8 Cutting-Edge Smart Cities Books Defining 2025

Explore new Smart Cities books by leading experts revealing 2025’s innovations in sustainability, digital twins, and urban governance.

Updated on June 28, 2025
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The Smart Cities landscape changed dramatically in 2024, ushering in a wave of innovations that are rapidly reshaping how urban environments function and evolve. These changes are driven by breakthroughs in technology, sustainability practices, and governance models that address the complex challenges of modern city life — from climate resilience to social inclusivity. Staying informed on these developments is crucial for anyone involved in urban planning, policy, or technology implementation.

The books featured here are authored by forward-thinking experts who have closely studied the intersection of technology and urban sustainability. Their works provide deep dives into topics such as digital twins, standardization of smart city protocols, circular economy integration, and advanced manufacturing’s role in city ecosystems. These texts are grounded in real-world case studies and empirical research, offering you credible, actionable insights from multiple global perspectives.

While these cutting-edge books provide the latest insights, readers seeking the newest content tailored to their specific Smart Cities goals might consider creating a personalized Smart Cities book that builds on these emerging trends. This approach helps you focus on the areas most relevant to your professional role and interests, keeping you ahead in a rapidly evolving field.

Best for urban sustainability policymakers
Sustainable and Smart Cities: Governance, Economy and Society offers a distinctive look at the evolving landscape of urban development amidst climate change pressures. Bringing together research from Asia, Europe, and North America, it explores governance models, economic factors, social challenges, and technological advances that define smart cities today. This book’s multidisciplinary approach helps you grasp how integrated strategies can foster urban sustainability and resilience. Whether you’re a policymaker, practitioner, or researcher, its insights into managing complex urban issues provide a valuable foundation for advancing sustainable city initiatives.
2025·254 pages·Smart Cities, Governance, Economy, Society, Technology

After analyzing diverse urban challenges and climate change impacts, Anshuman Khare and Terry Beckman developed an integrated perspective on sustainable and smart cities. This book unpacks governance structures, economic factors, social dynamics, and technological innovations shaping urban sustainability today. You'll find detailed case studies and empirical research highlighting how resilient infrastructure and smart technologies coexist with pressing societal issues like homelessness. If you're involved in policy, urban planning, or sustainability research, this text offers a nuanced framework to understand and address the complex, interconnected nature of modern city challenges.

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Best for standards and policy experts
Smart City Standardization offers a focused exploration into the evolving landscape of smart city standards worldwide. It unpacks how international and national frameworks interact to influence the deployment of intelligent urban solutions. This book is tailored for those looking to grasp the negotiation and implementation processes behind smart city innovations, providing valuable perspectives for practitioners and policymakers aiming to strengthen city resilience through harmonized standards.
2025·375 pages·Smart Cities, Standardization, Urban Planning, Policy Development, Technology Integration

Leonidas Anthopoulos, drawing on a decade of involvement in smart city standardization, developed this book to clarify a complex and often opaque field. You get a detailed look at how international and national standards shape the smart city landscape, including who drives these standards and how they trickle down to practical applications. Through a series of case studies, the book exposes the negotiation dynamics within international bodies and highlights how standards aim to unify technologies across sectors like transportation, energy, and waste management. If you’re involved in urban planning, policy, or technology implementation, this book gives you a sharper understanding of the standardization processes influencing smart cities worldwide.

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Best for custom urban insights
This AI-created book on smart cities is crafted based on your background and specific interests in the latest 2025 developments. You share which aspects of urban innovation and technology you want to focus on, and the book is created to reflect your goals. Personalizing the content for smart cities makes sense because the field is rapidly evolving with diverse topics — from governance to digital infrastructure — so a custom guide helps you concentrate on what matters most to you.
2025·50-300 pages·Smart Cities, Urban Innovation, Digital Infrastructure, Sustainability, Urban Governance

This tailored book explores the latest developments transforming smart cities in 2025, focusing on innovations that shape urban futures. It covers groundbreaking advances in digital infrastructure, sustainability, governance, and citizen engagement, tailored to your specific interests and background. By addressing your unique goals, this personalized guide reveals insights into emerging technologies and urban strategies that are defining the smart cities revolution today. The book offers a clear view of how new discoveries and trends will impact city ecosystems, helping you stay ahead in this rapidly evolving field. Its customized content ensures you gain focused knowledge without sifting through unrelated material.

