City Initiatives Research Articles

Smart cities, smarter values: Unpacking the ecosystem of urban innovation

The beginning of this millennium has become the golden age of smart city initiatives, as local governments strive to exploit novel technologies to improve public services and the quality of life of their inhabitants. However, it is not enough to focus only on the technologies; we need to understand how value is identified, and how different parties approach that value on an ecosystem level. In this qualitative case study, two Finnish smart cities were examined by employing an ecosystem value balance framework to identify how the value proposition is created and what types of value can be captured during the early phases of the ecosystem. The results show that at the very beginning of the life cycle, monetary, epistemic, and social investments are required. The earliest values captured are epistemic, social, and functional. Prominent financial value is seen as a potential value, but to achieve it, the ecosystem should have a common purpose, successful external communication, low entry barriers, seamless internal information sharing, and plenty of co-operation between the ecosystem actors.

How does the marketization of public resources alleviate corporate credit mismatches?

Market-oriented allocation of public resources is crucial for supporting the high-quality development strategy of Chinese-style modernization. This paper examines how the market-oriented allocation of public resources affects the credit mismatches of enterprises in different cities by focusing on establishing public resource trading centers in China. The analysis is based on listed firms from 2010 to 2022. A multi-period difference-in-difference model is employed to explore the effects and underlying mechanisms. The findings indicate that marketization of public resources can effectively alleviate corporate credit mismatch, and the impact is achieved by mitigating corporate financing constraints and information asymmetry.

Pothole detection in bituminous road using convolutional neural network with transfer learning

<p>The challenges of road maintenance, particularly in detecting potholes and cracks, and the proposed method using transfer learning and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are significant advancements in this domain. Transfer learning is particularly beneficial, as it allows leverage pre-trained models to enhance the performance of the pothole detection system. CNNs, with their ability to capture spatial hierarchies in data, are well-suited for image-based tasks like pothole detection. The potential applications of the suggested method for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) services, such as alerting drivers about real-time potholes, demonstrate we research’s practical implications. This contributes to road safety and aligns with the broader goals of innovative city initiatives and infrastructure management. Achieving a 96% accuracy rate is a significant result, indicating the robustness of the proposed approach. Using this information to assess initial maintenance needs in a road management system is forward-thinking. Overall, we work is a valuable contribution to intelligent transportation and infrastructure management, showcasing the potential of advanced machine-learning techniques for addressing critical issues in road maintenance.</p>

The Child Friendly Cities Initiative-Minneapolis Model.

The Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) is a UNICEF framework based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). CFCI was launched globally in 1996 to protect children's rights throughout the world. There are child friendly cities in over 44 countries around the globe, but none presently in the United States. The purpose was to establish a Child Friendly City in the United States. Child friendly cities are a child-rights and equity-based approach designed to ensure all children in a community reach their full potential for optimal health, development, and well-being. The paper discusses the development of the guiding principles of the CFCI-Minneapolis Model as well as a community needs assessment. The assessment consisted of a digital survey of 60 questions on the SurveyMonkey platform. The sample included 173 Minneapolis youth 10-18 years of age and 85 parents with children less than five years of age. The participants were drawn from four of the 83 Minneapolis neighborhoods that had the highest concentration of children and youth, communities of color, and immigrant families that have historically been under resourced. The results of the community assessment guided the development of four programmatic initiatives. These included child rights learning & awareness, emergency preparedness & planning, community safety, and youth participation in decision making. The paper concludes with the lesson learned to date in the implementation of the CFCI-Minneapolis Model. These include partnership, dedication, leadership, community engagement, coalition building, and celebrating success. CFCI-Minneapolis received full designation from UNICEF USA as a child friendly city in February 2024.

