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Sustainability
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Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Smart Cities: Challenges and Opportunities
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Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Smart Cities: Challenges and Opportunities

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 39738

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Aggelos Tsakanikas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Industrial and Energy Economics, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece
Interests: information society; ICTs adoption and diffusion; smart cities; technology strategy; entrepreneurship and competitiveness
Dr. Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Industrial and Energy Economics, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece
Interests: eGovernment; local government; dynamic capabilities view; public procurement for innovation; knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past three decades, a growing concern has been developed over the intensified development of urbanization, where over 70% of the world's population by 2050 is being projected to be living in urban areas. With the rapid increase of the urban population and economic activity worldwide, cities face a variety of challenges, problems and risks, such as air pollution, traffic congestion, increased energy needs, waste and water management, pressure on land, increased criminality, difficulties accessing public services and the serious urban footprint on the environment.

In this context, the smart city movement was developed from the beginning of the 21st century and especially after 2010, due to some important global waves such as technological progress, the diffusion of smart devices, environmental pressure and the political support of supranational institutions, including the United Nations, European Union and the OECD.

The technological dimension of the smart city concept has already received intense attention both at the scholarly-research and practice level. However, as cities constitutes social, economic and technological systems, their overall operation improvement in terms of service provision efficiency and effectiveness, and environmental and social sustainability, entails the addressing of various managerial, organisational, institutional and socioeconomic challenges as well as the sensing and seizing of technological, networking and institutional opportunities.

This Special Issue of Sustainability will focus on the various challenges and opportunities related to smart cities implementation. Original research articles (based on qualitative and/or quantitative empirical methods) and reviews are welcome, and are expected to address (but not limited to) the following issues:

  • Governance models and strategies formulation and implementation
  • Policies, regulations and practices regarding public procurement, project management and business models
  • Individual skills and organisational resources and - dynamic and operational - capabilities
  • Open Data and digital entrepreneurship opportunities
  • Mechanisms of citizen involvement and participation in decision making
  • Technological and organisational innovation for utilizing greening technologies
  • The role of economic sectors such as ICT and Cultural & Creative Industries
  • Local and regional innovation ecosystem: Collaboration and synergies between various actors (municipality and other public service providers, universities/research centers, large firms, SMEs and start-ups, citizens and community groups, NGOs)
  • Networking, knowledge sharing and exchange of best practices between different cities

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Aggelos Tsakanikas
Dr. Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • smart cities
  • innovation ecosystem
  • local authorities
  • open data
  • public procurement
  • knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship
  • organisational resources and capabilities
  • greening technologies
  • ICT industries
  • cultural & creative industries