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Best for eco-tech integration leaders
Smart Cities and Sustainable Manufacturing stands out by weaving together the latest developments in urban technology with sustainability-driven manufacturing practices. This book offers an in-depth look at how IoT, AI, and big data can be harnessed alongside green building designs and circular economy principles to create smarter, more eco-friendly cities. Its rich case studies provide tangible examples from around the world, making it a practical guide for those involved in urban planning, environmental science, and engineering. Readers seeking to understand the future trajectory of sustainable urban ecosystems will find its interdisciplinary approach particularly insightful.
2024·468 pages·Smart Cities, Sustainable Manufacturing, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics

The latest insights in this book reveal how integrating smart city technologies with sustainable manufacturing reshapes urban environments toward ecological responsibility. The authors bring together emerging technologies like IoT, AI, and big data analytics with practical frameworks for green infrastructure and circular economies. You’ll find detailed case studies illustrating successes and challenges in global initiatives, offering concrete examples of energy-efficient transport, renewable integration, and waste management. This resource suits urban planners, environmental engineers, and policymakers aiming to implement sustainability at the nexus of technology and manufacturing without oversimplifying the complex interdisciplinary nature of the field.

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Best for digital twin technology adopters
Digital Twins for Smart Cities and Villages stands out by focusing on the integration of digital twin technology specifically tailored for both urban and rural environments. This book covers the latest developments in how digital twins can transform smart manufacturing, healthcare, education, agriculture, and mobility within cities and villages. Its structured approach takes you from foundational concepts to detailed implementation strategies, supported by global case studies that highlight both challenges and practical solutions. If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of emerging smart city technologies and their real-world applications, this text offers valuable insights for researchers, planners, and technology implementers alike.
Digital Twins for Smart Cities and Villages book cover

by Sailesh Iyer, Anand Nayyar Ph.D., Anand Paul, Mohd Naved·You?

2024·700 pages·Smart Cities, Urban Planning, Digital Twins, Healthcare, Agriculture

Drawing from a global team of experts, this book offers a thorough exploration of digital twin technology applied to both urban and rural developments. You’ll gain a clear understanding of digital twins from the basics to complex implementations across sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, and mobility. The authors present real-world case studies that illuminate challenges in deploying these technologies and suggest practical solutions for overcoming them. It’s especially useful if you’re involved in managing or designing smart infrastructures and want to see how digital twins can optimize city and village services. While it covers a broad spectrum, the focus on actionable insights makes it a solid choice for practitioners and researchers alike.

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Best for social equity and tech innovators
Smart Cities: Building Sustainable and Inclusive Urban Futures offers an in-depth look at how technology transforms urban environments to meet contemporary challenges. It highlights emerging trends like AI, IoT, and big data as tools for sustainable development, while emphasizing social equity and citizen participation. This book provides you with a framework for understanding the evolution of smart cities and practical examples from global leaders such as Dubai and Amsterdam. Whether you’re a policymaker, urban planner, or scholar, it delivers a clear roadmap for building cities that balance innovation with inclusiveness and resilience.
2024·132 pages·Smart Cities, Urban Technology, Sustainability, Governance, Citizen Engagement

What if everything you knew about urban development was challenged? Ar Bhavna Sharma argues that technology is not just an add-on but central to solving pressing urban issues like climate resilience and social equity. You’ll explore key innovations such as IoT and AI alongside governance models that empower citizen participation, making cities smarter and fairer. Chapters on infrastructure evolution and global case studies provide concrete insights into real innovations from Singapore to Barcelona. This book suits you if you want a grounded perspective on how technology and sustainability intersect to shape tomorrow’s inclusive cities.

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Best for custom urban plans
This AI-created book on smart urbanism is crafted based on your background and interests in future city development. By sharing your experience level and specific focus areas, you receive a book that aligns precisely with your learning goals. This tailored approach makes complex, cutting-edge urban innovations clearer and more relevant, helping you stay ahead in this fast-changing field. It’s a custom resource designed to match what you want to know about planning smarter, more resilient cities.
2025·50-300 pages·Smart Cities, Urban Planning, Sustainable Infrastructure, Digital Twins, Governance Models

This tailored book explores the rapidly evolving landscape of smart urban environments, focusing on the latest developments shaping cities in 2025. It examines emerging technologies, sustainable infrastructure, and innovative governance models, all matched to your background and specific goals. By concentrating on your interests, it offers a dynamic understanding of how next-generation smart cities are planned and developed to meet future challenges. The personalized approach ensures you engage deeply with cutting-edge insights and recent discoveries relevant to your expertise, making complex trends accessible and applicable. This book reveals how urban planning can integrate technological advancement with social and environmental needs, preparing you for the future of smart city development.

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Best for IoT and urban planners
Digital Twins: Making Sense of Smart Cities stands out by addressing the cutting-edge application of digital twin technology within urban environments. The authors, leaders in IEEE's IoT initiatives, unpack how these virtual models help cities simulate and plan for mobility, disaster response, and sustainability challenges. Covering case studies from across the globe, the book offers practical standards for integrating IoT, AI, and big data into city frameworks. This makes it a valuable resource for professionals seeking to navigate the complex digital transformations shaping the future of urban living.
Digital Twins: Making Sense of Smart Cities book cover

by Victor M. Larios, Joel Myers·You?

