A systematic evaluation approach for integrating smart sustainable buildings and cities

Abstract

A smart sustainable building uses advanced technologies and sustainable practices to boost energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and increase occupant comfort; a smart sustainable city uses technology to improve residents’ quality of life and promote sustainability. This research aims to a systematic approach to the “Smart Sustainable Building-City Integration Evaluation Model (SSB-CIEM)” for integrating smart sustainable buildings and cities. The methodology begins with a qualitative literature review on smart and sustainable buildings, cities, and SSB-CIEM. Then it continues with the bibliometric analysis of articles obtained from Scopus. The comprehensive content analysis of selected articles reveals trends, strengths, and weaknesses. The findings highlight six main areas for a holistic SSB-CIEM: Resilience, environment, governance, aesthetics, mobility, and welfare and well-being. The systematic approach to SSB-CIEM, which offers a holistic perspective by completing the shortcomings of existing evaluation approaches, encourages practitioners to strengthen the necessary technology infrastructure in six areas determined for integrated building-city in architecture, engineering, and urban planning projects. The model presents the preliminary areas that practitioners can consider when integrating building-city projects and supports government decision-makers in reviewing national smart city action plans and local government infrastructure projects. Such a systematic evaluation approach is one way of considering the socio-economic and cultural benefits of cross-scale communication between buildings and cities, implemented with state-of-the-art technologies at local and central scales.