Out of Touch Smart City

One indicator of a successful Smart City is its ability to adapt the vision and strategies to local context. Yet, through the study of 15 cities globally, many Smart City visions and strategies poorly accommodate the local needs. Failing to incorporate the unique physical characteristics, demography, and culture of a local area in the Smart City implementation, a municipality risk themselves in loosing the comparative advantages with other cities. Resorting to a one-size-fit-all solution is a great way to cities that compromise the quality of life of its citizens. Without locally adapted strategies, the smart infrastructure and service may not provide the needed solutions to the people’s issues and problems in their local area. Hence, public participation in the planning and implementation process is crucial to avoid being Smart City that is out of touch with its people, disconnecting the people and its place. Place specific approach in Smart City implementation empowers and opens opportunities for citizens to improve their quality of life. 

Reference:

Margarita Angelidou (2017): The Role of Smart City Characteristics in the Plans of Fifteen Cities, Journal of Urban Technology, DOI: 10.1080/10630732.2017.1348880

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