Comparing Smart and Digital City: Initiatives and Strategies in Amsterdam and Genoa. Are They Digital and/or Smart?

Abstract

The objective of this research is to investigate the relations between Smart city and Digital city concepts and strategies. The author examines the international literature about these topics, comparing smart city and digital city definitions, components and goals. This survey shows that a clear definition of both smart city and digital city still lacks and that these two topics are often overlapped or confused. The same thing happens in empirical implementation of smart and/or digital strategies in cities. The research methodology includes the study and comparison of two important empirical implementations of Smart/Digital strategies in Europe: Amsterdam and Genoa. The results show that smart city and digital city are not the same, even if they are strictly linked each other and sometimes merged in common initiatives. Moreover, this empirical research highlights the key role of players, programs and governance in realizing smart/digital cities really effective for a best quality of life in the urban space.