Initiating, innovating and accelerating edible cities. A case study based on two transition experiments in the city of Dresden (Germany)

Civic transition experiments targeting sustainable food production increasingly engage with edible cities aiming at providing free food on public urban spaces. To deepen the understanding regarding how transition experiments can build urban transformative capacities, this paper presents a transdisciplinary case study on two civic edible city initiatives and their measures to cooperatively initiate, innovate, and accelerate edible cities in Dresden (Germany). We identified the two key action areas “civic participation” and “cooperative area activation” covering ten key transition activities to illustrate the variety and content of a transformation towards an edible city. Based on expert interviews and document analyses, we evaluated their process progression by linking research from urban ecology with transformation science. By visualizing its quantitative results, common and distinct patterns of the edible city initiatives could be made visible. Overall, we found that the level of activity is highest in the key action area of “citizen participation”. In this context, both transition experiments had different but specific foci in terms of their key transition activities (i.e. education, activation of stakeholders), whereby activities related to civic empowerment and social cohesion were lacking in both cases. To re-shape narratives pertaining to land access, food production, and participation under the principles of justice, we suggest that transition experiments related to “civic participation” and “cooperative area activation” must be approached together. Our systematic assessment can then enable civic transition teams to strategically identify common goals that need to be prioritized for initiating, innovating, and accelerating urban edible commons.

Assessing the impact of urban planning policies on renewable energy: A case a China using the DID estimation model

The ongoing pace of urbanization poses a substantial obstacle to the concurrent progress of both financial and ecological development. Recognizing this challenge, governments globally are formulating cutting-edge strategies for urban renewal to ensure the long-term sustainability of cities. In this context, we employ a difference-in-differences model to scrutinize the intricate relationship between smart cities and the growth of renewable energy, utilizing the Chinese smart city pilot program as a pertinent experiment. This analytical approach provides novel insights into the underlying reasons behind this correlation. The research yields three noteworthy findings. Firstly, it underscores the indispensable role of pilot initiatives in smart cities for advancing the cause of renewable energy. Secondly, the study reveals a positive and beneficial interplay between creativity, economic inclusion, and the utilization of technological innovation in experimental urban programs, suggesting a potential multiplier effect. Thirdly, the local context significantly influences the impact of smart city pilots, with the dissemination of renewable energy being particularly effective in resource-rich, metropolitan, and coastal cities. Observable impacts of current smart city experiment on energy security and sustainable development are already apparent. The research findings contribute fresh perspectives to the complex challenges of sustainable energy production and urban planning, especially in developing countries like China.

Exploring the Contribution of Advanced Systems in Smart City Development for the Regeneration of Urban Industrial Heritage

This article shows the potential of smart city development in revitalizing urban industrial heritage and traditional industrial blocks. It highlights the challenges faced by these areas, such as aging infrastructure, pollution, and neglect. Smart city technologies are examined as effective solutions for addressing these challenges by promoting efficient resource utilization, improving mobility and connectivity, and enhancing the quality of the built environment. International examples of smart city initiatives implemented in industrial heritage sites and traditional industrial blocks are presented to demonstrate the potential benefits of these technologies. This article emphasizes the importance of inclusivity, sustainability, and community engagement in the revitalization process. It argues that smart city development should prioritize the needs and aspirations of local communities, leveraging their knowledge and expertise for long-term success and sustainability. This article underscores the significance of adopting a comprehensive and integrated approach to urban revitalization that considers social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability. It suggests that smart city development can act as a catalyst for transforming urban industrial areas into thriving and resilient landscapes capable of addressing the challenges of the 21st century. This article aims to explore the potential of smart city development in revitalizing urban industrial heritage and traditional industrial blocks while advocating for equitable outcomes and sustainable urban environments.

Fostering Smart Citizens: The Role of Public Libraries in Smart City Development

With rapid urbanization, cities worldwide have sought innovative, sustainable solutions such as smart city initiatives to leverage technology and data to better manage this growth and the challenges it brings. Developing smart cities requires multi-stakeholder collaboration, including citizens who, as smart citizens, are aware and capable of using technologies to improve their quality of life and actively and equally contribute to making their cities smarter. This study examines how smart citizens are developed by focusing on the underexplored role of public libraries as community organizations in such efforts. To this end, we use comparative case studies of four U.S. public libraries informed by thirty-seven in-depth interviews with representatives from these libraries, local governments, and external partners. Our findings indicate that by providing inclusive access to advanced technology and training, facilitating civic engagement, and promoting innovation, public libraries can develop citizens who, as smart citizens, have the digital skills, agency, and creativity to actively contribute to smart city development. In doing so, public libraries can bridge digital and social divides and thereby develop smart citizens in a way that furthers inclusive and representative participation of their communities in smart city initiatives.

