From Smart Cities to ESG_Unveiling Thematic Clusters in Sustainable Digital Transformation

This study investigates the evolving relationship between sustainable development and digital transformation through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 2,140 Scopus-indexed publications from 2020 to 2025. Utilizing VOSviewer for network visualization, the research identifies four thematic clusters encompassing smart urban systems, industrial and economic modernization, socio-environmental transformation, and regional policy. Temporal analysis reveals five evolutionary phases, indicating a conceptual shift from foundational ICT integration to the application of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and smart infrastructures. The results underscore a growing multidimensional and interdisciplinary discourse, yet also highlight imbalances in geographical representation and methodological approaches. This research contributes a conceptual map of the field, offers theoretical and methodological implications, and proposes future directions aimed at enhancing the inclusivity, empirical rigor, and systemic relevance of digital transformation for sustainability.