How can smart city shape a happier life? The mechanism for developing a Happiness Driven Smart City

Abstract

• Little attention has been given to investigate whether and how Smart City acts upon human happiness. • HDSC mechanism is introduced to guide Smart City towards a more human-centered direction. • HDSC mechanism composes a three-layer structure and is underpinned by a set of Strategic measures. • Greater Manchester's Smart City initiatives are investigated by applying HDSC mechanism. • A first attempt to assess the performance of Smart City development from the lens of human happiness. Smart City conception has become a global trend with the advancement of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs). Many cities have proposed Smart City development strategies to capture the opportunities brought by ICTs. However, little attention has been given to investigate whether and how Smart City acts upon human happiness. To fill this gap, this study introduces a Happiness Driven Smart City (HDSC) mechanism to better guide the development of Smart City towards a more human-centered direction. HDSC mechanism includes a three-layer interrelated structure and is underpinned by a set of Strategic Measures. The assessment criteria have also been established for applying HDSC mechanism to investigate the performance of Smart City initiatives. The HDSC mechanism established in this study is a first attempt to assess the performance of Smart City development from the lens of human happiness. By applying HDSC mechanism in investigating Manchester's Smart City initiatives, the mechanism is proven effective to help decision makers understand the status quo of Smart City development in their urban context, based upon which the strength and weakness in the process of HDSC development can be drawn out. Consequently, Smart City blueprint can be better achieved towards a happiness-driven direction via dynamic assessment and adjustment.