The Role of Digital Transformation Technologies in Urban Waste Management: A Bibliometric Analysis

Urban waste management is increasingly challenged by swift urbanization and rigorous environmental regulations, makin traditional techniques insufficient. This study is dedicated to rigorously analyzing the critical incorporation of digital transformation technologies within urban waste management practices. From an initial pool of 378 articles extracted from the Scopus database, 74 were meticulously curated employing the PRISMA framework and subsequently analyzed via VOSviewer for bibliometric mapping. The findings indicate that although GIS and IoT are widely implemented in the optimization of waste management, the potential of AI remains significantly underexplored, highlighting a pivotal gap for forthcoming research endeavors. Moreover, the significant focus on research in prosperous nations, especially the United States, China, and various European countries, reveals the marked global gap in technology utilization. The originality of this study is rooted in its comprehensive bibliometric methodology, which not only delineates existing research but also pinpoints uncharted territories, particularly the insufficient utilization of AI alongside GIS and IoT. This revelation offers a strategic framework for future research endeavors to concentrate on the transformative capabilities of AI. The study promotes the necessity for regular bibliometric assessments to ensure alignment with rapid technological progressions, thereby guaranteeing that both academic and policy initiatives cultivate more efficient, sustainable, and resilient systems for urban waste management.