City Concept Research Articles

Communicating The Smart City Concept to The SME Community

The smart city concept has been used by many cities in Indonesia as means to ease people lives. Yogyakarta, as the province with the highest ratio of area and number of tourism visits in Indonesia, is a province that has been quite hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the affected parties are Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). To anticipate this, the Yogyakarta City Government launched the Jogja Smart Service (JSS) application. JSS was launched with the aim of facilitating public services, and one of its features namely Gandeng Gendong to bring together the SMEs community with potential buyers. This paper will describe the communication process of JSS application by Yogyakarta City Government and SMEs actors. This research departs from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic felt by the SMEs of Yogyakarta City on the economy in their lives. After the pandemic, the Yogyakarta City Government tried to foster smart economy as one of the smart city branch concepts. Nonetheless, there are still many challenges. In anticipation of a repeat of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SMEs actors must be able to quickly adopt the Jogja Smart Service application. The results of the research obtained are the process of communication by Yogyakarta City Government and SMEs actors in the early majority stage. The SMEs actors are at the confirmation stage. The confirmation determines that SMEs actors continue to use the Jogja Smart Service application but need more socialization and training.

ANALISIS DAMPAK PERUBAHAN PENGGUNAN LAHAN PERKOTAAN TERHADAP URBAN HEAT ISLAND DI KECAMATAN KEDATON

The Urban Heat Island phenomenon is defined as a form of local climate change. In the formation of the Urban Heat Island phenomenon, there are several factors, namely changes in land use, vegetation density, building density, and vehicle emissions. Dense development areas that have caused changes in land use, settlements, and transportation activities have begun to accumulate in Kedaton District. Kedaton District is included in the activity center area so that changes in land use from 2017 to 2022 occur significantly, which can cause an increase in urban temperatures. This study aims to analyze the impact of changes in urban land use on Urban Heat Island in Kedaton District. The variables used are land use, surface temperature, vegetation density, building density, motor vehicle intensity, and motor vehicle emissions. The analytical methods used are LST, NDVI, NDBI, road service level analysis, vehicle emission analysis, and correlation analysis. The results of the analysis show that the impact of changes in land use will result in a 76% decrease in vegetation density in 2022, a 95% increase in building density, and a 99% increase in vehicle emissions. The impact of changes in land use has contributed to the distribution of urban heat islands in Kedaton District. To minimize the impact of changes in use on the Urban Heat Island in Kedaton District, mitigation efforts based on the resilient city concept are needed, namely the addition of private green open spaces, reflective roof paint in densely populated areas, and optimizing public transportation.

A tale of two policies: Urban sustainability in France and the UK

This paper contrasts urban sustainability policies in France and the UK, revealing significant differences in their approaches to climate action and urban mobility. France's policies, such as tripling SUV parking fees and promoting the 15-min city concept, aim to reduce carbon emissions and improve livability by encouraging walking and cycling, reflecting a commitment to sustainable mobility and environmental equity. In contrast, the UK's extension of a 5p fuel duty cut benefits wealthier, multiple-vehicle owners, showing a different prioritization. With urban populations rising globally, the necessity for sustainable urban planning becomes increasingly critical. This analysis demonstrates how France and the UK's divergent strategies underscore the importance of integrating sustainability and equity into urban policy to mitigate environmental impact and enhance urban livability, advocating for a reevaluation of long-term urban development and sustainability impacts.

