For any city to be denoted as a smart city, there is the need for such a town to be used in infrastructure, technology, marketing among others. In other words, a smart town requires proper planning. Looking at the whole world, there is consistency in rural to urban migration. People are relocating to metropolitan cities in such of greener pastures. In Hong Kong, for example, approximately 50% of the whole nation' population has transferred to urban areas (Caragliu, 2013). In the next 30 or 50 years to come, it is predicted that the percentage of migration will hike to approximately 67% (Caragliu, 2013). Therefore, there will be the need for better infrastructure, communication, among other growth and development to accommodate the population. The objective of this study paper is to assess and discuss the smart cities approach critically. The research further compares and evaluate the effectiveness and feasibly of smart towns approach in different cities such as; Hong Kong, Barcelona, and Bangalore. Also, these paper discusses various policies used in those cities when using the smart city approach and successfulness and failures of each town.
1.1 Problem Statement
Technology is moving very fast leading to the construction of many houses, a building of more roads, among other things. The population is also increasing. Thus resources are becoming limited. With the increased rate of rural-urban migration, people congest in town. Thus, this calls for building more houses, roads, and public resources such as schools and medical amenities. Therefore, the research will be about finding out about smart cities approaches used in Bangalore, Hong Kong, and Barcelona.
1.2 The relevance of the study
This research aims at finding out the effectiveness and feasibilities of smart cities approaches used in Hong Kong, Barcelona and Bangalore. The research will give information on policies used by these cities to reinforce the strategies leading to the successfulness of the City. The study will provide the reader with what innovative planning and techniques applied by the cities in developed countries and what can be implemented in developing cities to become a Smart city. The research will also evaluate and compare which areas are improved during the approach innovation in these cities.
1.3 Objectives
To measure and survey the feasibility and effectiveness of smooth cities in each City
To assess the successfulness and failures in each smart city
To find out the effects of different policies of smart cities approach.
1.4 Research Questions
How does the feasibility and effectiveness of smart cities in each City compare?
What are the evaluation of the successfulness and failures of each smart city?
What are the effects of different policies of smart cities approach?
1.5 Discussion
This chapter presents a critical assessment of academic works relevant to smart cities and the achievement of such towns. The investigation lures on a wide range of literature including peer-reviewed studies, planning policy documents and technical reports. Thus, this research intends to identify gaps in the existing research and to set out how this study can fill those gaps. The research also seeks to add to the current body of studies on the topic of smart cities in contemporary society (Farrell, 2011, pg.17-23). It is argued that the drivers for smart urban areas include the rapid increase in the global population and the fact that a high proportion of this population is choosing to reside in urban areas (Caragliu et al., 2011, pg780).
That said, there are different concepts of smart cities within the urban development (Grimaldi and Fernandez, 2016, pg.34-342). Therefore, the literature review starts with an exploration of the smart city concept, followed by an analysis of the benefits and policies of this form of development and a detailed discussion of smart cities and planning.
Chourabi et al. (2012) maintain that the concept of an original town emerged from the fact that the global urban population is increasing year-on-year, as society shifts from a primarily rural to an urban community. This shift creates complex problems for city regulators, planners, and management, as large congregations of people typically lead to complicated waste management problems, a scarcity of resources and increased levels of air pollution (Zhang et al., 2017, pg 1-10). Mass urbanisation also creates physical issues which can lead to human health concerns; these physical problems include traffic congestion, exacerbated by inadequate and ageing infrastructure struggling to support this human influx (Bojković et al., 2018, pg. 14-16).
Mass urbanisation also creates social and organisational problems which include satisfying the needs of different stakeholders and maximum levels of reliance, while balancing opposing goals and standards, amidst societal and politically complex environments. The smart city concept is currently viewed as the antidote to these problems, seeking to provide livable conditions within a sustainable urban environment. The problem is that, as pointed out by Holland (2008), there is no harmony on the description of a smart city. In the comforts of simplicity, it is suggested that it is therefore prudent to explain the concept of a canny town in the context of this dissertation.
1.6 Research Methodology
The chapter aims at the description of the research methodology applied in establishing the research data, and the eventual conclusions and recommendations developed. The rationale for this chapter is to demonstrate the relationship between the used research methodology and the study topic as well as the interrelationship and compatibility of the methods applied. In particular, the research chapter evaluates the type of data used in the study and how the data is collected. Overall, the study had a choice of using either primary, secondary or both data sources in its review. The determination of a specific data set is hedged on the nature of the study. Secondly, the chapter evaluates the research strategy applied in collecting the required data. Each of these discussions is followed with justifications on why they were the best utilised for the study and how they helped in delivering on the study aim and objectives.
