Smart Collaboration to Address the “Economies of Scale” Concern in Smaller Smart City

Fiscal constraint that smaller cities usually face in the adoption of Smart City is the inadequate scale given their size and reduced purchasing power. Case studies of small and rural municipalities in Canada show a way to address this challenge through municipal collaboration. Provincial and federal governments in Canada are frequently reluctant to support small smart city initiatives from smaller towns or communities, thus rural and remote communities in Canada form a cooperation that involves multiple municipalities to overcome this challenge. This collaborative approach successfully appeals potential investors and federal government support in funding the smart city project that the municipalities proposed. 

The pursuit of smart development collectively not only addresses the financial issue by cost-sharing for the required capital investment but also encourages better equity in the areas’ development. In the smaller and rural areas where tight-knit sense of community are still strong, collaborative government and public engagement may be easier to execute. The close connection between the city leaders and the community allows for real-time feedback, which results in local-specific smart solutions for the residents. Adoption of Smart development may initially be a very disruptive process to day-to-day life, thus public engagement is also crucial in addressing the potential of resistance from residents. Ultimately, the adoption of Smart City Development is about creating a new relation between technology and society that elevates the quality of life of the residents, not just about the installation of hard technological infrastructure to the area.

Reference

Spicer, Z., Goodman, N., & Olmstead, N. (2021). The frontier of digital opportunity: Smart city implementation in small, rural and remote communities in Canada. Urban studies, 58(3), 535-558.