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Size or scale? Examining their key themes and relationships in smart cities
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DOI：10.1080/12265934.2026.2686742.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Smart cities, which integrate information and communication technologies (ICTs) into urban management systems, can differ from traditional cities in their approach to spatial hierarchy because they are realized through domains that combine physical spaces and virtual networks. Similar to conventional urban studies, the spatial hierarchy of smart cities has been examined primarily along two axes: city size and scale. However, prior research has tended to treat these concepts as separate analytical dimensions, and studies addressing either size or scale in smart cities have been conducted in a fragmented manner. To develop a more multidimensional understanding of smart city spatial hierarchies, it is therefore necessary to synthesize convergent and contrasting perspectives on size and scale and to clarify their relationships. Accordingly, this study aims to identify the key themes within smart city size and scale discourse and examine their relationships through a systematic literature review of 51 peer-reviewed articles. The findings indicate that size discourse mainly focuses on how a city’s physical magnitude influences investment efficiency and managerial complexity. In contrast, scale discourse reconceptualizes smart cities not as fixed territorial units but as multi-layered relational networks and technological spheres of operation spanning from the hyperlocal to the global. Furthermore, discussions on the size–scale relationship in smart cities revolve around three main issues: (1) the influence of urban size on technological scale-up, (2) the reconfiguration of functional scales through right-sizing strategies, and (3) tensions between universal expansion models and size-specific urban particularities.
Keywords:
Smart city
size
scale
right-sizing
scaling-up
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