1.7 Data Description
In this research, Survey of smart city approaches and Income Dynamics will be of assistance. Thus, this is because the data give the cross-sectional level of pay for the Barcelonans in each wage Survey record on all smart city approaches. The techniques for information accumulation offers an assortment of information on work even from conventional research about innovative methods used I the developed cities compared to the developing ones. In the development of a research study, Goodwin (2012) mention that there are two primary sources of data that can be relied upon.
They are the primary and secondary data sources respectively. On the one hand, central data is described as the type of data obtained for the first time directly from the sources. In this regard, a study that uses primary data deals directly with the data sources and generates entirely new data and information not already available in the literature. However, it is often expensive and inapplicable for large-scale sample-based studies.
On the other hand, secondary data source includes the use of already existing information. In this regard, studies that use this source of data synthesise the information available and generate conclusions based on established trends, patterns, and emerging issues respectively. The limitation in the use of this data source is its reliance on already existing literature and information and hence the risk of inaccuracy if the original report was inaccurate. Nevertheless, it allows for the cross-examination of large sets of data and information that would otherwise be impossible when using a primary data source (Hewson and Stewart, 2016).
The study at hand was a critical evaluation of smart cities approach. Hence, this is meant to ensure that the research sought to review policies and systems in place in most of the smart cities to establish the strengths and weaknesses respectively. As such, it was critical for the study to analyse such policies not based on their wording, but based on their impacts on application over a more extended period. Unfortunately, using primary data for such a case scenario would have meant that the study would be longitudinal and as such would take a more extended period to complete. Additionally, due to the nature of the cities, it would mean that a large financial resource base would be required to finance the study primary data collection across different cities. The above factors were all against the minimum budget allocation and time allowed for the completion of the study. Thus, this made the use of primary data source inapplicable. On the contrary, a preliminary literature analysis demonstrated that there is a vast resource base of information available on smart cities. Thus, this meant that it was possible for the study to rely on the already existing data collected over the years to analyse the approach and policies used. Additionally, the availability of the information allowed the survey to stretch its focus over a series of cities, thus enriching its conclusion and recommendations scope. Consequently, based on the above factors that aligned with the study needs, secondary data was used as the primary study data source. In particular, to allow credibility and authenticity of the obtained findings, the review relied on sources such as peer-reviewed journals, government publications and policy documents, popular news articles, and other industry related publications.
1.7.1 Research Methods
Once a research study has established the data sources to rely on, the next step is the determination of the research method to apply. In this case, Bryman (2015) noted that in the use of secondary data; studies can rely on different ways including a survey approach and the case study approaches respectively. First, the method of a survey approach includes the sampling of data from across the entire population. As such, a study sets a target population this is to be review and using specific sampling methods samples data that represents the whole community. Creswell and Creswell (2017) stated that this research strategy is ideal for studies that have a relatively smaller sample base and whose target populations have minimal variances and as such their findings can be clustered in the findings section.
However, if the sample base is large, this strategy would be less applicable. On the other hand, a case study approach is ideal for population bases that are significantly large. In this regard, as Lewis (2015) noted, there can be a single case study approach, and the multiple case studies approach respectively. The most ideal among them are the numerous case studies approach. The method includes the sampling of data from different case studies and comparing the findings for similarities and differences. This strategy is often used for population bases that are bound to be different and as such comparing and contrasting them is critical.
This research study at hand is a critical evaluation of the smart cities approach. In an attempt to deliver on its aim, the study ought to review different cities to establish their success rates and failure regarding actualising the smart city objectives (Maysoun,2017).Therefore, based on this research aim, it is evident that the best strategy would be the use of multiple case studies. To ensure that both the success and the failure rates in this regard were established, the study used three case study cities namely London, Barcelona, and town in India (Maysoun,2017). On the one hand, the study evaluated London and Barcelona s templates of successful smart cities approach application. Since the two cities have demonstrated success, the study investigated the policies and systems applied in both to hasten the progress. In particular, it explored on the similarities and differences in such successful strategies. On the other hand, the city in India was used as a case study of a less advanced smart town in the world (Maysoun, 2017). Thus, based on its current policies and systems, the review investigated the lessons learned for similar less advanced smart cities globally.
1.8 Characteristics of information collection and why it's essential to the examination
1.8.1 Fulfillment
Utilization of the data collection technique helps to give complete information prompting precision increase which helps in getting moderately more exact information for this examination. Thus, this is critical in this investigation since it can reach strong inferences.
1.8.2 Accessibility
Utilization of Smart City planning approach gives data with no legal systems prerequisite and other administrative limitations. Thus, this is critical in this investigation since it would save money on expenses and time expected to look for information utilising great strategies.
