A Spherical Fuzzy DEMATEL Framework for Identifying Critical Barriers to Smart City Development

There are many barriers to implementing smart city initiatives, ranging from high upfront costs to limited interoperability between digital systems. These obstacles delay project rollouts and erode stakeholder confidence in emerging technologies. This study applies the Spherical Fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (SF-DEMATEL) method to identify and prioritize critical barriers hindering smart city development. By integrating membership, non-membership, and hesitancy degrees, SF-DEMATEL reduces the uncertainty often found in traditional fuzzy approaches. A panel of experts assessed nine core barriers. The findings revealed that four major barriers function as principal causes: Insufficient Government Funding, High Infrastructure Costs, High Energy Consumption, and Inadequate Cybersecurity Measures. These barriers amplify secondary issues related to governance, public resistance, and return on investment. Policymakers can leverage these results by prioritizing root causes through targeted incentives, better planning, and strong cyber-protection. This strategic focus will reduce resistance and accelerate the transition to future-ready urban environments.