Smart cities for a sustainable Arctic? Introducing critical debate

ABSTRACT The ‘smart city’ has received growing attention as a concept that could play an essential role in the sustainability of the Arctic. Today, the idea is associated with information and communication technology (ICT) when used in urban areas to improve quality of life, offer more efficient and effective use of cities’ infrastructures, foster social inclusion, and mitigate environmental harm. However, the relationship between smart cities and Arctic sustainability remains ambiguous, especially from perspectives beyond those of techno-optimism. Our aim in this paper is to critically discuss the value of smart city concept for Arctic cities, from an urban dynamic perspective. To this end, this paper reflects on how the sustainability of Arctic cities can be challenged by urban dynamics in metrics for (1) smart city development, (2) politics and bureaucratization, and (3) the role of citizens. The paper has several implications for academia, practitioners, and policymakers: for the former, it advances an alternative debate to explore the complex relations between smart city development and Arctic sustainability; for practitioners and policymakers, it indicates the problematic but often hidden side of smart city development, stressing the need to carefully translate the concept and its promises to fit the unique Arctic context.

Improving Electric Vehicle Autonomy in the Smart City Concept

Organizing automobiles in a city is challenging due to the sensitive data that need to be disclosed. Information that can be utilized to identify a car and provide some useful characteristics about it is among the large amount of data that can be collected from an automobile. This operation will be easier if the vehicles are placed on a specific platform based on the smart city concept. Even if sensors and cameras are installed around the roads and the city, having the vehicle information will be more useful. The current study tries to demonstrate how it is feasible to improve vehicle autonomy by initially enhancing the vehicle's energetic performance, based on the smart city idea. Intelligent control topology serves as the foundation for the exposed energy management protocol. The suggested concept is created and the associated results are displayed using the Matlab Simulink platform.

Ecological Characteristics and Layout Optimization of Rural Landscape for Smart Cities and Ant Colony Algorithms

Studying the spatial pattern of rural settlements and its influencing factors is important for guiding rural economic development, optimizing the living environment of rural residents, effectively using land resources, and accelerating the construction of urban-rural integration. The purpose of this paper is to study the ecological characteristics and layout optimization of rural landscape oriented to smart city and ant colony algorithm, introduce the concept of smart city and rural landscape, propose the ant colony algorithm, take Hengshan District as the research area, and use the method of landscape ecology to analyze the layout pattern and layout of rural settlements in Hengshan District in two periods of 2015 and 2020 under different landforms, different distances from rivers, roads and towns. The landscape characteristics were analyzed. On this basis, nine indicators affecting the layout of settlements were selected. Then, with the suitability of rural settlements as the optimization target, the ACO optimization model was constructed by combining the relevant theories of ant colony algorithm, and the layout of rural settlements in Hengshan District was optimized with the help of GeoSOS geographical optimization simulation system. The experimental results show that after optimization, there are 12,354 rural settlements in Hengshan District, with an average patch area of 0.52 ha and a decrease in the number of patches, while the density of rural settlements PD of patches decreases, indicating that the fragmentation of rural settlements is reduced and the connectivity of settlements is increased.

Examination of the Concept of Green City in the Context of the Urban Qualities of Sarajevo

Examination of the Concept of Green City in the Context of the Urban Qualities of Sarajevo

Should we build a metaverse for the new capital of Indonesia?

Moving the capital of Indonesia from the Jakarta area to the island of Kalimantan is an inevitable necessity due to economic, political, socio-cultural and environmental factors, which require other areas of the archipelago to be developed. It has been decided that the green city and smart city concepts will be applied in the development of the new capital, using a state-of-the-art approach, including metaverse technology. The methodology employed in this study includes in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, direct field observations, and documentation. The findings of this research consist of an analysis of the readiness of IKN and its surrounding area for the implementation of metaverse technology in IKN. This paper examines whether metaverse technology is needed in the construction of the new capital city. If so, what are the needs for the development of the new capital's metaverse, and what are the advantages (and disadvantages) of using the metaverse. The results are expected to provide a more comprehensive view of the use of metaverse technology in the new capital.

