Google Scholar, while not perfect, can give a free and quick way to understand which terms are increasing in relevance in your field.
The following images summarise the volume of search results for key terms that can be used in the field of urban planning and computing. Hopefully this can, for someone, maximise likelihood of that fuzzy feeling at a conference or event (or your written text) that SOMEONE knows what you’re talking about. While some terms of have gained significant traction of the past half a century, some other new terms are catching up quite rapidly. Some terms have not grown so fast at all. What new terms will pop up in the next 10 years? I will leave it up to you to decide!
Search terms, in order of relevance in 2010’s …
“Transport Model”
“Geographic Information System”
“Smart City”
“Big Data” and (“urban” or “city”)
Virtual Reality and (“Urban” or “City” )
“Augmented Reality” and (“Urban” or “City” )
“Virtual World” and (“Urban” or “City” )
Dashboard and (“urban” or “city” or “building”)
“Cellular automata” AND (“urban” or “city”)
“Urban Model”
Agent-based model AND (“urban” or “city”)
(“Artificial Intelligence” or “Machine learning” or “Neural network”) AND (“urban” or “city”)
“Spatial Decision Support System”
“Urban Computing”
“Urban sensing”
“Urban Informatics”
“Planning Support System”
“Digital Urban” or “Digital City”
“Digital Twin” and (“Urban” or “City”)
“Plantech”
So, what do you think ?