ABSTRACT. We draw on a substantial body of theoretical and empirical research on digital twin modeling, urban sensing technologies and logistics, and big geospatial data analytics. In this research, prior findings were cumulated indicating that virtual and augmented reality tools, digital twin simulation, and urban data fusion and sensing technologies articulate smart city environments. We carried out a quantitative literature review of ProQuest, Scopus, and the Web of Science throughout June 2022, with search terms including “the geopolitics of smart sustainable city governance and simulated 3D environments” + “urban digital twins,” “sensor data processing algorithms,” and “extended reality technologies.” As we analyzed research published between 2021 and 2022, only 168 papers met the eligibility criteria. By removing controversial or unclear findings (scanty/unimportant data), results unsupported by replication, undetailed content, or papers having quite similar titles, we decided on 24, chiefly empirical, sources. Data visualization tools: Dimensions (bibliometric mapping) and VOSviewer (layout algorithms). Reporting quality assessment tool: PRISMA. Methodological quality assessment tools include: AMSTAR, Distiller SR, ROBIS, and SRDR.

Keywords: geopolitics; smart sustainable city governance; simulated 3D environments; urban digital twins; sensor data processing algorithms; extended reality technologies

How to cite: Bugaj, M., Machova, V., and Bratu, S. (2022). “The Geopolitics of Smart Sustainable City Governance and Simulated 3D Environments: Urban Digital Twins, Sensor Data Processing Algorithms, and Extended Reality Technologies,” Geopolitics, History, and International Relations 14(2): 152–167. doi: 10.22381/GHIR142202210.

Received 18 July 2022 • Received in revised form 23 October 2022
Accepted 27 October 2022 • Available online 30 October 2022