Implementation of Smart City Concept for Sustainable Development in Semarang Old Town Area

Abstract

The Old Town Area of Semarang has become a ’Pilot Project’ for developing the smart city concept in Semarang. On the other hand, this area is a cultural heritage area, so the implementation of the smart city concept should be able to support the preservation of buildings and the history of the area. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the implementation of smart cities, considering that activities in the Old Town Area have decreased drastically. This study aims to identify the application of the smart city concept in the Old Town Area of Semarang. The study conducted was in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic was still occurring in the community.The study’s initial stage was compiling the dimensions and indicators of smart cities as study variables and exploring smart city regulations in Semarang. In the second stage, to obtain information on the implementation of a smart city in the Old Town Area of Semarang, we conducted interviews with stakeholders from the government, cultural heritage activists, and communities related to the Old Town Area, and building occupants. As a result, we collected information regarding the implementation of smart city before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. The content analysis processed the result of the interview. Meanwhile, we used descriptive analysis techniques to study the dimensions and indicators and smart city regulations in Semarang. From the study results, the implementation of smart city in the Old Town of Semarang was organized into categories: appropriate, still not suitable and not suitable. The dimension of smart city that has appropriate is Smart Living. The dimensions that are still not suitable are Smart Governance, Smart Environment, Smart Economy and Smart Mobility. Meanwhile, the dimension that has not suitable is Smart People. Based on the six dimensions of smart city, there are 25 indicators, and the study results state that only 18 indicators are appropriate.