Purpose This study aims to explore the transformative role of the Internet of Things (IoT) in fostering sustainable smart city (SSC) development, emphasizing recent trends and identifying future research directions. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA protocol and bibliometric techniques to analyze 158 publications from the Web of Science published between 2019 and 2024. The literature was clustered, and a keyword cooccurrence network was generated utilizing VOSviewer and R-studio software. Findings The findings illustrate the theoretical evolution of SSC, elucidate the chronological structure of IoT-based literature and provide demographic insights into research trends. The study uncovers critical factors propelling the sustainable development of smart cities and examines the interplay between IoT technologies and urban environments. It also highlights the vulnerabilities associated with IoT applications and proposes strategies to mitigate these risks. Research limitations/implications This research contributes to the discourse on eco-friendly urban development, offering practical insights for policymakers and urban planners on leveraging IoT for sustainable outcomes. By highlighting challenges and future research avenues, the study serves as a valuable resource for advancing the discourse on sustainable smart cities. Originality/value This bibliometric review not only consolidates current knowledge on IoT applications in SSC but also charts a path for future research, focusing on interoperability, data security and advanced analytics. It underscores the necessity of integrating sustainability into urban planning, ensuring that the development of smart cities enhances residents’ quality of life while safeguarding the environment.
Kumari et al. (Mon,) studied this question.