Skitmore M.; Lu W.; Huisingh D. | Sustainable Urban Transformations Towards Smarter, Healthier Cities: Theories, Agendas And Pathways | Journal of Cleaner Production, 173 (2018) |
| 54115 | 0.88 | Bibri S.E. | Sustainable, Smart, And Data-Driven Approaches To Urbanism And Their Integrative Aspects: A Qualitative Analysis Of Long-Lasting Trends | Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation (2019) |
| 28148 | 0.878 | Nel D.; Nel V. | Governance For Resilient Smart Cities | Transformative Planning: Smarter, Greener and More Inclusive Practices (2021) |
| 53865 | 0.876 | Khare A.; Beckman T. | Sustainable And Smart Cities: Governance, Economy And Society | Sustainable and Smart Cities: Governance, Economy and Society (2025) |