This chapter analyses the transformation of a sustainable city through the process of technological change. With urban areas having a growing majority population, it is very important to focus on how technology can help in creating a more sustainable future. Technology and innovation are central to the implementation of the sustainable development of a city. The technological revolution through technological change has an impact on building a sustainable city, which involves social, economic, and environmental aspects. Technological change involves the overall process of invention, innovation, and diffusion of technology.
TopIntroduction
55% of the world's population lives in urban areas. This amount is expected to increase to 68% by 2050 (United Nations, 2018). People want to live in cities that have a high level of quality of life. A report, ‘Transforming cities for the better through sustainable technology’ prepared by Siemens (2013) stated that:
Cities are the core of global development. This is where our future takes shape, where economic growth springs from the bustling activities of more than half the world’s population, and where our most pressing environmental challenges are most eviden.
The look and feel of cities in the future will be different from today. The need to improve quality of life, economic competitiveness, and environmental viability will drive a new way of living.
As discussed in the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index 2018 (Arcadis, 2018), to enable a city to meet present and future needs,
Sustainable cities can be thought of as places that are planned and managed with consideration for social, economic, environmental impact, providing a resilient habitat for existing populations, without compromising the ability of future generations to experience the same. Accordingly, measures of sustainability need to be able to measure current city performance, ability to mitigate future impacts as well as investment in future capability – ideally measured from the perspective of the citizen.
Based on a broad measure of sustainability, encompassing social, environmental, and economic measures, the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index (SCI) 2018 (Arcadis, 2018) has ranked London as the most sustainable city. The other cities ranked in the top 10 were Stockholm, Edinburgh, Singapore, Vienna, Zurich, Munich, Oslo, Hong Kong, and Frankfurt. In summary, the SCI has highlighted three significant findings. First, the importance of the profit pillar as a driver for long-term sustainability. Second, the need for mid-ranking cities to improve their performance across all pillars as a differentiator. Finally, the growing potential for cities to use the digital evolution of their service provision to promote engagement with citizens and as a key means of improving city life's citizen experience.
However, many cities are already experiencing an extremely high population density. This situation directly leads to environmental degradation, traffic congestion, inadequate urban infrastructure, and lack of essential services such as water supply, sanitation, and waste management. Environmental footprints of cities are quite alarming, which can threaten the natural resources required to sustain economic development and poverty alleviation rates. Maintaining economic growth, while creating sustainable livable cities is the biggest challenge that must be faced now and in the future. Technology and innovation can help achieve sustainable urban development by considering the economic, environmental, and social dimensions (Economic and Social Council, 2013).
Technology plays a vital role in socio-economic and has been considered a critical development strategy (Bell and Pavitt 1993; Evenson and Westphal 1995; Heeks and Stanforth, 2015). The rapid advances in ICT enabled and fueled by computing discoveries have transformed the city by technologising and computerising it. ICT embodies a morphing power manifested in shaping how people create, do, and revolutionise things connected with almost every urban function, process, activity, and domain (Bibri and Krogstie, 2017). Technological change has led to significant improvements in quality of life, higher productivity, higher public service provision levels, less need for travel, and additional leisure time (European Commission, n.d).
At the moment, not much research has been conducted regarding the transformation of a sustainable city through the process of technological change. Thus, the objective of this book chapter is to analyse the transformation of a sustainable city through the process of technological change. From the results of the review, a model has also been developed.
Methodology
To complete this book chapter, we have reviewed journals, reports, books, and online articles. We have searched journals, reports, books, and online articles in databases and online resources. This includes Google, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and Directory of Open Access Journals. In the process of finding relevant articles, two primary keywords have been used, “sustainable city” and “technological change”. Figure 1 shows the flow diagram of the narrative review of journals, reports, books, and online articles.
Figure 1. Flow diagram of narrative review of journals, reports, books, and online articles