Implementation of The Internet of Things (IoT) in Smart Cities: Impact on Society, Adaptation Strategies, and City Comparisons

Abstract

The demand for global public services is growing rapidly due to rapid urbanization. This demand for efficient and effective public services aims to achieve sustainability. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a key driver in the development of Smart Cities. Public and academic discussions on IoT and Smart Cities address the multifaceted impacts of IoT, IoT integration, and IoT performance when comparing Smart City and non-Smart City environments. This study employs a systematic literature review (SLR) based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines to analyze 35 articles from 2021 to 2025 and provide an overview of current research in the field of IoT. The analysis is based on three main questions: the social, economic, and environmental impacts of IoT; Smart City integration and adaptation strategies; and the quality of public services between cities that adopt IoT and those that don't. The reviewed research results show that IoT adoption results in positive economic impacts, such as an increase in innovative urban output and a decrease in operational costs, as well as positive impacts on public services and the environment. The reviewed studies indicate that successful IoT implementations have related impacts on various technological infrastructures and privacy governance. The reviewed studies also show that there remains a lack of comparative studies not controlled by Smart City initiatives. For urban policymakers and Smart City system practitioners, these research findings are highly relevant to the development of Smart City systems.