The aim of this study was to explore the keywords related to smart city concepts, and to understand their flow. This research used a keyword network analysis by collecting keywords from papers published on the web from Scopus, which is an international scholarly papers engine. The data were collected from before and after 2016, and since the amount of data has been growing rapidly after global agreements such as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, we attempted to focus on adjacent years of publication. In order to understand the flow of research, we conducted a central analysis, which is widely used in quantitative research relating to social network analysis, and performed cluster analysis to identify relationships with related research. The results of the analysis are represented in the form of network maps, and the role of each keyword was clarified based on these network maps. In addition, the overall flow explained the change of flow through discarded and emerging keywords, and the relationships with related fields were explained through cluster analysis. The findings could serve as a basis for policymakers, urban managers, and researchers seeking a comprehensive understanding of the smart city concept in urban planning areas.

The aim of this study was to better identify the information generated by citizens and to explore the regional social phenomenon whereby higher quality urban services focused on understanding regional issues are promoted. Citizens voluntarily and continuously communicate with local government both online and offline. We wanted to determine how civic information can be applied to urban planning. We selected Shiheung City, Republic of Korea, as our study area, as the city is formed of various types of land use: industrial areas, agricultural land, and residential areas. This area is facing developmental pressure with released development-restricted areas, and has been environmentally damaged by industrial complexes. We conducted a semantic network analysis of the top 10% most commonly used nouns in civil complaints to determine the keywords. Each thematic map we created was based on geographical information to explain the temporary, continuous, and chronic issues. The chronic problems were discussed in relation to the regional development process. The process of identifying and analyzing local issues by analyzing information voluntarily provided by citizens plays an important role in government-led urban management planning and policy formation and can contribute to decision making in the development of future urban policies.

The international community is striving to build carbon-neutral societies in response to urban environmental challenges. Green Buildings (GBs) and Urban Green Spaces (UGSs) are recognized as key elements in future city development, as they contribute to both the reduction and absorption of carbon emissions. This study analyzed research fields related to GBs and UGSs by collecting and examining keywords from academic articles indexed in the Scopus database: 2880 articles from 1971 to 2025. After refining the dataset to 1685 articles, centrality, betweenness, and cluster analyses were conducted, and the results were visualized through a keyword network map. The findings are summarized as follows: (1) Research on GBs predominantly focuses on experimental and technological aspects, especially in the areas of heat and energy. (2) UGS-related studies are largely policy-driven and comprehensive, centering on green infrastructure and ecosystem services. (3) The international research landscape highlights key topics such as the greening of existing building stock, green roofs, and rooftop agriculture integrating advanced technologies, focusing on how these GB and UGS strategies address barriers to urban carbon cycling. This study offers valuable insights for researchers in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning who are working toward the realization of carbon-neutral cities.

Background and objective: Globally, the sustainability of urban areas is being compromised due to indiscriminate urban development, making the creation and management of green spaces increasingly critical. Green spaces play a pivotal role in connecting degraded natural ecosystems, and the concept of Green Infrastructure is gaining prominence as a strategy for managing green networks. A Green Infrastructure (GI) is a network of interconnected green spaces that provide benefits to humans through their utilization and management, fulfilling environmental, social, and economic functions. However, in most urban areas, green spaces lack connectivity between each other and are not managed in an integrated manner. Additionally, the types and functions of green spaces defined by policies and regulations vary, making it challenging to implement GI. Therefore, this study aims to examine and reclassify precursor indicators in order to effectively apply GI to urban strategies. It seeks to discuss management approaches based on GI, with the aim of facilitating its implementation.Methods: The city of Liverpool in the UK has presented a multifunctionality strategy for GI, which has been utilized as a global exemplary case. This study adopts the multifunctionality GI strategy proposed by the city of Liverpool, and reclassifies the types and functions of GI. It selects indicators through Focus Group Interviews(FGI) with GI experts and field surveys. The selected indicators of GI were utilized in a survey for evaluation of multifunctionality. The quantitative data collected through the survey were mapped using overlay techniques, in which led to the deriving a multifunctionality map of GI. In the process of mapping, weights derived from Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis were applied to enhance the reliability of the quantitative data from the survey.Results: In this study, suitable indicators for GI in the study area were selected, and the functionality of each land cover (LC) type was evaluated. As a result, the study area was found to provide multifunctionality within a single land parcel. The highest-scoring LC type is Woodland, and the predominant functional category is Human-Wildlife Coexistence. The lowest-scoring LC type is Cemetery, with the least represented functional category being Timber Production.Conclusion: GI fulfills multiple functions that provide a range of benefits to humans (multifunctionality). To maximize such multifunctionality, it is crucial to manage scores for each functional category according to LC type. GI is not solely focused on specific functions, but also requires strategies to enhance functionalities lacking in LC types with low multifunctionality scores. The GI indicators proposed in this study and the GI multifunctionality assessment can serve as essential data for review when local authorities are formulating spatial plans related to urban areas, green spaces, forests, and other relevant areas.

Background and objective: There are a growing international consensus regarding the importance of achieving carbon neutrality and ensuring food security, particularly because of the "global boiling." Rooftop greenhouses (RTGs), which reduce carbon emissions from buildings and facilitate urban agriculture, have attracted the attention of the international community as a new form of urban agriculture. Despite considerable interest in RTGs in Korea, their implementation faces limitations owing to a lack of relevant legal bases and policies.Methods: We aimed to investigate exemplary cases to identify the essential factors for greenhouse operations and present these factors and the necessary direction for the active use of RTGs in Korea. A literature review was conducted using RTG and integrated RTG (i-RTG)-related scientific papers, books, news articles, brochures, official websites, and local government guidelines from the United States (US) and Canada where RTGs are actively used.Results: We identified the factors required for the stable operation of RTGs in Korea: long-term support and cooperation from building owners, initial operating capital, differentiated distribution strategies, and a review of relevant laws and regulations. The latter has emerged as an important factor in identifying the legal and policy limitations associated with the operation and management of RTGs in advance. Furthermore, we discuss the need and direction for creating guidelines for RTGs to introduce and review related content. While RTGs are gaining global attention as a new form of urban agriculture, Korea lacks the relevant legal and policy bases.Conclusion: There is a persistent need for guidelines outlining each step in the active use of RTGs at the local government level. In addition, continued discussions among the relevant experts are essential. Establishing legal and policy bases for RTGs should promote their active use, ultimately contributing to achieving carbon neutrality and promoting urban agriculture.

This study investigates the physical environment of lifelong education facilities crucial for the revitalization of lifelong education. By analyzing the spatial characteristics of these facilities, key issues related to their physical environment are identified. Focusing on Gongju City, regulations and previous research on lifelong and other educational facilities are examined. The distribution and total area of 75 lifelong education facilities in Gongju City as of 2021 are analyzed in relation to the demographic characteristics and population size. The analysis reveals that the number and total area of lifelong education facilities do not proportionally align with population size. Despite the high number of facilities, many do not meet the minimum space requirements, and several regions lack even a single facility per legal district. Two critical points are discussed based on these findings: first, improving accessibility to lifelong education facilities to ensure that residents can easily participate in lifelong education; second, establishing a minimum standard of area to provide a safe and conducive learning environment. The study emphasizes the need for regular statistical monitoring of facility numbers and spatial conditions to promote the philosophy of lifelong education and achieve spatial equity.