Аңдатпа
Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and digital government platforms are accelerating the transformation of urban systems toward smart and sustainable cities, creating new challenges for managing complex urban development projects. This study proposes an integrated project management framework that aligns digital transformation technologies with sustainability principles to enhance smart city implementation in emerging economies. A qualitative research design combining systematic literature analysis and comparative case study evaluation was employed, examining smart city initiatives in Aqkol, Nur-Sultan (Astana), and Almaty, Kazakhstan. The analysis investigates how technological integration, governance mechanisms, stakeholder collaboration, and sustainability objectives interact within adaptive project management environments. Results indicate that successful smart city development depends on coordinated alignment across these four dimensions, supported by flexible governance models and data-driven decision processes. The findings further demonstrate that AI-enabled digital twin technologies and participatory digital governance significantly improve infrastructure optimization, urban decision-making efficiency, and resilience outcomes. The proposed framework contributes a structured evaluation and implementation model that bridges project management theory with smart city digitalization practices. The novelty of this research lies in integrating sustainability-driven project governance with emerging digital technologies into a unified operational framework, providing practical guidance for policymakers, urban planners, and project managers seeking scalable and resilient smart city solutions in rapidly evolving technological contexts.