City Project Research Articles

Civic knowledge management in Smart City Living Labs: a case study of water management in Gimhae, South Korea

ABSTRACT In recent years, the notion of Smart City Living Labs has received increasing attention from scholars and practitioners. These open innovation environments aim to resolve various urban problems with stakeholders, including citizens, requiring frequent exchange of knowledge. Analyzing and managing this civic knowledge can expand ideas and co-create new smart city services and solutions. Despite its potential, there is a lack of research on civic knowledge management in Smart City Living Labs. This research proposed a conceptual framework for civic knowledge and the knowledge creation process, exploring the Gimhae Sambang Water Living Lab, a South Korean government-led Smart City project. The case study, based on exploration and exploitation approaches, examined how civic knowledge is shared as tacit knowledge within the Living Lab, conceptualized into explicit knowledge, and evolved into network knowledge. It also explored how exploration and exploitation interact complementarily in the civic knowledge creation process. This research contributes to the discussion on the role of civic knowledge management in Smart City Living Labs, emphasizing the significant interaction between citizens and the importance of managing their knowledge..

Sustainable Stormwater Management for Different Types of Water-Scarce Cities: Environmental Policy Effect of Sponge City Projects in China

With high-speed urbanization, ecological space is seriously shrinking, and lagging drainage facilities contradict the ecological needs of citizens. In particular, water-scarce cities are faced with frequent stormwater disasters, such as excessive accumulation of rainwater, peak runoff and water pollution, which threaten the safety of the urban water ecological environment. This paper combined the actual construction content of the sponge city project with a whole process policy evaluation framework to examine whether the projects solve these problems and to find different approaches to the results. Utilizing entropy fuzzy comprehensive evaluation provides a systematic standard for the evaluation system. The research shows that the sponge city project can achieve a good governance effect, including constructing a suitable scheme for urban hydrological characteristics, effectively improving the rainwater treatment level of different types of water-scarce cities, and alleviating the ecological contradiction of urban water environment. The stages of policy formulation, policy implementation and policy results achieve a good degree of completion. On one hand, sponge city projects transform the infrastructure at key locations, aiming at improving the rainwater interception capacity of the streets; on the other hand, restoring original natural waters improves the capacity of water conservation and forms a sustainable ecosystem between the city and nature.

New cities for a ‘new Kuwait’: planning for national continuity and stability

ABSTRACT An unprecedented new city-building boom is unfolding in Kuwait, with 12 new cities currently underway. As an oil-rich country, Kuwait faces imminent challenges, including peak oil and climate change, which threaten national wellbeing, continuity, stability, and even survival. As a welfare state guaranteeing housing to citizens, Kuwait shares oil wealth, fundamentally shaping urban planning and spatial development. The current national city-building strategy aims to address housing shortages while reducing reliance on oil. Despite the resources allocated to these projects, Kuwait's city building and its relationship to national economic development strategies has received little scholarly attention. This article introduces the 12 new city projects underway, and examines the main actors driving this trend, how new cities connect to the state's development logic for future-proofing the country, and how national sustainability goals and the state's Vision 2035 for a ‘new Kuwait’ shape these projects. Finally, we reflect on the challenges these projects face.

Paradise Lost. From Eutopia to Atopia

At the origin of every architectural and city project, there is a nostalgia for Paradise or the aspiration to build this wonderfulplace we have lost. Visions, architecture and city projects are necessarily prophetic images in search of a happy life onEarth. Every proposal for the city, every project, and every plan is a Utopia, an ideal place which aspires to become Eutopia.However, given the many visions and proposals, we can ask ourselves whether these Utopias have fulfilled their promiseto achieve a good place or are dystopias. In light of this unknown factor, this paper intends to reflect on some visions andproposals of the city. Some of them constitute the foundations of urban planning – like Howar’s Garden City, Wright’sBroadacre City, Le Corbusier’s Radiant City, the functional city of CIAM – others, elaborated by Erwin Anton Gutkind, IannisXenakis, Constantinos Doxiadis, Takis Zenetos, originated from different assumptions, deluding themselves that they aresolving the problems of the contemporary city or represent its last frontier, such as the Smart City.

