1. Introduction

In the context of globalization and informatization, the vigorous development of the social economy is leading urban construction to a higher level, and the construction of smart cities has become a key path for urban modernization. The purpose of building a smart city is to deeply integrate urban infrastructure, public services, economic development, and social governance through technological innovation, in order to improve the quality of life of residents and the sustainable development capacity of the city. In this transformation process, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), as a key technology, provide strong spatial information management and analysis support for the construction of smart cities [1].

Currently, the construction of smart cities is progressing at an unprecedented pace globally.Urban managers have significantly improved the management and service efficiency of cities through the latest developments in information technology, communication technology, and artificial intelligence, utilizing digital and intelligent strategies. Governments of various countries have provided a solid policy foundation for digital transformation by formulating forward-looking policies and planning documents, while promoting the development of emerging industries such as intelligent transportation, smart energy, and smart healthcare. GIS technology is also constantly evolving in this process, from traditional two-dimensional map display to three-dimensional spatial analysis, from static data display to dynamic process simulation, and then to the integrated application of cloud computing and big data technology. The application scope and functions of GIS have been greatly expanded, becoming an indispensable technical support in multiple fields such as urban planning, environmental protection, road traffic management, agricultural disaster prediction, and emergency management [2].

The academic community has shown strong research interest in the application of GIS in smart city construction. Most international researchers tend to delve deeper into the technical aspects of GIS, including data transmission, storage, and computation, while domestic scholars pay more attention to the practical application of GIS, especially the combination of GIS and big data technology, as well as the potential application of GIS in different industries. However, there is still a lack of systematic and targeted research on GIS in the construction of smart cities. In view of this, this article provides a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the application of GIS in smart city construction, from theoretical exploration to practical operation, from urban planning to management and construction execution, from service provision to sustainable development, and meticulously analyzes the key role and profound significance of GIS in smart city construction. Through these analyses, it not only helps to promote the widespread application of GIS technology in smart city construction, improve the overall level of urban construction and management, but also provides valuable theoretical basis and practical guidance for smart city construction. It is an innovative direction for GIS technology application research and plays an important role in accelerating urban smart transformation. Through these efforts, it can look forward to a more intelligent, efficient, and sustainable urban future [3].

2. Basic Theory of Geographic Information Systems in Smart Cities

2.1. Concept and Objectives of Smart Cities

Smart city is an emerging urban construction and management method through the promotion of Internet technology and information technology. This approach builds a scientific, convenient, and efficient urban operation and management system through modern technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, and cloud technology. Through this system, people can enhance resource utilization efficiency, enhance urban management level, and better serve the fields of economic and social development and people's livelihood [4].

The core goal of smart city construction is to meet the needs of future urban development, provide new solutions for the challenges in urban development, and clarify the new development direction of the city. In terms of urban planning and management, the concept of smart cities brings new perspectives to urban development. The concept of smart cities is centered around the Internet of Things and shapes new urban forms by integrating multiple intelligent technologies. From a practical perspective, the construction of smart cities relies on modern technology to solve various problems in urban development, ensuring the quality of urban construction and maximizing the functions of the city. In summary, the construction of smart cities aims to provide residents with a good living environment and promote the development of ecological undertakings, which is an important direction for urban development [4].

2.2. Concept of Geographic Information Systems

Geographic Information System (GIS) is a comprehensive technology platform that utilizes computer hardware and software systems to process geographic distribution data of the Earth's surface and atmosphere. GIS combines the theoretical knowledge of geography and space science, and integrates modern technologies such as remote sensing, digitization, Internet technology and big data to realize effective monitoring, collection, processing and analysis of geographical information. GIS plays an important role in multiple key fields, including public utilities, meteorology, national defense, and resource management, and has a profound impact on the country's economic and social development, technological progress, national defense security, and people's livelihood improvement. The core functions of GIS include data collection and management, complex spatial analysis, converting data into intuitive visual information, supporting interdisciplinary applications, assisting decision-making, and continuously integrating new technologies to improve the accuracy of data processing and analysis. GIS not only promotes scientific research and technological innovation, but also plays a key role in improving government management efficiency, promoting sustainable economic development, environmental protection, and maintaining cultural heritage. It is a multifunctional geographic information processing system [3].

2.3. The Relationship between Geographic Information Systems and Smart Cities

GIS plays an important role in the construction of smart cities. GIS provides technical support for spatial data management and analysis, providing rich geographic information data for smart city construction, including urban infrastructure, population distribution, environmental conditions, etc., providing important basis for decision-making and planning design. GIS technology is widely used in spatial analysis of smart cities, such as urban planning, traffic management, environmental monitoring, etc. Through GIS technology, urban spatial data can be visualized, standardized, networked, socialized, and intelligently analyzed and simulated, helping managers better understand the operational status of cities, collect and store various relevant data more comprehensively, and process them, thereby proposing scientific and reasonable solutions [2]. At the same time, GIS technology also supports various application scenarios in smart cities, such as intelligent transportation systems, smart environment monitoring systems, emergency response systems, etc., achieving real-time monitoring, analysis, and early warning of urban data, and improving the city's ability to respond to emergencies. Overall, the combination of GIS technology and smart cities provides strong support for the intelligent development of cities, promoting the improvement of urban management level and urban services.

