Review of urban computing in air quality management as smart city service: An integrated IoT, AI, and cloud technology perspective

Abstract Cities foster economic growth. However, growing cities also contribute to air pollution and climate change. The paper provides a perspective regarding the opportunity available in addressing the urban air quality management (UAQM) issues using smart city framework in the context of ‘urban computing’. Traditionally, UAQM has been built on sparse regulatory monitoring, enhanced with satellite data and forecast models. The ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ (4IR) technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), big data, artificial intelligence, smartphones, social and cloud computing are reshaping urban conglomerates, worldwide. Cities can harness these ubiquitous technologies in concert with traditional methods for betterment of air quality governance and to improve quality of life. This paper discusses the role of urban computing in UAQM through a review of scientific publications and ‘grey literature’ from technical reports of governments, international organizations and institutional websites. It provides an interdisciplinary knowledge repository on urban computing applications for air quality functions. It highlights the potential of integrated technologies in enabling data driven, strategic and real-time mitigation governance actions and helping citizens to take informed decisions. It recommends ‘fit for the purpose’ multitechnology framework for UAQM services in emerging smart cities.