THE IMPORTANCE OF EU-FUNDED PROJECTS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Sustainable development has been one of the core strategies of the EU. The term refers to three basic components: the economic component, which is associated with balanced growth, the environmental component which refers to the preservation of the ecosystem, and the social component, which guarantees inter- and intra-generational equality. While talking about sustainability it is important also to tackle the topic of circular economy. The circular economy aims to preserve value by designing out waste and pollution, optimizing resources by keeping products and materials in use, and ensuring system effectiveness by regenerating natural systems. One of the strategies of the EU to achieve sustainable development and the move towards a circular economy is to support it through various EU-founded projects. In this article, we will elaborate on the current state of sustainable development of EU-founded schemes and how they can be used for different projects for local communities and cities since cities are seen as both the source and solution to today's economic, environmental, and social challenges. Furthermore, in the article, we will outline some best practices of EU-founded projects around sustainable development in the case of the city of Maribor, Slovenia, and indicate their importance for its community.

Post occupancy evaluation of private open spaces in dwelling units in single family investment housing projects in Erbil city

Due to urbanization, it has been found that in many cases public open spaces in the city are not maintained, as new investments are trying to make use of the land to construct more buildings The shortage of public open spaces can be treated by providing a sufficient amount of private open spaces in housing estates. Furthermore, the designers need to consider the dwelling layout to provide the best environment for the residents; this will maintain a high level of household satisfaction. One main element of household satisfaction is open spaces. In this research paper, private open space assessments in 4 investment projects with 98 samples in Erbil were considered. To investigate and examine how the exterior environment of the dwellings affects the residents’ satisfaction, based on plot size and number of bedrooms, surveys were performed on selected projects through documentation surveys and questionnaires. Then the evaluation was performed through two stages, firstly the technical assessment stage according to Iraqi standards, and secondly the residents’ response stage regarding satisfaction levels. The research objectives were obtained using SPSS software, through the use of descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis. The results of the research discovered that all the projects except Minara B were slightly above the minimum level, thus in the range of Iraqi standards. Moreover, the level of overall satisfaction with these projects ranged from neutral to slightly satisfied, with the residents’ responses stating that they needed more private open spaces.

ENHANCING EFFICIENCY WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE TRANSITION TO A GREEN DIGITAL ECONOMY

This article examines the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing Uzbekistan's green digital economy, following President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's 2021 decree. It highlights AI's contributions to optimizing energy consumption, developing smart infrastructure, and integrating renewable energy. Challenges such as education, infrastructure development, and policy are discussed. Through case studies on Tashkent's smart city projects, solar energy initiatives, and precision farming, the article demonstrates AI's benefits for sustainability and economic growth. The article concludes by emphasizing the significant economic and environmental impacts of AI in Uzbekistan's transition to a green digital economy.

Unlocking Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Local Governments: Best Practice Lessons from Real-World Implementations

In an era marked by rapid technological progress, the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly evident across various sectors, including local governments. These governmental bodies are progressively leveraging AI technologies to enhance service delivery to their communities, ranging from simple task automation to more complex engineering endeavours. As more local governments adopt AI, it is imperative to understand the functions, implications, and consequences of these advanced technologies. Despite the growing importance of this domain, a significant gap persists within the scholarly discourse. This study aims to bridge this void by exploring the applications of AI technologies within the context of local government service provision. Through this inquiry, it seeks to generate best practice lessons for local government and smart city initiatives. By conducting a comprehensive review of grey literature, we analysed 262 real-world AI implementations across 170 local governments worldwide. The findings underscore several key points: (a) there has been a consistent upward trajectory in the adoption of AI by local governments over the last decade; (b) local governments from China, the US, and the UK are at the forefront of AI adoption; (c) among local government AI technologies, natural language processing and robotic process automation emerge as the most prevalent ones; (d) local governments primarily deploy AI across 28 distinct services; and (e) information management, back-office work, and transportation and traffic management are leading domains in terms of AI adoption. This study enriches the existing body of knowledge by providing an overview of current AI applications within the sphere of local governance. It offers valuable insights for local government and smart city policymakers and decision-makers considering the adoption, expansion, or refinement of AI technologies in urban service provision. Additionally, it highlights the importance of using these insights to guide the successful integration and optimisation of AI in future local government and smart city projects, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of communities.

