How Extended Reality Is Shaping Smart Cities: A Systematic Literature Review

XR technologies enhance the sustainable development of urban areas by merging digital and physical worlds. In smart city contexts, XR has been applied in miscellaneous ways, from supporting urban planning and design through immersive visualization, to improving traffic and navigation services via real-time overlays, and to enhancing public safety and emergency response through simulation and situational support. However, the literature does not clearly categorize XR application domains in smart cities, interaction methods, and types of sensory feedback. This study presents an SLR reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We included 92 studies published between 2009 and 2024, proposing a classification of application domains, interaction modalities, and sensory feedback. We searched Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore using predefined search terms and eligibility criteria. This review offers a comprehensive overview of nearly 20 years of XR research in smart cities, highlighting established practices and guiding future application development and research directions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Applied Sciences
Published
2026-01-08
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/app16020679
Primary Topic
Smart Cities and Technologies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

How Extended Reality Is Shaping Smart Cities: A Systematic Literature Review

M. Di Summa, Marina Ricci, Moh Rafik, Nicola Mosca
Applied Sciences
Smart Cities and Technologies
article

How Extended Reality Is Shaping Smart Cities: A Systematic Literature Review

M. Di Summa, Marina Ricci, Moh Rafik, Nicola Mosca
article en

Abstract

XR technologies enhance the sustainable development of urban areas by merging digital and physical worlds. In smart city contexts, XR has been applied in miscellaneous ways, from supporting urban planning and design through immersive visualization, to improving traffic and navigation services via real-time overlays, and to enhancing public safety and emergency response through simulation and situational support. However, the literature does not clearly categorize XR application domains in smart cities, interaction methods, and types of sensory feedback. This study presents an SLR reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We included 92 studies published between 2009 and 2024, proposing a classification of application domains, interaction modalities, and sensory feedback. We searched Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore using predefined search terms and eligibility criteria. This review offers a comprehensive overview of nearly 20 years of XR research in smart cities, highlighting established practices and guiding future application development and research directions.

Applied SciencesVol. 16(2)
Institute of Intelligent Systems for Automation (IT), National Research Council (IT)
Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico
Sustainable cities and communities
Openalex Percentile: Top 95%
Smart Cities and Technologies
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