Smart City trends and innovations shaping the future of cities

Purpose: To highlight the current smart city trends and innovations that will shape the future of modern cities. Design/methodology/approach: This article review is based on a theoretical literature review on the idea of smart city trends and innovations globally. The theoretical approach was based on published journals, government sources, and other sources. Findings: Human needs as well as the development of electronic-based projects for urban areas have evolved over the years. Environmental pollution has caused a drastic change in climate, urbanization happening rapidly, and more pandemics are expected in the future. But with modern technology advancements, it's important for public institutions and private entities to collaborate to make cities more sustainable. Smart energy solutions, urban planning, and smart health communities are important to smart city trends that can help to significantly transform urban centers. Originality/value: the presented review paper provides a current realistic overview of the innovations and trends implemented for smart city projects. They are implemented in some of the major cities of the world and their influence is important in shaping the lives of urban residents and the future of cities.