ЦИФРОВА ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЯ РЕГІОНІВ УКРАЇНИ ЯК ПЕРЕДУМОВА ІМПЛЕМЕНТАЦІЇ КОНЦЕПЦІЇ РОЗУМНОГО МІСТА

The article is devoted to researching the processes of digital transformation of the regions of Ukraine through the implementation of the "smart city" concept, which is one of the key aspects of the modern development of urban areas. In the context of global trends towards digitization and the introduction of innovations, the concept of a smart city is becoming an important part of the strategic planning of both large megacities and medium and small cities. This is due to the need to adapt cities to the rapidly changing socio-economic environment, which requires more effective solutions for managing resources, improving the quality of life of residents and increasing competitiveness in the international arena. The article examines the relevance of the transition to "smart cities" in light of the challenges facing modern Ukraine, including economic, environmental and social aspects. The main challenges that stand in the way of implementing the concept of a smart city in Ukrainian regions are analyzed. Such challenges include an insufficient level of digital infrastructure, limited financial resources, a low level of digital literacy of the population, an incomplete legal framework, and an insufficient level of interaction between the public and private sectors. The article analyzes the current state of digital infrastructure in different regions of Ukraine, in particular, the level of access to broadband Internet and the implementation of intelligent transport management systems. In addition, a comparison of the implementation of smart city projects in Ukrainian cities with similar initiatives in Europe is presented, which emphasizes the need to accelerate digital transformation in the face of global competition.

Development of an economic and information system for the optimization of city traffic flows

The paper presents a critical analysis of current approaches to reorganizing urban transportation routes. It proposes addressing the problem of optimizing traffic flows as a multidimensional issue encompassing social and economic aspects. An economic-information model for continuous monitoring and optimization of urban traffic flow configurations based on the criterion of congestion wait time has been developed. The calculation of the economic consequences of such waiting time is proposed. The developed system has practical significance and can be applied in managing traffic flows as an economic subsystem of the city within its socio-economic system. Urban transportation infrastructure in Ukraine faces significant challenges due to social changes, including increasing passenger flow, extended waiting times, and the need to adhere to modern urban planning standards. Current trends involve redistributing street and road space based on principles of equal access and safety. This includes pilot actions, intermediate reconstruction, and comprehensive reorganization of urban space and transportation routes. Proposed methods for enhancing transportation infrastructure include improving government management, implementing proactive management strategies, executing investment projects, establishing public-private partnerships, temporarily reducing tax burdens, developing comprehensive solutions for consumers, and optimizing transportation pricing. These strategies aim to address the pressing problems in Ukraine's transport sector and facilitate sustainable development and growth. The study focuses on the financing of infrastructural projects in Dnipro city through the municipal budget. It proposes integrating economic-mathematical models into a unified economic-information system for optimizing traffic flows, allowing for continuous monitoring and improvement. This system emphasizes minimizing congestion wait times and can adapt to dynamic changes in traffic patterns, ensuring efficient and effective urban traffic management. By implementing this system, the city can enhance its transportation network, contributing to overall economic efficiency and better quality of life for its residents.

Strategic Digital City: Multiple Projects for Sustainable Urban Management

In the last two decades, sustainable urban environments have been predominant, meaning that knowledge production has accompanied this growth. The objective of this study is to present multiple projects for sustainable urban management applied in cities, based on the original Strategic Digital City (SDC) concept, model, and project. The research methodology included an SDC systematic literature review, highlighting the sustainability and respective action research of 11 doctoral theses and multiple projects. The obtained results highlight a set of published multiple projects that form a practical analytical cycle of sustainable and interconnected urban processes through the original SDC framework proposition, SDC, which can be applied in different cities in different countries. The innovations present in the SDC multiple projects propose a theoretical–empirical debate in the interdisciplinary areas of urban management, municipal administration, and sustainable public innovation, with a focus on local government and democracy studies, prioritizing sustainable strategies in cities and not just technologies. The conclusion reiterates that the original multiple projects, created and applied in different cities, present an interdisciplinary advance in sustainable urban management areas and public administration, focused on sustainable urban studies.

Can the new energy demonstration city policy promote corporate green innovation capability?

New energy demonstration city (NEDC) projects are significantly driving changes in energy structures and sustainable economic development. Corporate green technology innovation is key to achieving an alternative to our current energy use. To explore whether the NEDC project can help to improve companies' green innovation capabilities, this paper presents the dual differential model (DID) to conduct empirical research on panel data in 285 prefecture-level and above cities in China from 2008 to 2020. The DID model is arguably the most adequate for addressing the issue of endogenous problems. The research shows that the NEDC project has improved corporate green innovation capability; the findings of mechanism analysis show that NEDC projects have incited an upgrading of the local urban industrial structure and thereby improved corporate green innovation. The policy effect of NEDC projects obviously shows “insufficient momentum”; the heterogeneity test found that the promotion effect of NEDC projects for corporate green innovation in eastern cities, major cities, large-scale companies and energy-dependent industries is more significant. Based on the conclusions and heterogeneous characteristics for promoting corporate green innovation capability, the government should roll out further NEDC projects in a systematic way and more closely monitor the quality of such new energy demonstration cities.