Các yếu tố tác động đến hiệu quả xanh của các doanh nghiệp tại Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

With the trend of sustainable development in business and the awareness of environmental protection of customers, businesses are forced to apply environmentally friendly business models. The study examines the impact of adaptive culture and green innovation on green performance through employee commitment. The study adopted the Structural Equation Model (SEM) to test the fit of the model and the research hypotheses with the analytical data collected from 198 employees of enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City. The results showed that there is a positive impact of adaptive culture on green innovation. Besides, the research also proved that green innovation has a positive impact on green performance. In addition, the study also discovered the mediating role of employee commitment in the relationship between green innovation and green performance. Based on the findings, some implications are proposed to help managers to enhance adaptive culture, green innovation and employee commitment, thereby improving green performance.

Transformation and learning of the non-equidimensional hesitant fuzzy information based on an extended generative adversarial network

In the subjective evaluation process, the hesitant fuzzy set (HFS), as a convenient and robust presentation tool, cannot only suitably address the decision makers’ (DMs’) or experts’ hesitant and uncertain issues but also can arise the dimension curse puzzle. Furthermore, the decision-making result is just derived according to the given objective and subjective information, without considering the DM’s subjective evaluation and the environment’s dynamic influence. Unlike the previous studies, this paper tries to address them from the deep learning viewpoint. To this end, we first define the non-equidimensional HFS (NHFS) and then introduce the equidimensional and classification characters into the NHFS to further develop the equidimensional HFS (EHFS) and the EHFS with the optimal classification result. Then, the equidimensional hesitant fuzzy-generative adversarial network (EHF-GAN) model is proposed to transform the hesitant fuzzy information from the non-equidimensional to the equidimensional form. The generalization and the convergence of the new model are proven to show the models’ reasonability. In addition, the double-learning algorithm of the EHF-GAN model is designed, which can fuse the DMs’ dynamic judgments and derive the optimal decision-making results. Lastly, this paper applies the proposed model and algorithm to an illustrative example of the new smart city enterprises and then shows their feasibility and effectiveness.

"Smart City Initiatives and Urban Governance in India: Evaluating Technological Interventions for Sustainable Development."

"Smart City Initiatives and Urban Governance in India: Evaluating Technological Interventions for Sustainable Development."

Smart cities at the intersection of public governance paradigms for sustainability

As a research domain, the smart city keeps growing, despite the remaining contradictions and ambiguity related to its conceptual aspects. We propose to dig deeper into the complex socio-technical nature of the smart city and examine the concept through the lens of different public governance paradigms, therefore aligning it with the sustainability outcomes. Embracing interrelated dimensions of humans, technologies and organisations, the smart city can be viewed through the intersection of public governance paradigms (digital governance, collaborative governance and networks). The case of the smart city initiative of Tampere in Finland serves as an empirical illustration of how the proposed conceptual model might be applied in practice. Providing a novel approach to the smart city from a public management perspective, this model would allow policymakers to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of smart city governance and its multi-dimensional outcomes, in terms of social, environmental and economic sustainability. This approach enables the unlocking of the potential to generate multiple values for each group of actors and ensure more effective integration of smart initiatives, policies and projects, based on the public governance paradigms.

Open innovation in a smart city context: the case of Sejong smart city initiative

Open innovation in a smart city context: the case of Sejong smart city initiative

