Abstract
Many countries are contemplating a smart sustainable approach to the next generation of cities. However, there are many obstacles to achieve this objective, such as planning and implementing sustainable dimensions. The aim of this study is to (1) investigate the level of importance of the different sustainable dimensions in Riyadh and (2) distinguish the effect of two proposed solutions on dimensions for a smart approach to rank the proposed solutions based on their level of impact in Riyadh. In this study, the sustainability dimensions are six main measurable criteria that include Smart Economy, Smart Mobility, Smart Environment, Smart People, Smart Governance, and Smart Living. The research also utilized a multi-step methodology that involved an expert-based survey and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (F-AHP) to assess the performance indices of components for a smart method in Riyadh and evaluate the proposed solutions, namely, the construction of a metro network to link all of Riyadh to align with the government objective for 2030, and encouraging the construction of smart buildings through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The results show that Smart People, Smart Mobility, and Smart Living were the three most important sustainable indices for Riyadh. Furthermore, the results of the proposed construction projects illustrate that both projects had the same impact on five of the six sustainable indices, but that the metro project had a significantly higher impact on one of the indices. The study is also envisaged to aid decision-makers in prioritizing the upcoming public construction projects. Finally, this is the first study of its kind to address ranking real public construction projects in terms of sustainable development.
Highlights
Most cities around the world have, in this era when energy is needed for every aspect of daily life, increasing energy demands to meet the needs of their population.a significant amount of energy is being consumed and a great deal of greenhouse gas emissions is being produced
The results show that Smart People, Smart Mobility, and Smart Living were the three most important sustainable indices for Riyadh
This paper illustrates the performance of Riyadh on the “Smart City Index,” as described in (George Cristian, L.; Roscia,2012), utilizing as indicators the six main keys of a smart city, which are Smart Economy (C1 ), Smart Mobility (C2 ), Smart Environment (C3 ), Smart People (C4 ), Smart Governance (C5 ), and Smart Living (C6 )
Summary
A significant amount of energy is being consumed and a great deal of greenhouse gas emissions is being produced. It is estimated that cities demand more than 75% of the world’s energy production and generate more than 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions [1]. The importance of urban areas as a global phenomenon is confirmed by the proliferation of megacities with more than 20 million inhabitants throughout Asia, Latin America, and Africa [2]. These cities consume a vast majority of resources, which contributes to their economic importance, and negatively affects their environmental performance. The “smart cities” concept has frequently been used in the past two decades to illustrate the manner in which these enormous cities can reduce the negative environmental impacts that they produce through innovative means
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