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1055 KiB  
Article
The Role of Economic and Innovation Initiatives in Planning a Smart City Strategy in Greece
by Georgios Siokas and Aggelos Tsakanikas
Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 14842; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014842 - 13 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1304
Abstract
As digital technology has become an integral part of urban life’s daily operations, the urban landscape is constantly evolving with the needs of its society. This new reality has allowed municipalities to invest in technologies related to smart cities and to exert a [...] Read more.
As digital technology has become an integral part of urban life’s daily operations, the urban landscape is constantly evolving with the needs of its society. This new reality has allowed municipalities to invest in technologies related to smart cities and to exert a greater influence on the national and local economy. In line with this, the paper aims to understand the mechanisms of planning and implementing a municipality’s strategy in Greece to exploit the smart city benefits and to foster economic development. It is important to identify the role of different factors including strategy during the planning and implementing phases of initiatives concerning the economy and innovation in a smart city. To achieve this, data were collected via a questionnaire and processed using the advanced statistical technique PLS-SEM. The main findings highlight the importance of planning initiatives aligned with the needs of the municipality and the business ecosystem. The existence of a smart city strategy has a catalytic effect on the final impact of the implemented initiatives on the urban ecosystem. A systematic analysis of the smart cities’ dynamics and the new state of the urban ecosystem can help the local actors focus on value creation and public service provision, fostering innovation and profitability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Smart Cities: Challenges and Opportunities)
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22 pages, 2620 KiB  
Article
Beyond Smart: How ICT Is Enabling Sustainable Cities of the Future
by Hanifa Shah
Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12381; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612381 - 15 Aug 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3391
Abstract
Cities around the world face pressing sustainability challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and unsustainable growth. Smart cities have emerged as a response to these challenges, leveraging information and communication technologies (ICTs) to create more efficient and liveable urban environments. However, the [...] Read more.
Cities around the world face pressing sustainability challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and unsustainable growth. Smart cities have emerged as a response to these challenges, leveraging information and communication technologies (ICTs) to create more efficient and liveable urban environments. However, the concept of smart cities is often defined in vague and ideologically driven terms that lack clear guidelines for promoting sustainability. In this study, we use qualitative methods to examine how the use of ICTs can support the goals of sustainability in smart city development, resulting in what we call a ‘smart sustainable city’. Drawing on a case study involving stakeholder analysis, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis, we investigate the key roles of local government, ICT firms, and citizens in shaping sustainable urban development through smart city initiatives. Our findings shed light on the potential of ICTs to promote sustainability in smart cities and provide insights for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars working towards creating more sustainable urban environments. The findings of this research showed that ICT’s role in supporting sustainability in smart cities relies on understanding the interests and priorities of civic, ICT firms, and citizens, promoting effective collaboration and avoiding self-serving outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Smart Cities: Challenges and Opportunities)
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18 pages, 1059 KiB  
Article
Analyzing the Challenges for Future Smart and Sustainable Cities
by Vítor de Castro Paes, Clinton Hudson Moreira Pessoa, Rodrigo Pereira Pagliusi, Carlos Eduardo Barbosa, Matheus Argôlo, Yuri Oliveira de Lima, Herbert Salazar, Alan Lyra and Jano Moreira de Souza
Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 7996; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15107996 - 13 May 2023
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 8162
Abstract
The fast growth of the urban population increases the demand for energy, water, and transportation, amongst other needs. This study explores the current state and future scenarios of Smart Cities and the environmental, economic, and social challenges that must be overcome. We used [...] Read more.
The fast growth of the urban population increases the demand for energy, water, and transportation, amongst other needs. This study explores the current state and future scenarios of Smart Cities and the environmental, economic, and social challenges that must be overcome. We used the Rapid Review method to understand the challenges of implementing Smart Cities in different urban contexts and the potential impact of research on Smart City planning in future Smart Cities. The study offers insights into the potential for Smart City growth while identifying obstacles that must be addressed to ensure sustainability. Results serve as a foundation for planning and decision-making, highlighting aspects such as the adoption of alternative energies, reduction in car use, preservation of ecosystems, waste reduction, citizen participation, infrastructure, and citizen data privacy, among others. These aspects are essential to overcome obstacles and promoting Smart Cities’ development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Smart Cities: Challenges and Opportunities)
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14 pages, 2680 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Urban Public Transportation Considering the Modal Fleet Size: A Case Study from Palestine
by Abdallah Abuaisha and Sameer Abu-Eisheh
Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6924; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086924 - 20 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 6531
Abstract
We introduce a simple yet efficient approach to optimize the modal fleet size of urban public transportation services, considering both user- and operator-oriented factors. This is envisaged to enhance the potential for achieving sustainable urban transportation systems and, eventually, opportunities to create sustainable [...] Read more.
We introduce a simple yet efficient approach to optimize the modal fleet size of urban public transportation services, considering both user- and operator-oriented factors. This is envisaged to enhance the potential for achieving sustainable urban transportation systems and, eventually, opportunities to create sustainable cities. The presented constraint optimization approach can be described as follows. First, the expected passenger demand and the cycle time for the public transportation service are estimated. Next, the desired constraints and parameters, such as those related to the headway and seat supply, are determined. Finally, the optimal combination of different vehicle classes and the number of trips satisfying all the defined constraints are determined. The case of an urban area in a developing country is considered. The resulting solution determines the optimal numbers of public transportation trips and vehicles, by mode, required to meet the expected passenger demand, provide a high-quality service with acceptable headways for passengers, and, at the same time, reduce the service providers’ costs as well as the environmental impacts. It is also concluded that a fleet composed of different modes can better facilitate the achievement of the optimal solution for passengers and service providers compared with the one-mode fleet. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Smart Cities: Challenges and Opportunities)
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22 pages, 7714 KiB  
Article
Introducing the Smart City to Children: Lessons Learned from Hands-On Workshops in Classes
by Antoine Clarinval, Anthony Simonofski, Julie Henry, Benoît Vanderose and Bruno Dumas
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1774; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031774 - 17 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3462
Abstract
Smart cities are receiving a lot of attention from researchers and practitioners as they are considered potential solutions to challenges (e.g., traffic congestion and waste management) faced by cities. As a result, the term “smart city” is recurring in political discourses and the [...] Read more.
Smart cities are receiving a lot of attention from researchers and practitioners as they are considered potential solutions to challenges (e.g., traffic congestion and waste management) faced by cities. As a result, the term “smart city” is recurring in political discourses and the news. Moreover, smart cities are transitioning from strong and technological orientations toward inclusive and participative orientations, and citizens are expected to take an active part in their design. However, the smart city concept remains obscure to the majority of the public; although many participation methods exist for adults, few have been implemented for children, who remain on the sidelines. Our objective is to address the lack of research on innovative initiatives to (1) educate children on the smart city concept and (2) include them in citizen participation dynamics. To achieve this, we propose a novel hands-on workshop where children learn about the smart city concept, are challenged with a collective urban planning exercise and develop a digital citizen participation method. This paper describes the workshop conducted and reports on lessons learned from its evaluation; the workshop involved 299 children from the ages of 12 to 14. It showed success in improving the children’s understanding of the smart city concept. We then propose future inclusive smart city research directions grounded in the evaluation results and the feedback received from multiple practitioners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Smart Cities: Challenges and Opportunities)
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Review

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28 pages, 2231 KiB  
Review
Smart, Sustainable, Green Cities: A State-of-the-Art Review
by Vahid Javidroozi, Claudia Carter, Michael Grace and Hanifa Shah
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5353; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065353 - 17 Mar 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 15488
Abstract
This state-of-the-art review paper aims to provide an overview of the current research on three categories of liveable cities, Smart, Sustainable, and Green (SSG). It explores how the discussions about these three categories have been brought together in the literature and identifies an [...] Read more.
This state-of-the-art review paper aims to provide an overview of the current research on three categories of liveable cities, Smart, Sustainable, and Green (SSG). It explores how the discussions about these three categories have been brought together in the literature and identifies an integrated approach to developing more liveable cities of the future. The paper begins by introducing the research topic and methodology, setting out a broad definition for SSG cities as a starting point. Then, the review focuses on recent publications and research trends, with an emphasis on the most significant contributions to the convergence of the SSG categories. Special attention is paid to identifying gaps in current knowledge and suggesting areas for future research. Reviewing recent resources based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria in depth, using 11 relevant themes within the three aforementioned categories, provides a comprehensive and up-to-date summary of the current state of research in developing more liveable cities. Moreover, a summary of the main findings, providing a holistic view of the liveable future cities and implications for further research, policy, and practice offers a helpful resource for scholars, practitioners, policymakers, city authorities, consultants, and solution providers for SSG cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Smart Cities: Challenges and Opportunities)
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