Sustainable logistics and passenger transport in smart cities

The rapid growth of urban populations, coupled with the imperatives of decarbonization and the relentless march of urbanization, has thrust modern cities into a crucible of multifaceted challenges. In response, the Smart City concept has emerged as a shared paradigm for addressing these urban complexities. This transformative approach touches upon various facets of urban life, encompassing areas such as the economy, education, and governance. Among these, logistics stands out as a pivotal component of the Smart City framework, necessitating innovative and sustainable solutions. This article delves into the intricate nexus between sustainable logistics systems and the evolution of the Smart City concept. Drawing from both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including multivariate analysis, the study synthesizes data from primary sources collected during a series of European projects conducted from 2020 to 2023, in addition to secondary data sources. A central inquiry revolves around the symbiotic relationship between e-commerce dynamics and the sustainability of smart city logistics solutions. The findings of this investigation illuminate a compelling correlation between the profitability of logistics enterprises and the key indicators of logistics development underpinning smart cities. By unveiling these interdependencies, this research contributes to our understanding of how sustainable logistics and passenger transport systems are pivotal to the ongoing development of smart cities, offering valuable insights for urban planners, policymakers, and industry stakeholders alike.

Exploring theoretical constructs of smart cities and ICT infrastructure: Comparative analysis of development strategies in Africa-US Urban areas

This review paper explores smart cities' theoretical constructs and comparative development strategies, focusing on the juxtaposition between African and US urban areas. It delves into the evolution of smart city concepts, highlighting how Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure serves as the cornerstone for enhancing urban management and service delivery. Through a comparative analysis, the paper reveals divergent strategic approaches, innovation ecosystems, and the prioritization of sustainability and inclusivity in smart city initiatives across the two regions. It underscores the significance of tailoring smart city development to local contexts, ensuring equitable access to technology, and the pivotal role of public-private partnerships. The paper concludes with implications for urban planners, policymakers, and technology developers, suggesting future research directions to bridge existing gaps and address emerging smart city trends.

The connection between the smart city concept and human resource management, with a special focus on the role of competences and corporate competitiveness

The connection between the smart city concept and human resource management, with a special focus on the role of competences and corporate competitiveness

An integrated QFD framework for smart city strategy development

PurposeIn this study, the deployment of an integrated Quality Function Deployment (QFD) decision framework is presented to help cities design targeted strategies to become “smart”. Arguably smart cities leverage advanced technologies to enhance their smartness to improve everyday urban life. To this end, a QFD – Analytic Hierarchy Process – Analytic Network Process (QFD-AHP-ANP) framework is proposed to deliver guidance for selecting the appropriate mix of smart technologies based on the specific smart needs of each city.Design/methodology/approachThe AHP and ANP methods are incorporated into QFD to enhance its methodological robustness in formulating the decision problem. AHP accurately captures and translates the “Voice of the Experts” into prioritized “Smart City” dimensions, while establishing inter-relationships between these dimensions and “Smart City Technologies”. Meanwhile, ANP explores tradeoffs among the technologies, enabling well-informed decisions. The framework’s effectiveness is evaluated through an illustrative application in the city of Thessaloniki.FindingsApplying the framework to this real-world context confirms its practicality and utility, demonstrating its ability to particularize local, social, political, environmental and economic trends through the resulting mix of technologies in smart urban development strategies.Originality/valueThe importance of this study lies in several aspects. Firstly, it introduces a novel QFD decision framework tailored for smart city strategic planning. Secondly, it contributes to the operationalization of the smart city concept by providing guidance for cities to effectively adopt smart technologies. Finally, this study represents a new field of application for QFD, expanding its scope beyond its traditional domains.

Smart City Development: Challenges and Opportunities in Europ

This paper aims to explore the challenges and opportunities of smart city development in European cities. Through an analysis of the concept of smart cities, their characteristics, and their applications in different European contexts, the importance of smart city development for sustainable urban development in Europe is elucidated. Moreover, the paper discusses the potential challenges in smart city development, such as technological, privacy, and security concerns, and explores strategies to overcome these challenges to achieve smart and sustainable urban development in Europe.