How do academic smart city centres operate in complex environments? A business model perspective

In recent years, an increasing number of academic smart city centres have emerged globally. These centres play a crucial role in conducting cutting-edge research and proposing innovative solutions for cities; they often operate in a complex multi-purpose, multi-disciplinary, and multi-stakeholder environment, even as they struggle to secure enough resources for their core activities. Despite their important role in smart city projects and initiatives, we lack scientific understandings of how smart city centres generate and deliver value to city stakeholders. As a first step in addressing this gap, we studied seven smart city centres across Europe and North America through in-depth interviews. To complement those interviews, we conducted an online survey and collected responses from a larger sample of centres from several regions around the world. Consequently, we provide a fresh understanding of how these centres orchestrate their operations and capabilities to create and deliver value to smart city stakeholders. Inspired by recent research on business model innovation for non-profit organizations, we argue that academic centres can benefit from using business models to align their operations with their strategies to achieve their goals. Our study contributes to smart city and business model research while providing practical implications for smart city centres.

Performative place branding and Brazilian smart cities: the strategic character of smart city positioning

PurposeThis paper aims to address what it means to brand a city as “smart”. In other words, what ideas, understandings and actions are mobilized by the discourse of smart cities in a particular context.Design/methodology/approachTaking a brand interpretive approach, this paper uses deconstructive criticism to understand the performativity of smart cities within the Brazilian Charter for Smart Cities and to expose hegemonic power structures and the various colonizations that disenfranchise consumers and citizens of the Global South.FindingsThis paper finds that the branding of smart cities within the Brazilian Charter for Smart Cities is largely performative and rhetorical in nature. The authors identify those dimensions of the smart city that are materialized by this branding performance. For example, the authors identify how the Charter calls forth issues around technological solutionism, sustainability and social inclusion. At the same time, the analysis draws attention to the dimensions of smart cities that are disguised by such performances.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications of the work suggest that the authors need to understand the designation “smart city” as a branding performance. More research is required in context to determine in exactly what ways smart city projects are being implemented.Practical implicationsRather than adhering only to the rhetoric of smartness, cities have to work hard to make smartness a reality – a smartness constructed not just on technical solutions but also on human solutions. That is, the complexity of urban issues that are apparently addressed in the move to smartness demand more than a technological fix.Originality/valueThe research offers a novel lens through which to view smart cities.

A Review of IoT-Based Smart City Development and Management

Smart city initiatives aim to enhance urban domains such as healthcare, transportation, energy, education, environment, and logistics by leveraging advanced information and communication technologies, particularly the Internet of Things (IoT). While IoT integration offers significant benefits, it also introduces unique challenges. This paper provides a comprehensive review of IoT-based management in smart cities. It includes a discussion of a generalized architecture for IoT in smart cities, evaluates various metrics to assess the success of smart city projects, explores standards pertinent to these initiatives, and delves into the challenges encountered in implementing smart cities. Furthermore, the paper examines real-world applications of IoT in urban management, highlighting their advantages, practical impacts, and associated challenges. The research methodology involves addressing six key questions to explore IoT architecture, impacts on efficiency and sustainability, insights from global examples, critical standards, success metrics, and major deployment challenges. These findings offer valuable guidance for practitioners and policymakers in developing effective and sustainable smart city initiatives. The study significantly contributes to academia by enhancing knowledge, offering practical insights, and highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary research for urban innovation and sustainability, guiding future initiatives towards more effective smart city solutions.

Гуманистическая адаптация проекта «Умный город»: эстетический аспект

In the implementation of the Smart City project, one of the significant challenges lies in the complex interaction between digital technologies and new forms of sociality, aimed at creating a comfortable living environment for humans. The concept of sustainable development, which is a priority goal of modern urbanization, implies special attention to the environmental parameters of city life. New trends in the inclusion of a natural component in the fabric of urban life are developing in line with the phenomenon of aestheticization as a characteristic feature of modern culture. The tendency to give aesthetic sound to everyday phenomena is aimed at the sensory-emotional sphere as the basis of aesthetic sensibility. Embracing the principle of naturalness in shaping nature, even if this simplicity is achieved through complex technological solutions and adheres to archetypal artistic images, provides a stable guideline for assessing the appropriateness and harmony of the environment. The study delves into the reflective aspect of perception in urban environments, emphasizing the development of emotional intelligence and the ability to engage with the sensory-rich “smart environment”. It discusses the importance of flexible communication with digital devices, facilitated by an enhanced realm of sensuousness and emotional connectivity. By embracing humanistic principles and aesthetic sensibilities, the Smart City project can create more livable, sustainable, and emotionally engaging urban environments.