1.8.3 Data Empirical Criteria Analysis
In this investigation, OLS and qualitative techniques for information examination will be used to decide the effect of smart city approaches in Hong Kong, Barcelona, and Bangalore. The explanation behind choosing Ordinary Least Square (OLS) is because of its effortlessness and does not include an extended methodology to test for theory (Perera, 2014). This strategy is additionally easy to comprehend, and the readers of this examination paper will think that it's simpler to appreciate contrasted with other relapse techniques such as the use of linear regression analysis.
In summary, this chapter develops a detailed description of the research methodology used in the review. The chapter has demonstrated that based on the nature of the study and its aim and objectives, the use of secondary data ad a multiple case study approach was ideal (Maysoun,2017). In this case, the chapter demonstrated that the use of Barcelona and London as advanced smart cities and city in India as a less advanced smart city enabled the review capture the scope of the success and the failed cases and approaches (Perera, 2014). The next chapter in the study is the actual study findings analysis. Thus, this findings and analysis chapter that details the findings through a comparing and contrasting of policies and systems across the cities approach.
1.9.0 Results/ Finding
1.9.1 To evaluate and compare the feasibility and effectiveness of smart cities in each City
In Barcelona, planning has been dispersed as a role of government, exercised at different levels including national, local and municipal, city, region, and neighbourhood levels with specialised areas including rural, conservational and conveyance planning. However, this institutional view of planning is too narrow, as planning is also a role of trades and local groups (Maysoun, 2017). In other words, Barcelona and Hong Kong smart cities have an integrated planning system and framework which enables the system-wide effects of planning and subsequent development to be traced and designed to the "very responses and designs that characterise the operations and functions of the cities"(Batty et al., 2012). Also, this would entail weaving intelligence functions into the drapery of existing city and institutions whose roles are taming the eminence of life for its people.
The need for ICT is to penetrate all areas to increase presentation and improving the value of life is central to the smart urban agenda (Batty et al., 2012). Chen et al. (2017) make the point that smart cities are more than short-term hype, with for plans to change about 100 cities into smart cities in India and about 500 smart city pilot cities in China already. Also, the estimated worldwide smart municipalities market will rise from USD411 billion in the year 2014 to more than USD3 trillion by 2020 (Perera, 2014). There is also evidence of the implementation of smart processes to enhance the connectivity and environmental quality of urban space. According to Navarro et al. (2016), they indicate that smart technology is being employed in various European cities to reduce the impact of urban transport on the socio-economic and environmental quality of urban life to a city like Bangalore. Thus, this is accounted for by the fact that the transport sector accounts for more than 30% of the CO2 emitted in the EU (Maysoun, 2017).
A key challenge in urban transport is freight distribution, and the EU is working towards a solution that improves the effectiveness of this transport sector while enhancing the creative use of renewable energy, without intrusive with monetary expansion. To this end, six Mediterranean municipalities including Barcelona, Bologna, Piraeus, Rijeka, and Valencia functioned together as a share of the SMILE Project (2015) (Smart green Innovative urban Logistics Models for Energy-efficient Mediterranean cities project). Their intentions were improving the energy efficiency of these cities using smart urban development to promote innovative and cost-effective ways for urban transport and logistics.
The project indicated that smart technology has the potential to drive a sustainable future. However, there are barriers such as the need to take into consideration the features of the surrounding whose smart measure is being enhanced the need for an integrated approach to vehicular access times, control and the licenses that vehicles need to rotate and deliver in this environment (Perera et al., 2014). The organisation of the optimal routes is also a key point for system efficiency, and it was found that the costs of the project made it difficult to achieve economic equilibrium.
1.9.2 To evaluate the successfulness and failures of each smart city
Maysoun et al., (2017) point out that city planner typically seek to change their towns into Smart Sustainable Cities (SSC) as a means of tackling swift development and its encounters (Maysoun, 2017). This process is typically signified by a roadmap, which is suggested that it makes trying to cover all the required aspects of a smart city thoroughly. For example, some roadmaps do not take account of the current challenges of a city, while others fail to consider all six of the dimensions above. Also, the development of a roadmap for future development needs to check that the capital is social, technologically and economically ready for a change. Angelidou (2017) suggests that smart towns can only be achieved through bottom-up, locally driven planning and development, coordinated and supported by national and international levels of governance. It is argued that this is evident in some city plans including, for example, the Barcelona Smart City in Spain, which focuses on international promotion and collaboration for the development and promotes local projects.
The planning and development plan is attained on the collaboration of a nation and industry, academic, and citizens. In London, planners focus on the Smart London Plan created in 2013, which focuses on seven critical themes including services for citizens and citizen engagement, as well as the creation of trading centres, good infrastructures, and networking among all shareholders (Angelidou, 2017). The difficulty is that in this innovative approach to urban development, smart city projects are being delivered by corporate-oriented and profit-oriented concepts, with little resolution on the socio-technical implication of technology on social mechanisms. There is also a consideration of bottom-up governance, concern about surveillance and anonymity, and the power associated with the collection and management of the database. In short current research, analysis and development are less focused on learning from existing smart city projects and overly concentrated on visions of the future of urban life (Vanolo, 2016).Aletà et al. (2017) point out that there are several experimental studies. However, there is a lack of database, knowledge, and financing for shrewd creativities.
