AI-IoT and Regenerative Urbanism for Dezful: A Theoretical and Policy-Oriented Framework for Smart-Tech-Driven Urban Regeneration

This chapter theorizes the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) within regenerative urbanism to inform policy and strategy for sustainable urban regeneration, using Dezful (Iran) as a focused case study. It argues that AI–IoT technologies should be understood not merely as efficiency-oriented tools for urban management, but as socio-ecological mediators capable of operationalizing regenerative principles, including ecological restoration, social equity, and adaptive governance under climatic and socioeconomic pressures. The chapter develops a three-layer conceptual framework linking (1) socio-technical infrastructures, (2) urban morphological and ecosystem functions, and (3) institutional and participatory governance mechanisms. Dezful is examined as an illustrative context due to its hydrological dependence, layered historic fabric, and exposure to climate variability and informal urban development. Methodologically, the study employs integrative theoretical synthesis, conceptual modeling, secondary spatial and infrastructural analysis, and scenario-based reasoning validated through stakeholder mapping. The chapter’s contributions include a normative yet operational framework for AI–IoT-enabled regenerative urbanism, a policy-oriented toolkit for medium-sized historic cities, and transferable governance pathways that balance technological innovation with cultural heritage and social inclusion. The chapter concludes with strategic recommendations for aligning AI–IoT deployment with regenerative urban goals in Dezful and comparable contexts.