The article presents a thorough examination of the concept of a “Smart city” as a complex phenomenon that combines various urban development paradigms. A comparative analysis of regulatory models from different countries (Russia, China, Europe, and Singapore) was conducted. Based on this interdisciplinary analysis, six distinct conceptual models of a smart city were identified: technocentric, service-oriented, humanistic, knowledge-based, sustainable, and political. It was demonstrated that these models share many common features, and various practical approaches combine these features in different configurations. The article argues that the concept of the smart city has an overarching framework. By integrating different approaches, it forms a conceptual ecosystem where various models can coexist, interact, and evolve.
smart city; digital city; smart city; smart sustainable city; smart urbanism; umbrella concept