CYBERSECURITY CHALLENGES IN SMART CITIES: A CASE REVIEW OF AFRICAN METROPOLISES

The rapid urbanization and digital transformation of cities across Africa have given rise to the concept of Smart Cities, where advanced technologies are integrated to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and the overall quality of urban life. However, this paradigm shift towards interconnected and technology-driven urban environments brings forth a host of cybersecurity challenges that demand careful consideration. This paper explores the cybersecurity challenges in Smart Cities, focusing on a case review of African metropolises. African cities, emblematic of the global urbanization trend, are embracing Smart City initiatives to address urban challenges and foster economic development. While these initiatives promise improved services and enhanced connectivity, they concurrently expose cities to a myriad of cybersecurity threats. The interconnectedness of devices and systems in Smart Cities creates a vast attack surface, making them susceptible to cyber-attacks ranging from data breaches to infrastructure disruptions. This case review delves into specific instances of cybersecurity challenges faced by African metropolises in their quest for technological advancement. It analyzes the vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, such as energy grids, transportation systems, and healthcare networks, highlighting the potential risks associated with inadequate cybersecurity measures. Moreover, the paper sheds light on the socio-economic implications of cyber threats in Smart Cities, emphasizing the importance of resilient cybersecurity frameworks in safeguarding citizen data and urban functionality. In conclusion, the paper underscores the urgent need for comprehensive cybersecurity strategies tailored to the unique challenges faced by Smart Cities in Africa. The findings aim to contribute to a better understanding of the intricate relationship between urbanization, technology, and cybersecurity, offering insights that can inform policy decisions, technological implementations, and collaborative efforts to build secure and resilient Smart Cities in the African context.
 Keywords: Cybersecurity, Smart Cities, Africa, Metropolis, Review.

Transforming KSA's local workforce into global talent: An Industry 4.0 and 5.0 initiative leading to vision 2030

This study examines the opinions of 18 experts from various sectors, including managers, executives, and academics across Saudi Arabia. The researchers first organized the interview data into themes and sub-themes and then applied text analysis and text mining to derive findings and conclusions. Using an inductive approach, they explored qualitative data categorized into themes using NVivo 14 software. The research identifies challenges, benefits, and risks associated with workforce development for entrepreneurs and industry practitioners in Saudi Arabia. It emphasizes the advantages of machine-to-machine (M2M) and human-machine interaction (HMI) for enhancing productivity according to industry standards. Additionally, the study discusses technology innovation, government policy development, business model creation, and job generation through smart technology cooperation. It outlines necessary training and skills for managing local talent within the technology framework of the industry. The study also highlights efforts by entrepreneurs and industry professionals to elevate the local Saudi workforce to a global standard and the associated risks of job polarization and income disparity. The findings offer solutions for sectors like manufacturing, energy, environment, healthcare, education, and smart city initiatives, aiming for security, cost reduction, and enhanced production with real-time outcomes aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The implications of the study provide recommendations for corporate managers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and the government to transform the local workforce into global talent in step with technological progress and industry standards for machine and human collaboration in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

Smart cities and economic development: synergies among technology, social forces and female entrepreneurship

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the synergies between the economic environment and the smart living dimension embedded in the current smart city initiatives, focusing on the localization of female entrepreneurship in contemporary cities. This interaction is under-investigated and controversial as it includes cities' practices enabling users and citizens to develop their potential and build their own lives, affecting entrepreneurial and economic outcomes. Building upon the perspective of the innovation ecosystems, this study focuses on the impact of smart living dimensions and R&D investments on the localization of female entrepreneurial activities.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) and a panel dataset that considers 30 Italian smart city projects for 12 years to demonstrate the relationship between smart living practices in cities and the localization of female entrepreneurship. The complementary effect of public R&D investment is also included as a driver in the “smart” city transition.FindingsThe study found that the advancement of smart living practices in cities drives the localization of female entrepreneurship. The study highlights the empirical results, the interaction over the years and a current overview through choropleth maps. The public R&D investment also affects this relationship.Practical implicationsThis study advances the theoretical discussion on (1) female entrepreneurial intentions, (2) smart city advancement (as a context) and (3) smart living dimension (as a driver) and offers valuable insight for governance and policymakers.Social implicationsThis study offers empirical contributions to the preliminary academic debate on enterprise development and smart city trajectories at the intersection between human-based practices and female entrepreneurship.Originality/valueThis study offers empirical contributions to the preliminary academic debate on enterprise development and smart city trajectories at the intersection between human-based practices and female entrepreneurship. The findings provide valuable insights into the localization of female entrepreneurship in the context of smart cities.

