Updating the Definition of Digital Urban Interface in the City Transformation Context

Updating the Definition of Digital Urban Interface in the City Transformation Context | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Updating the Definition of Digital Urban Interface in the City Transformation Context Marta Silvia Del Rio, Jorge Martin-Gutierrez, Luis Aceves This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8686995/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 6 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The primary objective of this research is to formulate a contemporary and formal definition of the Digital Urban Interface (DUI) within the context of digital transformation and smart city paradigms. This study addresses the current lack of definitional precision in scientific literature regarding these interfaces as they evolve from traditional mechanical precursors to complex digital mediators. A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The search strategy encompassed eight major electronic databases, initially identifying 68,293 records published between 2018 and 2023. A rigorous multi-stage screening process was employed to filter unrelated content, eventually leading to a detailed analysis of relevant papers to extract the core functional attributes of public digital interfaces. The review confirmed that no formal, updated definition of the DUI exists in recent literature despite its proliferation. Consequently, this study synthesizes a new definition grounded in eleven distinct dimensions: public use, efficiency, human-centered design, inclusive design, cognitive load, social context, culture/internationalization, urban integration, smart city enablement, omnichannel strategies, and sustainability. The proposed framework provides a robust theoretical and practical foundation for urban planners and designers to optimize citizen engagement. By integrating these dimensions, stakeholders can systematically anticipate technical and ethical challenges, facilitating the successful transition of urban environments into inclusive digital ecosystems. Digital urban interfaces Interface design Digital transformation Public interfaces Social digitalization Smart city Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 04 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 10 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 09 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 09 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 27 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 24 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8686995","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":604341023,"identity":"34fec7b7-9eff-4681-af4c-03c62603f965","order_by":0,"name":"Marta Silvia Del Rio","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of the Incarnate Word","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Marta","middleName":"Silvia Del","lastName":"Rio","suffix":""},{"id":604341024,"identity":"71c11d04-380c-4392-92ae-f21b822e1ec2","order_by":1,"name":"Jorge Martin-Gutierrez","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAyklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACxgYwZcPAxw6keEjQksbAxkysFig4TIIW5mmHn3382nY+sY2ZgfHB2zYGOfkGQg6bnWY8W7btNkgLs+HcNgZjgwMEtSQYM0tCtLBJ87YxJG4g5DDG2emfgVrOgbSw/wZqqZ9P2GE5xowf2w6AbWEGaklgIOywnGJmhnPJxm3MjM2Sc85JGG4gpMVwdvpmxh9ldrL97M0HP7wps5EnGGKGQAXMkOgAx6oEAfVAIA9S+4OwulEwCkbBKBjJAADPHjhGXm8hNgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"University of La Laguna","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jorge","middleName":"","lastName":"Martin-Gutierrez","suffix":""},{"id":604341025,"identity":"e95fbbaa-008b-4aa8-92c0-ed1ed2bf8722","order_by":2,"name":"Luis Aceves","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Monterrey","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Luis","middleName":"","lastName":"Aceves","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-01-24 13:23:32","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8686995/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8686995/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":104780443,"identity":"64963c47-04b1-4a04-b7df-29ca40614669","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-17 07:52:59","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":515072,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"UrbanDigitalUAISfinaltosend.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8686995/v1_covered_c884ecdc-c24a-415c-8750-ad5716ddc58d.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Updating the Definition of Digital Urban Interface in the City Transformation Context","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"universal-access-in-the-information-society","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"uais","sideBox":"Learn more about [Universal Access in the Information Society](http://link.springer.com/journal/10209)","snPcode":"10209","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10209/3","title":"Universal Access in the Information Society","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Digital urban interfaces, Interface design, Digital transformation, Public interfaces, Social digitalization, Smart city","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8686995/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8686995/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe primary objective of this research is to formulate a contemporary and formal definition of the Digital Urban Interface (DUI) within the context of digital transformation and smart city paradigms. 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