Cost Estimation Approaches in Urban Regeneration: A Systematic Review

Urban regeneration has become a primary strategy for addressing the spatial, social, environmental, and economic challenges associated with rapid urbanization. By using the PRISMA framework, this paper provides a systematic review of urban regeneration, focusing on its objectives, indicator systems, and estimation approaches. Journal articles published between 2008 and 2025 were retrieved from Web of Science, and 50 studies were retained after screening. The findings indicate that regeneration has increasingly highlighted long-term economic efficiency and environmental performance, along with growing attention to social equity, urban safety, and resilience. Life cycle costs are recognized as a core framework for capturing long-term financial and environmental performance. In terms of methodological evolution, a progression from conventional estimation techniques toward machine learning and hybrid approaches is observed. Several challenges remain, including the absence of standardized data frameworks and limited cross-regional transferability of existing models. To advance the field, future research could prioritize the establishment of common data standards, the adoption of explainable machine learning for improved model transparency, and the validation of models across diverse geographical and project settings.