The Role of Diversified Geo-Information Technologies in Urban Governance: A Literature Review

Abstract

Global urbanization has made urban governance a crucial aspect of sustainable urban development. While geo-information technologies have emerged as indispensable tools for effective urban governance, a comprehensive analysis of their application in this context remains lacking. This study seeks to review and assess the pivotal role of geo-information technologies in the field of urban governance. A total of 219 related studies were used for bibliometric analysis and key content analysis. Planning Support Systems (PSSs), Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PGISs), Building Information Modeling (BIM), and City Information Modeling (CIM) are identified as the main information technologies progressively employed across diverse stages of urban planning and construction over recent decades. These advancements have propelled the digital and intelligent management of urban areas, yielding significant benefits such as enhanced visualization, informed decision-making, and increased opportunities for citizen participation. However, a noticeable disparity between supply and demand during the application process arises from a lack of transdisciplinary cooperation. This study sheds light on the existing literature and offers policy implications and recommendations for more effective utilization of geo-information technologies in future spatial governance.