Constructing smart cities through the use of public-private partnerships: The case of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates

This article analyses the case of Dubai’s smart city from a public policy perspective and demonstrates how critical it is to rely on the use of the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Effective use of this model can guarantee the building of a smart city that could potentially fulfill the vision of the political leadership in Dubai and serve as a catalyst and blueprint for other Gulf states that wish to follow Dubai’s example. This article argues that Dubai’s smart city project enjoys significant political support and has ambitious plans for sustainable growth, and that the government has invested heavily in developing the necessary institutional, legal/regulatory, and supervisory frameworks that are essential foundations for the success of any PPP project. The article also points to some important insights that the Dubai government can learn from the international experience with the delivery of smart cities through PPPs.

Strengthening Training in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage Through Academic Collaboration

ABSTRACT Conservation training is more sustainable if we join forces to utilise our resources efficiently and effectively. One such academic collaboration is discussed, which gains from the expertise of two institutions. Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management (CHCM) is an advanced master’s degree programme offered by the Institute of Conservation, University of Applied Arts Vienna, Vienna, Austria and Silpakorn University International College, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. Launched in 2021, this programme is designed for conservators who already hold a master’s degree in conservation, enabling professionals to apply their skills globally and benefit from mutual learning. The programme allows students to gain experience in Europe and Asia, through the study in specialised conservation studios in Vienna and Bangkok, as well as through international projects in other cities. Local traditional knowledge plays a vital role in introducing sustainable approaches to both preventive and remedial conservation. However, to make sure that ethics and standards in conservation are not compromised in the process, critical thinking based on scientific reasoning is indispensable. This concept has been applied in practice by including in the curriculum aspects of transcultural communication and collaboration, presentation techniques and media, project and site management, as well as legislation and the function of UNESCO. This paper focusses on the planning of the CHCM programme through to its successful first implementation.

‘The rent is too damn high’ meets ‘pay the rent’: practising solidarity with the dispossessed*

This paper reflects on the Housing Justice in Unjust Cities Project that unfolded in so-called brisbane in 2021, in response to concerns over how the framing of demands and solutions to the present housing crisis in so-called australia can reinvest in and further legitimise colonial-carceral-capitalist logics and structures. Using critical co-constructed autoethnography as methodology, the authors reflect on their own involvement in housing struggles as settlers on unceded Aboriginal land, the recent history of these struggles in so-called brisbane, and the lessons and reflections that instigated the Housing Justice in Unjust Cities Project, and which emerged from our experiences organising together. The project, comprising a series of radio interviews and broadcasts followed by a public forum, was an attempt to foreground what ongoing Aboriginal sovereignty means for struggles for housing justice, and to challenge the colonial logics and common sense that often permeates settler-led housing politics. Drawing on Indigenist research approaches and police and prison abolition discourse, we offer some partial reflections on building communities of struggle that refuse to accept a housing justice that begins and ends with a more equitable distribution of stolen land.

Investigation on seismic performance degradation of hub large‐span roof structures considering corrosion and damage accumulation

AbstractHub transportation facilities are important lifeline projects in cities. Once they are damaged by earthquakes, their functional use will be lost, resulting in significant adverse social impacts. The roof structures of hub transportation facilities are usually made of large‐span steel structures. During service, they bear long‐term vibrations caused by multiple vibration sources such as high‐speed trains and wind loads, resulting in cumulative damage. In addition, the roof structures located in coastal areas may be exposed to a corrosive environment, which can lead to the degradation of structural performance. Currently, the relevant structural design standards do not consider the factor of structural performance variation over time. To address the above problems, this study adopts a time‐dependent constitutive model of steel considering corrosion and damage cumulative to investigate the seismic performance degradation of typical hub transportation facility roof structures. The research results show that the stiffness and seismic performance of 50‐year service hub large‐span roof structure have decreased compared to newly built structures, but the probability of serious damage is lower, indicating that the hub large‐span roof structures have good seismic performance.