2024·200 pages·Smart Cities, IoT Integration, Digital Twins, Urban Planning, Sustainability

Drawing from their leadership roles in IEEE IoT initiatives, Victor M. Larios and Joel Myers provide a focused exploration of Digital Twins technology as it applies to smart cities. You’ll learn how digital models simulate urban environments to enhance planning in areas like mobility, disaster management, and sustainability. The book’s detailed chapters cover practical frameworks for integrating IoT, AI, and big data into city infrastructures, highlighting global case studies to illustrate successes and pitfalls. If you’re involved in municipal planning or technology deployment for urban development, this book offers grounded insights on designing resilient, secure smart city architectures.

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Best for circular economy strategists
Smart Cities and Circular Economy: The Future of Sustainable Urban Development offers a timely exploration of how emerging technologies intersect with economic theories to promote sustainable urban environments. This book presents a variety of real-world examples where smart city initiatives align with circular economy principles, providing practical guidance for policymakers and urban planners. It addresses challenges from regulatory barriers to financing and collaboration, making it a valuable resource for leaders seeking to create resilient and liveable cities in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Smart Cities and Circular Economy: The Future of Sustainable Urban Development book cover

by Vinay Kandpal, Ernesto DR Santibanez-Gonzalez, Prasenjit Chatterjee, Manoj Kumar Nallapaneni·You?

2024·312 pages·Smart Cities, Sustainability, Urban Development, Circular Economy, Policy Making

What sets this book apart is how Vinay Kandpal and his co-authors connect emerging urban technologies with circular economic models, revealing a fresh perspective on sustainable city planning. You’ll find detailed case studies illustrating how cities worldwide implement these concepts to tackle resource scarcity and environmental challenges. The authors delve into policy, financing, and collaboration hurdles, equipping you with nuanced insights to navigate real-world complexities. Whether you're shaping urban policies or studying sustainable development, this work offers a grounded look at integrating smart tech with economic strategies for livable cities.

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Best for cutting-edge tech futurists
Step into the future with Mansa Isa Muhammad’s exploration of how blockchain, AI, quantum computing, and clean energy converge to build sustainable smart cities. This book offers a thorough look at emerging technologies and their role in shaping urban environments that prioritize not only innovation but also ecological balance and social fairness. Whether you’re a student or professional, its accessible approach guides you through advanced urban planning principles, practical technology integrations, and thoughtful lifestyle considerations, making it a valuable resource for those invested in the future of city living.
2024·203 pages·Smart Cities, Urban Planning, Sustainability, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence

The methods Mansa Isa Muhammad developed while exploring the intersection of blockchain, AI, quantum computing, and clean energy offer a fresh perspective on building sustainable urban environments. You’ll gain detailed insights into how these technologies transform everything from urban planning to water and waste management, while also addressing social justice and equity in city design. Chapters devoted to sustainable agriculture and lifestyle integration show you how smart cities can balance technological innovation with ecological and human needs. This book fits well for anyone eager to understand the next wave of smart city development beyond just tech hype.

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Conclusion

A clear pattern emerges from this collection: sustainability, technology integration, and governance are converging to define the future of smart cities. Books like Sustainable and Smart Cities and Smart Cities and Circular Economy stress the importance of ecological balance and resource efficiency. Meanwhile, texts on digital twins reveal how virtual models are revolutionizing urban planning and infrastructure management.

If you want to stay ahead of trends or the latest research, start with Smart City Standardization and Digital Twins for a solid understanding of frameworks and emerging technologies. For cutting-edge implementation, combine THE FUTURE IS NOW with Smart Cities and Sustainable Manufacturing to integrate advanced tech like blockchain and AI with green manufacturing.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Smart Cities book to apply the newest strategies and latest research to your specific situation. These books offer the most current 2025 insights and can help you stay ahead of the curve in shaping the cities of tomorrow.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with "Sustainable and Smart Cities" for a broad view on governance and sustainability, then explore specialized topics like digital twins or circular economy depending on your interest.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Smart Cities?

Not at all. While some books delve deep into technology and policy, they also include case studies and clear frameworks that newcomers can follow to build foundational knowledge.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with foundational works like "Smart Cities" and "Sustainable and Smart Cities," then proceed to technology-focused titles such as "Digital Twins" before tackling specialized areas like manufacturing and circular economy.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick based on your focus—policy, technology, or sustainability. Each book stands alone, but reading multiple offers a richer perspective on the interconnected nature of smart cities.

Which books focus more on theory vs. practical application?

"Smart City Standardization" and "Digital Twins" lean towards practical frameworks and case studies, while "Smart Cities and Circular Economy" offers more theoretical insights blended with real-world examples.

How can I get smart city insights tailored to my specific needs?

While these expert books provide solid foundations, creating a personalized Smart Cities book lets you focus on your unique goals and background with up-to-date content. Check out personalized Smart Cities books to customize your learning experience.

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