3. Practical Cases

3.1. Typical Cases of GIS Application in the Construction of Nanjing Smart City

In February 2017, the Nanjing Municipal Government Office released the "13th Five Year Plan for the Development of Smart Nanjing". The core goal of this plan is to build a comprehensive spatiotemporal infrastructure covering the entire city of Nanjing, with the aim of establishing a unified, unique, and authoritative spatiotemporal data center. The center will be responsible for the transformation from basic geographic information data to spatiotemporal information data and achieve integrated management and upgrading of data. In addition, the plan also emphasizes the provision of "multi-source, multi-scale, and multi temporal" spatiotemporal information data services to meet the needs of different users. Furthermore, in July 2018, the smart Nanjing spatiotemporal big data and cloud platform construction project was officially approved by the Municipal Development and Reform Commission. The implementation plan of this project is for three years, with the aim of completing the platform construction work and comprehensively enhancing the spatial and temporal geographic information service capabilities of Nanjing through this platform. Ultimately, the goal of this project is to build the platform into the only basic geographic information application support platform in the "Smart Nanjing" project, providing a solid data foundation and technical support for the intelligent management and services of the city [5].

In the process of promoting unified data management and efficient utilization by the Nanjing Municipal Government, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have played a crucial role.

GIS and data assetization: GIS, as the core tool for data integration, helps to create a comprehensive dataset. This dataset achieves centralized storage, processing, and optimization of data from different sources and types through the analysis and management functions of GIS, thereby improving the management and utilization efficiency of data resources.

GIS promotes service reusability: The Nanjing Municipal Government has developed a series of reusable geographic information services using GIS platforms to meet diverse application needs and resource capabilities. The flexibility and customization of GIS enable these services to adapt to different application scenarios, enhancing their universality and adaptability.

Integration of GIS and Service Control Technology: The combination of GIS and service control technology provides a solution for the unified management of services on different GIS platforms. The integration capability of GIS ensures compatibility and collaborative work between different platform services, achieving seamless integration of services.

GIS enables online geographic information applications: The Nanjing Municipal Government has transformed geographic information applications with common needs into standardized online web GIS applications through GIS technology. This not only precipitates technical capabilities, but also enables users to easily access and utilize these applications through the Internet, improving the convenience and accessibility of services [5].

Through the application of GIS in data management and service provision, the Nanjing Municipal Government can establish an efficient and unified geographic information service platform.This platform not only promotes the development of the "Smart Nanjing" project, but also provides solid data and technical support for the intelligent management and services of the city.GIS has become a key technological means to achieve unified data management and efficient services.

3.2. Specific Application of GIS Technology in Various Aspects in the Case Study

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play an important role in multiple key areas of the Nanjing Municipal Government's construction of a smart city. The following are the specific applications of GIS in urban construction management, emergency linkage command services, street governance, and historical and cultural protection.

3.2.1. Optimization of Urban Construction Management

GIS provides customized map services for the Nanjing Urban Construction Smart Management Platform, enabling graphical display of construction site projects and vehicle trajectories, thereby improving the visualization level of construction site management. Geographic information systems integrate static project information with dynamic vehicle trajectories, enhancing the intuitive and efficient management of smart construction sites. The secondary development interface provided by GIS enables users to query construction site information based on time and company conditions, promoting the informatization and refinement of management [5].For example, when GIS detects sinking manhole covers or abnormal road surfaces, which may cause obstacles to vehicle traffic, the system will immediately issue an alarm to management personnel. Management personnel can respond quickly and take necessary measures, such as repairing or replacing damaged manhole covers, to ensure the smoothness and safety of the road, thereby maintaining smooth traffic and avoiding traffic congestion. This efficient information feedback and processing mechanism is an indispensable part of smart city management [6].

3.2.2. Enhancing Emergency Linkage Command Services

GIS provides key spatiotemporal information for the Nanjing Emergency Linkage Command and Urban Comprehensive Management Platform, allowing monitoring videos, water accumulation points, and other information to be displayed on the same map interface. Geographic information systems meet the application needs of government maps in multiple departments, and significantly improve the response speed and processing capacity of emergency response by accurately locating the incident location and disposal resources [5]. When inspecting power transmission lines and railway track lines, an innovative method can be adopted: using cameras carried by drones at low altitudes for shooting. This method not only efficiently collects detailed information about the line, but also is extremely effective in timely discovering potential safety hazards. Once the drone captures abnormal situations during the inspection process, such as broken transmission lines or damaged railway tracks, this information can be quickly transmitted back to the control center.Subsequently, relevant departments can take immediate action to carry out necessary maintenance or reinforcement work, effectively preventing accidents and ensuring the safe operation of power transmission and railway systems [6,7].