How far are cities from the x-minute city vision? Examining current local travel behavior and land use patterns in Montreal, Canada

In the past three years the 15-minute city planning concept has captured the attention of policy makers and the public worldwide. Some regions have included it in their planning goals and others modified it to 30 min to make it more attainable in their local context. The goal of this research is to measure whether the 15- or 30-minute city goals align with current travel behaviour and land use patterns in the North American context using Montreal, Canada as the case study. In doing so, we look at which destinations are cultivating local travel patterns consistent with the 15- and 30-minute city concepts and identify any unique qualities of these areas using the 2018 Montreal origin-destination travel diaries. Our bivariate analysis finds very few destinations in Montreal where a high number of trips and high percentage of trips are ending using a sustainable mode of transport and below the 15- or 30-minute travel time threshold. We further investigate the land use patterns that align with the 15- and 30-minute city to recommend realistic planning goals and policy interventions that match the North American context. The findings from this research can be of interest to transport professionals and policy makers trying to implement the 15- or 30- minute city concepts to their regions.

A collaborative hybridity design approach: enhancing urban water resilience and spatial legibility

ABSTRACT Within the global transition to sustainable urban water management, Dutch polder cities are also contemplating revitalising their water traditions. One of the keys to this task is to integrate water management into urban design, which is explored but not yet practically instrumentalized in the urban design process. This article introduces the concept of hybridity and develops a Hybridity Design Approach as an interdisciplinary methodology to explore the possibility of realising the extreme low impact Closed City Concept. Integration of the water environment and urban space needs interdisciplinary cooperation and sharing knowledge, as well as an innovative way of thinking about water-resilient urban design, maximising the landscape quality of a polder city while minimising its hydrological footprint in the region. Effective visualisation tools and techniques for this collaborative design process are developed and tested in the area of Zevenkamp in Rotterdam.

The development of ecological smart cities in the post-epidemic era

With the accelerated development of globalization and urbanization, the advent of the post-epidemic era means that the world has begun to enter the recovery stage, and the rapid development of urbanization has caused cities to transform from a decentralized model to a centralized model. The growing population puts cities under tremendous pressure. This paper studies the case of Barcelona, analyzes and summarizes the development of Barcelona's ecological smart city, as well as the practical application of information technology and Internet of Things technology, and discusses the challenges faced by smart cities. The concept of ecological smart city consists of the Internet, openness, intelligence, innovation and green to form an urban planning framework. Lay out smart sensors according to the size and shape of urban space, and use smart technology to activate the city's ecosystem. The digitalization and IoT technology services of smart cities are not only conducive to the tracking and prevention of the epidemic, but also conducive to the recovery and development of the city in the post-epidemic era. Smart cities represent the development of a city that is more efficient, sustainable, and livable. The development trend of smart cities is characterized by the integration of advanced technologies to improve the quality of life of urban residents, improve sustainability, and optimize city operations. Finally, it provides some suggestions and experiences for the development of smart cities in the world and expectations for the future of this field of research.

Community Education and its Role in Promoting Smart Cities within a Rapidly Changing Technological Environment

This study explores the role of community education in smart city development within the Indonesian context. The purpose is to understand urban residents' perceptions, attitudes, and barriers toward technology and smart city initiatives and evaluate the effectiveness of current community education programs. A cross-sectional research design was employed, involving surveys and interviews with residents from cities participating in Indonesia's 'Towards 100 Smart Cities' initiative. Thematic and statistical analyses were conducted to analyze the data collected. The findings reveal a mix of optimism and concerns among respondents regarding technology and smart city initiatives, highlighting the importance of addressing privacy, security, and inclusivity issues. While current community education programs effectively raise awareness about smart city concepts, gaps in accessibility and inclusivity persist, suggesting the need for targeted interventions. The study's novelty lies in its contextualized approach to understanding smart city development within Indonesia's diverse urban landscape. It provides practical insights for policymakers and urban planners, emphasizing the importance of community education in promoting inclusive and participatory smart city development. The study contributes to the growing literature on smart city development by offering valuable insights and recommendations for advancing sustainable and equitable urban development in Indonesia and beyond.

