Smart city transformation is a complex operation and comes with critical challenges that this chapter addresses in a strategic manner. The chapter clearly distinguishes between different types of cities. An overview of the most significant and crucial four qualities of smart cities is discussed. An essential part of the chapter is the review of the foundations of technology in smart cities with emphasis on indispensable types of technology such as communications, smart technology, and connectivity infrastructure. The second important part of the chapter is the issue of developing guiding principles to smart city transformation. A discussion of strategies of migration versus transformation of smart cities is followed by a review of the phases of smart cities implementation.
TopChallenges for developing smart cities are well defined and expected. These are absolute challenges and can be encountered irrespective of any city being developed. In fact, they can be viewed as a complex family of challenges that have to be analyzed and studied very well before making a learned decision to respond or confront these challenges. Each family of such challenges describe ways where the transformation of smart cities, or rather migrating from a smart city to a sustainable one.
The actual work of planning, managing, and governing cities in a sustainable way implies meeting these challenges. Normally this is done by maximizing economic opportunities. Public finances and funds of the city government should be wisely managed and sought, and natural resources need to be explored consciously and responsibly.
The proper management and improvement of smart cities requires looking at the broader picture in their different regions. This is only possible with changes in government structures and their communications and participation processes (Bouskela et al., 2016).
It is true that improving the quality of life necessitates employing Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in transforming traditional city to a smart one, but a smart and sustainable city is an innovative city that uses in addition other means as well, which also improves efficiency of city operation, services, and competitiveness, A necessary understanding is that the city transformation should meet the needs of present and future generations with respect to economic, social, and environmental aspects. In addition, it is attractive to citizens, entrepreneurs, and workers, and generates a safer space with better services and an innovative environment that encourages creative solutions, thus creating jobs and reducing inequality.
One of the very useful application for smart city management is to have qualified people involved in the planning and monitoring of development. They also use technology elements as tools to stimulate the design of an effective government based on collaborative planning and citizen participation. Successful transformation of smart cities assumes more innovative, competitive, attractive, and resilient role, thus improving lives.
As the transformation and modernization of cities become a disciplined master plan, the city government becomes the mentoring authority and main decision maker for smart city operation (Ambrosetti, 2012). By working collaboratively, city government and stakeholders share quality information in order to provide better services to the population. This means the following:
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More integration of information and decision making.
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More citizen-aware services and support hence raising satisfaction of the population.
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Better allocation of resources financial and otherwise.
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Offer better and more efficient government services and support
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Allows greater involvement and empowerment for the citizens
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Carry out and perform evaluator tasks and generate key performance indicators (KPI)
As a result of such transformation, a smart city is an integrated advanced system that is characterized as follows:
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It is sustainable: It uses digital technology to reduce costs and optimize resource consumption so that its current administration does not compromise its use for future generations.
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It is inclusive and transparent: It has direct communication channels with citizens, operates with open data, and allows for the monitoring of its finances.
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It generates wealth: It provides adequate infrastructure to generate high-quality jobs, innovation, competitiveness, and business growth.
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It is made for citizens: It uses digital technology to improve the quality of life of people and give quick access to more efficient public services