Research Trends in the Use of the Internet of Things in Sustainability Practices: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This article discusses the role of technological advancements, particularly in the IoT domain, in promoting economic, productive, and social development in the context of environmental sustainability. The research focuses on identifying specific trends in the application of these systems for sustainable practices through a bibliometric analysis using PRISMA. The text presents an evaluation of global scientific productivity, highlighting the significant contributions of countries such as China and the United States. It also emphasizes India’s prominent role in the efficiency of the agri-food supply chain. The study further examines thematic evolution, keyword networks, and their co-occurrence, as well as the relationship between validity and frequency. The article proposes a research agenda that concludes the exponential growth of IoT research in sustainable cities since 2016. The research agenda focuses on energy efficiency, cloud computing, and big data. Additionally, the article identifies smart cities and sensor usage, along with the creation of new decentralized networks, as priority research areas that will remain relevant in the future. The article emphasizes the importance of security and privacy in these areas.