Strategic analysis on improving the proximity and accessibility in China: an exploratory development based on the study of the 15-minute city

Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization in China's megacities, the growing need for accessible and convenient transportation has become more pronounced. The rise of the 15-minute city concept in chrono-urbanism has become increasingly evident in recent years. In this context, the paper presents a comprehensive strategic analysis and explores future possibilities for enhancing proximity and accessibility in urban transportation. The focus is on the exploratory development of the 15-minute city concept. By adopting a qualitative analytical approach, the paper delves into an analysis based on Melbourne’s '20-minute city' to assess the applicability and diverse development of the 15-minute city model in Chinese urban centers. By acquiring current data and examples, the findings reveal the strengths and challenges of the 15-minute city concept, underscoring its adaptability and uniqueness across different geographical, national, and targeted contexts. The paper indicates that among megacities in China, the 15-minute city highlights the potential for integrating advanced technology to enhance urban mobility and proximity. It also calls for a shift towards high-quality development in urban planning to strengthen the resilience of city transport. The study’s exploratory nature also opens up avenues for future development within the 15-minute city framework, providing a robust base for improving urban transportation in China. The significance of this research lies in its contribution to shaping high-quality and livable urban environments, thereby supporting the ongoing transformation of China’s large urban centers into more accessible and human-centered spaces.

Urbanization in Beijing: Challenges and Sustainable Solutions for Water Scarcity and Urban Heat Islands

As globalization and economic development accelerate, urbanization has become an inevitable trend, radically transforming global societal structures and economic models while profoundly impacting the environment and human lifestyles. This study delves into the rapid urbanization of Beijing, China, highlighting its significant effects on environmental and ecological aspects. Employing an analytical approach, this paper examines the process of urbanization in Beijing, focusing on changes in the urban environment, water resource challenges, and the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Key findings reveal that Beijing's urban expansion has led to critical issues such as severe water scarcity and intensified UHI effect, with significant implications for ecological well-being and sustainable urban development. This research underlines the importance of balanced urban growth and environmental sustainability, advocating for integrated strategies including enhanced flood monitoring systems, accelerated development of water recycling facilities, and the adoption of the sponge city concept. These measures not only aim to improve water resource efficiency and urban flood resilience but also mitigate the UHI effect through increased urban green spaces and high-albedo building materials. The study offers valuable insights and lessons for global cities facing similar challenges. The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive, systemic approaches to urbanization that harmonize economic, social, and environmental aspects. This paper contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable urban development, offering a framework for future urban planning and policy-making that prioritizes ecological safety and improves the quality of life for urban residents.

Sustainable Urban Development in the Post-Pandemic Era: Smart Shenzhen based on the 15-Minute City Concept

In the face of the pandemic, there has been a global focus on urban planning and sustainability. These have attracted attention in innovative cities. The 15-Minute City approach aims to address the COVID-19 pandemic, enhance urban sustainability, and encourage citizen involvement in urban planning and management. In 2018, the municipality of Milan launched the Fifteen Minute City project. The project aims to redefine the use of streets and public spaces, encourage cycling and walking, and reshape neighborhoods. By studying the success of Milan's 15-minute City, this paper aims to deeply analyze the necessary factors for the successful implementation of the 15-minute plan based on the Notice of Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Commerce on printing and distributing the Implementation Plan for the Pilot City Construction of Shenzhen Quarter Hour Convenient Living Circle. This paper will establish causal connections between the variables within the plan and propose strategies for mitigating the identified risks. Additionally, the document will present a fair and objective evaluation of the plan's consequences, along with practical suggestions for future execution. The paper highlights the importance of community involvement in urban planning and emergency management by examining key initiatives in Shenzhen, such as the implementation of digital technologies, green transport policies, community support, and public education. The research provides valuable lessons for both Shenzhen and other cities on sustainable development and infection management and highlights the need for community collaboration and public participation.