Neurochallenges in smart cities: state-of-the-art, perspectives, and research directions

Area of Science:

• Explores the intersection of neuroscience, neurotechnology, smart city development, and urban planning.
• Focuses on applying brain-inspired designs and control algorithms to urban systems.

Background:

• Smart city development faces challenges in enhancing urban resident well-being, inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability.
• Existing smart city research is heavily reliant on Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), often lacking societal integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how neuroscientific and neurotechnological solutions can contribute to smart city development.
• To analyze the current state of research on neurochallenges within smart cities.
• To identify opportunities for synergy between societal challenges and emerging neurotechnologies.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a bibliometric analysis of research on neurochallenges in smart cities.
• Utilized data from the Scopus database covering the period 2018-2022.
• Reviewed state-of-the-art research at the intersection of neuroscience, technology, urban space, and society.

Main Results:

• Smart city research is fragmented and predominantly technology-driven, with limited focus on societal goals.
• Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are the primary technologies employed.
• A significant gap exists in the careful integration of technology with human-centric concerns and societal needs.

Conclusions:

• Realizing the smart city vision requires more than technological advancement; human dimension integration is critical.
• Fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and co-production of knowledge is essential for hybrid intelligence.
• Neurotechnological interventions must be responsive to societal, environmental, legal, and ethical considerations.