3.2.3. Intelligence of Street Governance

GIS technology supports the construction of street collaborative governance platforms, achieving the integration of geographic entity services with data on party building, social governance, and livelihood services. By introducing big data and intelligent technology, community governance has been promoted to collaborate at multiple levels, improving the refinement of street community governance while also enhancing efficiency [5].

3.2.4. Digital Protection of Historical and Cultural Resources

The spatial expression and management capabilities of GIS enable effective digital recording and display of historical and cultural resources such as traditional villages and historical buildings in Nanjing.Geographic information systems utilize technologies such as QR codes to support the dissemination and sharing of historical and cultural information, strengthening the promotion and protection of historical and cultural resources in Nanjing [5].

Overall, the application of GIS in the construction of Nanjing's smart city not only enhances the efficiency and accuracy of data management, but also improves decision support and public service levels by providing intuitive geographic information services, providing a solid technical foundation for intelligent management and services of the city.

3.2.5. The Construction of a Comprehensive Tourism Information System

GIS technology provides personalized and flexible tourism planning experiences for tourists through its spatial positioning function. Unlike traditional fixed routes, GIS enables tourists to easily plan routes according to their needs and provide real-time traffic information, helping them quickly locate and find transportation tools. The 3D preview function of GIS also allows tourists to intuitively understand the physical characteristics and cultural style of the destination before departure, thus making wiser travel choices. The application of this technology not only improves the experience of tourists, but also promotes innovation and sustainable development in the tourism industry, injecting new vitality into the industry [8].

3.3. Successful Experience of GIS Application in the Construction of Nanjing Smart City

Firstly, policy and planning guidance, the Nanjing Municipal Government has established the key role of GIS in the construction of smart cities through clear policy documents, such as the "13th Five Year Plan for the Development of Smart Nanjing", providing policy support and a clear planning path for the implementation of GIS.

Secondly, data centralization and integration, by creating a unified spatiotemporal data center, integrated management and upgrading of geographic information data have been achieved, ensuring the comprehensiveness, accuracy, and efficient utilization of data.

Thirdly, technological integration and innovation, the combination of GIS with modern technologies such as central control technology and big data has promoted innovation in geographic information services, improved the universality and adaptability of services, and promoted unified management of services on different GIS platforms.

Fourthly, online services and public participation, developing online web GIS applications enhances the convenience and accessibility of services, and ensures that GIS applications meet the needs of citizens by strengthening public participation.

Fifth, multi domain fusion applications, GIS has been effectively applied in various fields such as urban construction management, emergency command, street governance, and historical and cultural protection, improving the efficiency and quality of urban management.

Sixth, continuous technological iteration and support, through continuous technical support and platform updating, ensure that GIS technology is synchronized with the development needs of smart cities, and maintain its progressiveness.

Seventh, collaboration and data sharing mechanism, promoting cross departmental collaboration and data sharing has improved decision support and public service levels, fully leveraging the overall benefits of GIS in urban management [5].

The application practice of GIS in Nanjing has demonstrated how to make GIS an important tool for improving urban management efficiency, optimizing decision support, enhancing public services, and promoting sustainable development through top-level design, technological innovation, cross domain application, and continuous updating. These experiences provide valuable reference and inspiration for the application of GIS in smart city construction in other cities.

4. Conclusion

Through this study, this paper delved into the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in smart city construction, clarifying the important role that GIS plays in improving efficiency, optimizing decision support, enhancing public services, and promoting sustainable development in urban management. The integration and analysis of urban geographic information through GIS technology provides strong data and decision support for core areas such as urban planning, environmental protection, and traffic management. The research results of this article indicate that GIS not only optimizes the spatial layout of urban infrastructure, but also improves the city's response ability to emergencies through real-time monitoring and dynamic simulation, while promoting the rational allocation and efficient utilization of urban resources.

In summary, GIS technology has become the technological cornerstone of smart city construction, and the precise geographic information services it provides greatly enhance the scientific and forward-looking nature of urban management. The successful application of GIS has brought a new path of intelligence and refinement to urban management, not only effectively improving the quality of life of residents, but also laying a solid technical foundation for the long-term sustainable development of cities.

The main contribution of this study is to comprehensively examine the application of GIS in smart city construction and propose innovative GIS based urban planning and management strategies. This provides theoretical support and new research perspectives for urban planners, policy makers, and researchers in related fields. At the same time, this study also provides practical guidance and reference for the application of GIS in the construction of smart cities in other cities, which helps to promote more cities to transform towards intelligence.

Looking ahead to the future, the application prospects of GIS in smart city construction are broad, but there is also room for further exploration. The current research still needs to be deepened in terms of the deep application of GIS technology and its integration with other information technologies. Future research should place greater emphasis on the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as GIS, artificial intelligence, and big data analysis to achieve more intelligent urban services and management. At the same time, the application of GIS technology in data security, personal privacy protection, and other aspects should also receive attention to ensure the healthy promotion of smart city construction. In addition, interdisciplinary team collaboration, policy and technological innovation, and management collaboration are also important directions for future GIS technology research.