University of Isfahan Urban Economics 2588-4867 10 2 2025 09 23 Meta-Methodological Analysis of Land-Use Planning and Economic Sustainability: Innovative Approaches for Urban Optimization Meta-Methodological Analysis of Land-Use Planning and Economic Sustainability: Innovative Approaches for Urban Optimization 67 78 29980 10.22108/ue.2025.145645.1323 FA Seyede Elahe Rezvanian Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Azad University, Mashhad, Iran Toktam Hanaee Department of Urban Planning, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran Journal Article 2025 06 15 This study conducts a meta-methodological analysis of land-use planning and economic sustainability to examine novel approaches to urban optimization. Given the rapid pace of urbanization and the consequences of suboptimal land allocation, the need for systematic methods in land-use planning has become increasingly pressing. Designed as an applied–developmental investigation, the research adopts a meta-methodological approach. The sampling frame comprises all articles indexed in the Web of Science from 2015 to 2024. Initially, 94,338 records were identified; after thematic screening, this number was reduced to 7,718. Using VOSviewer, the corpus was further narrowed to 534 articles, and finally, 28 studies were selected based on scientific criteria. Data were collected through systematic content analysis and coded in MAXQDA. Analytical tools included network analysis, qualitative and quantitative coding, and descriptive statistical models. Validity was ensured through peer review, and the reliability of categorization was confirmed using Cohen’s kappa (κ > 0.70). Findings indicate that the influential variables cluster into six core categories: (1) land-use planning, (2) land-use optimization, (3) access and transport networks, (4) economic factors, (5) social factors, and (6) environmental factors. Among these, land use, economic development, ecosystem-services value, environmental protection, and population density play the most prominent roles in advancing urban economic sustainability. By proposing a systematic framework, the study provides a foundation for developing more effective models for urban resource management and enhancing economic sustainability. This study conducts a meta-methodological analysis of land-use planning and economic sustainability to examine novel approaches to urban optimization. Given the rapid pace of urbanization and the consequences of suboptimal land allocation, the need for systematic methods in land-use planning has become increasingly pressing. Designed as an applied–developmental investigation, the research adopts a meta-methodological approach. The sampling frame comprises all articles indexed in the Web of Science from 2015 to 2024. Initially, 94,338 records were identified; after thematic screening, this number was reduced to 7,718. Using VOSviewer, the corpus was further narrowed to 534 articles, and finally, 28 studies were selected based on scientific criteria. Data were collected through systematic content analysis and coded in MAXQDA. Analytical tools included network analysis, qualitative and quantitative coding, and descriptive statistical models. Validity was ensured through peer review, and the reliability of categorization was confirmed using Cohen’s kappa (κ > 0.70). Findings indicate that the influential variables cluster into six core categories: (1) land-use planning, (2) land-use optimization, (3) access and transport networks, (4) economic factors, (5) social factors, and (6) environmental factors. Among these, land use, economic development, ecosystem-services value, environmental protection, and population density play the most prominent roles in advancing urban economic sustainability. By proposing a systematic framework, the study provides a foundation for developing more effective models for urban resource management and enhancing economic sustainability. https://ue.ui.ac.ir/article_29980_4cede4393bbb790f6afa42aef6ef1d1d.pdf