Technological innovations in mitigating winter health challenges in New York City, USA

This review paper examines the role of technological innovations in mitigating winter health challenges in New York City (NYC). The primary objective is to analyze how emerging technologies are integrated into public health strategies to address the unique health risks posed by the winter season in one of the world's most populous urban environments. The methodology involves a comprehensive literature review focusing on recent advancements in technology within the context of public health and urban planning. Key sources include peer-reviewed articles, case studies, and reports on smart city initiatives, climate change impacts, and the implementation of health technologies in NYC. Key findings reveal that the integration of smart city technologies, such as advanced data analytics, IoT devices, and AI-driven solutions, has significantly improved healthcare delivery and emergency response during winter. However, challenges in implementation, particularly in under-resourced settings, highlight the need for tailored, context-driven technological solutions. The impact of climate change on winter health dynamics underscores the importance of innovative urban planning and public health strategies. The potential of emerging technologies, including nanotechnology for air purification and spatial analysis of health data, offers promising avenues for improving public health in urban settings during winter. The review suggests that technological innovations play a crucial role in enhancing the capacity of NYC to manage winter health risks. It recommends increased investment in smart city technologies, support for under-resourced healthcare settings, and the development of climate change adaptation strategies. The evolution of healthcare in winter contexts is increasingly being shaped by these technological advancements, paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable approach to public health in urban environments.

Paving the Way for Climate Resilience through Sustainable Urbanization: A Comparative Study

This study explores the crucial role of sustainable urbanization in addressing the climate crisis and fostering socio-economic development. Rapid urban population growth presents cities with unprecedented challenges, including ecological degradation, public health issues, and escalating greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable urbanization emerges as a pivotal strategy to tackle these challenges by advocating for environmentally responsible practices, enhancing urban resilience, and fostering inclusive economic growth. The article conducts a comparative analysis of sustainable urbanization initiatives in diverse cities, with a focus on their approaches to reducing carbon footprints, enhancing disaster resilience, and improving overall quality of life. Examining case studies from Copenhagen, Curitiba, Singapore, Stockholm, and Melbourne, the research highlights innovative strategies in sustainable transport, renewable energy adoption, waste management, and green space integration. These cities serve as exemplars, showcasing successful solutions such as efficient public transportation systems, robust waste recycling programs, promotion of renewable energy, and prioritization of green spaces. The overarching message of this research underscores the critical need for coordinated, cross-sectoral efforts to unlock the full potential of sustainable urbanization. A holistic approach that integrates environmental, social, and economic dimensions is essential for creating urban environments that are resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. This comprehensive strategy not only addresses the climate crisis but also contributes significantly to achieving global sustainability goals.

Impacts of internal control on the quality of risk control at construction enterprises in Ho Chi Minh city

Risks are found everywhere and every time, therefore, developed countries in the world have conducted researches on risks and risk control. However, till 2004, theory about internal control (IC) related to risk management (COSO 2004 - Committee of Sponsoring Organizations 2004) was officially enforced and there are eight components establishing internal control system accordingly. Construction sector in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) in recent years has been facing many risks, making several enterprises suffer huge losses and go bankrupt. Thus, conducting researches and applying the theory of COSO 2004 into building IC system at enterprises to see whether it has eight components or not and how it impacts on risk control quality (RC) are big questions needed to be clarified, thereby proposing recommendations affecting each part of IC properly to improve the quality of RC at construction enterprises next time.

The Emergence of Artificial Intelligence in Anticipatory Urban Governance: Multi-Scalar Evidence of China’s Transition to City Brains

ABSTRACT While smart city initiatives have characterized global urbanization from the 1990s to the 2020s, nowadays a novel artificial intelligence (AI) enabled approach to urban governance is rapidly emerging, thereby shaping the governance and planning of present and future cities. This urban phenomenon can be understood theoretically through the notion of anticipatory governance, and empirically through so-called City Brain systems. This is particularly evident in China where a wide range of urban AI solutions are being experimented at different scales which this paper seeks to illustrate. First, by building a database of AI-urban policy texts associated with Chinese cities, we capture and discuss the national network of discourses surrounding urban AI. Second, we draw on empirical research conducted in Beijing to examine an existing city brain project and explain its impact on urban governance. Our study reveals the multi-scalar policy landscape of urban AI transitions in China and sheds light on the extent to which emerging AI technologies such as city brains can proactively address urban problems, thus developing an understanding of anticipatory governance in the age of urban AI. We conclude the paper by reflecting on the complex corporate-state relations embedded in the co-production of city brains, their diffusion and impact beyond China.