Public opinion on smart infrastructure in China: Evidence from social media

Guanying Huang; Dezhi Li; Shenghua Zhou; S. Thomas Ng; Wentao Wang; Lingxiao Wang

doi:10.1016/j.jup.2025.101886

Public opinion on smart infrastructure in China: Evidence from social media

Guanying Huang, Dezhi Li^*, Shenghua Zhou, S. Thomas Ng, Wentao Wang, Lingxiao Wang

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study analyzes how public opinion on smart infrastructure (SI) in China varies across space and time based on social media data to inform the prioritization of infrastructure investment. The results indicated that (i) the number of total posts on SI increased exponentially, with a greater focus on smart energy; (ii) the proportion of positive and neutral posts increased and decreased, respectively, while the negative remained at a low proportion; (iii) the duration of non-negative topics showed continuous and occasional patterns and regional consistency, while the negative showed an intermittent pattern and regional heterogeneity. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd.

Original language	English
Article number	101886
Journal	Utilities Policy
Volume	93
Online published	4 Jan 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jup.2025.101886
Publication status	Published - Apr 2025

Funding

This study was supported by the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) (Grant No.: C7080-21 GF) and General Research Fund (GRF) (Grant No.: 17203020), both from the Research Grants Council of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Everloyal-Innovation Fund for PhD Candidate in Neuromanagement in Engineering (Grant No.: Everloyal-NeuroME-2024010).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Research Keywords

Public opinion
Smart infrastructure
Social media

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

Policy Impact

Cited in Policy Documents

Access Output

10.1016/j.jup.2025.101886

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Cite this

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title = "Public opinion on smart infrastructure in China: Evidence from social media",

abstract = "This study analyzes how public opinion on smart infrastructure (SI) in China varies across space and time based on social media data to inform the prioritization of infrastructure investment. The results indicated that (i) the number of total posts on SI increased exponentially, with a greater focus on smart energy; (ii) the proportion of positive and neutral posts increased and decreased, respectively, while the negative remained at a low proportion; (iii) the duration of non-negative topics showed continuous and occasional patterns and regional consistency, while the negative showed an intermittent pattern and regional heterogeneity. {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Ltd.",

keywords = "Public opinion, Smart infrastructure, Social media",

author = "Guanying Huang and Dezhi Li and Shenghua Zhou and Ng, {S. Thomas} and Wentao Wang and Lingxiao Wang",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1016/j.jup.2025.101886",

language = "English",

volume = "93",

journal = "Utilities Policy",

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T1 - Public opinion on smart infrastructure in China

T2 - Evidence from social media

AU - Huang, Guanying

AU - Li, Dezhi

AU - Zhou, Shenghua

AU - Ng, S. Thomas

AU - Wang, Wentao

AU - Wang, Lingxiao

PY - 2025/4

Y1 - 2025/4

N2 - This study analyzes how public opinion on smart infrastructure (SI) in China varies across space and time based on social media data to inform the prioritization of infrastructure investment. The results indicated that (i) the number of total posts on SI increased exponentially, with a greater focus on smart energy; (ii) the proportion of positive and neutral posts increased and decreased, respectively, while the negative remained at a low proportion; (iii) the duration of non-negative topics showed continuous and occasional patterns and regional consistency, while the negative showed an intermittent pattern and regional heterogeneity. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd.

AB - This study analyzes how public opinion on smart infrastructure (SI) in China varies across space and time based on social media data to inform the prioritization of infrastructure investment. The results indicated that (i) the number of total posts on SI increased exponentially, with a greater focus on smart energy; (ii) the proportion of positive and neutral posts increased and decreased, respectively, while the negative remained at a low proportion; (iii) the duration of non-negative topics showed continuous and occasional patterns and regional consistency, while the negative showed an intermittent pattern and regional heterogeneity. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd.

KW - Public opinion

KW - Smart infrastructure

KW - Social media

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U2 - 10.1016/j.jup.2025.101886

DO - 10.1016/j.jup.2025.101886

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 0957-1787

VL - 93

JO - Utilities Policy

JF - Utilities Policy

M1 - 101886

ER -

Public opinion on smart infrastructure in China: Evidence from social media

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

RGC Funding Information

Policy Impact

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

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GRF: Digital Twin for Improving the Operational Intelligence of Building Facilities and Workplace

Cite this

Public opinion on smart infrastructure in China: Evidence from social media

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

RGC Funding Information

Policy Impact

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Projects

GRF: Digital Twin for Improving the Operational Intelligence of Building Facilities and Workplace

Cite this