Strategic Analysis of the Convergence of Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things for Monitoring and Management of Environmental Crises and Enhancing Urban Resilience in Iran

Cities, as hubs of human activity, face escalating threats from environmental crises such as chronic air pollution, destructive floods, dust storms, and severe water scarcity. These challenges critically undermine urban quality of life and hinder progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in regions like Iran. The convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) presents a transformative opportunity to shift environmental crisis management from a reactive to a proactive and preventive paradigm, thereby enhancing urban resilience. While IoT networks generate continuous streams of real-time data, AI provides the analytical power to interpret this information for optimized resource management and early warning. This study conducts a strategic analysis of AI–IoT integration for managing environmental crises in Iran. Employing a mixed-methods approach, it combines a systematic literature review with insights from semi-structured expert interviews. The collected data were analyzed using the SWOT framework to identify strategic factors, followed by the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) to prioritize actionable strategies. The findings highlight that the most critical strategies for enhancing resilience are: developing intelligent environmental monitoring networks, establishing integrated data governance frameworks, promoting the localization of IoT technologies, and investing in specialized human capital development. Conversely, principal barriers include severe data fragmentation, a lack of unified technical standards, weak institutional coordination, and financial constraints. The study concludes that the strategic integration of AI and IoT is not merely a technical upgrade but a fundamental prerequisite for preventive environmental management and sustainable urban resilience in Iran. Success hinges on parallel advancements in technology deployment and institutional data governance. This research provides an evidence-based framework to guide policymakers in formulating effective smart city and resilience strategies.