Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40989444›Full record

ReviewPeerJ. Computer science2025

Multi-objective optimization for smart cities: a systematic review of algorithms, challenges, and future directions.

YiFan Chen, Weng Howe Chan, Eileen Lee Ming Su, Qi Diao

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in PeerJ. Computer science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

YiFan ChenJiaxing Key Laboratory of Industrial Intelligence and Digital Twin, Jiaxing Vocational and Technical College, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China.
Weng Howe ChanFaculty of Computing, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
Eileen Lee Ming SuFaculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.ORCID 0000-0001-9366-5404
Qi DiaoFaculty of Artificial Intelligence, Zhejiang Dongfang Polytechnic, Wenzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

With the growing complexity and interdependence of urban systems, multi-objective optimization (MOO) has become a critical tool for smart-city planning, sustainability, and real-time decision-making. This article presents a systematic literature review (SLR) of 117 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025, assessing the evolution, classification, and performance of MOO techniques in smart-city contexts. Existing algorithms are organised into four families-bio-inspired, mathematical theory-driven, physics-inspired, and machine-learning-enhanced-and benchmarked for computational efficiency, scalability, and scenario suitability across six urban domains: infrastructure, energy, transportation, Internet of Things (IoT)/cloud systems, agriculture, and water management. While established methods such as Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) and Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithm based on Decomposition (MOED/D) remain prevalent, hybrid frameworks that couple deep learning with evolutionary search display superior adaptability in high-dimensional, dynamic environments. Persistent challenges include limited cross-domain generalisability, inadequate uncertainty handling, and low interpretability of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted models. Twelve research gaps are synthesised-from privacy-preserving optimisation and sustainable trade-off resolution to integration with digital twins, large language models, and neuromorphic computing-and a roadmap towards scalable, interpretable, and resilient optimisation frameworks is outlined. Finally, a ready-to-use benchmarking toolkit and a deployment-oriented algorithm-selection matrix are provided to guide researchers, engineers, and policy-makers in real-world smart-city applications. This review targets interdisciplinary researchers, optimisation developers, and smart-city practitioners seeking to apply or advance MOO techniques in complex urban systems.

Indexed as

Bio-inspired algorithmsComputational efficiencyCross-domain urban planningMachine learning-enhanced optimizationMulti-objective optimizationSmart citiesSustainability trade-offsSustainable urban developmentSystematic literature reviewUrban optimization

Identifiers

PMID40989444
PMCPMC12453809

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.