The reality is that the achievement of a canny city requires the involvement of multiple roles, and different but coordinated fields of action, within what are typically social and political complex environment. In other words, smart city development requires a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach (Aletà et al., 2017). At a European level, it is submitted that the EU has sought to clarify and simplify the process into six dimensions, and is currently funding significant research into this area. It is also clear that these policies are taking root in the Member States, at national as well as city levels of governance.
Nonetheless, it appears to be a significant area of research on the meaning of smart cities and the need for government direction and guidance to achieve smart cities, yet there is limited research on the achievement of this kind of urban form (Maysoun, 2017). Notably, both Barcelona and London have smart city development plans, and it is suggested that this dissertation could be progressed by a detailed case study in the development of these smart plans and progress to date.
1.9.3 To find out the effects of different policies of smart cities approach.
In theory, contemporary urban planning is "the integration of a plurality of interests and active public participation," which takes the participatory approach to development and is facilitated by data technology systems, for example, the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (Bojković et al., 2018). The creation of a smart metropolitan, therefore, requires the integration of environmental and social issues as well as technology to enhance ongoing economic improvement and the tools for the active maintenance of natural resources. Besides, the smart city concept gives an opportunity to manage the future of the urban.
Such can only be obtained by setting up a clear and concise policy framework, reinforced by planning policy (Aletà et al., 2017). Vanolo (2016) concedes that a smart city can relate to a combination of the smart city driven by technology and smart growth achieved through effective planning policy. At present, there is a gap between these concepts and urban strategies, mainly because the discourse on smart cities has been developed by a few multinational companies including Cisco and IBM, with the latter primarily involved in development and implementation of data collection techniques and public management systems. In fact, IBM has started to form the collaboration with cities such as New York, Chicago, and Madrid to develop smart technology for urban safety management and healthcare systems along with smart energy distribution systems.
That said there is progress on a regional level, for example in Europe, the smart city concept is prevalent, and a significant element in EU funding research, with the Seventh Framework Programmed for Research and Technological Development and Horizon 2020 introducing the term "smart city" into energy policing issues. The EU is also investing heavily in research on smart energy efficient buildings, energy spreading and transport systems (Vanolo, 2016). Adapt (2017) points out that a smart city framework needs to balance political and environmental forces. This balance can only be achieved with the support from the political environment, with participatory forms of government at every level from national to the local level to initiate a dialogue between the governors and even citizens, effective allocation of resources and prospects growth initiations, in an improvised environment. In other words, the balance of environmental influences is crucial in developing smart infrastructure and in the ultimate prevention of urban decay, enhanced social and human capital.
Marsal-Llacuna et al. (2015) imply that there is a need for a fixed of smart city pointers to progress smart policies to advance this agenda and to monitor the progress. It is argued that this is evident in Europe where policymakers have agreed that the smart city concept has six dimensions which influence economic and planning policy. These dimensions include smart economy, smart nation and responsible government, quick movement, a creative environment and intelligent living (Adapa, 2017). Also, these measures would relate to regional and town development contexts and could be found in neo-classical economics (Giovannella, 2013). Petit et al., (2017) point out that Planning Support Systems (PPS) are essential in making use of the power of big urban data and supporting land use and transportation plans. These supporting systems include data-driven modelling approaches meant for creating and visioning the alternative of future cities options. However, despite the widespread availability of these models, there has been limited usage in the profession involved in planning.
It is suggested that there is evidence that these EU policies are filtering through to national level policies and municipal governance. As shown by the development of Sustainable Urban Regeneration Models in various European countries, defining of an integrated and general process transforms the city environment into districts of sustainable buildings and urban mobility, within integrated infrastructures and processes. An example of this modelling and development is REMOURBAN which is a research and development on a replicable model that delivers technical and non-technical solutions in related fields addressing the sustainable urban regeneration goals, prioritising energy, mobility, and ICTs within the city environment.
REMOURBAN has been used to analyse several European cities to identify their primary features and current status against specific EU smart city indicators. The European Commission is also encouraging the Member States to amend policies and financial means for promoting of the cost-effective means of transformation of existing buildings into smart and a more energy efficient assets. Thus, as a part of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan), the Canny Municipalities and Societies creativity has heartened cities and expenses to advancement towards a 40% decrease in greenhouse gases and emissions via the flexible use and fabrication of vigour (European Commission, 2009; Kylili and Fokaides, 2015).
1.10 Conclusion
In conclusion, cities use different approaches in pursuit of being called a smart city. The research was about a comparison of three different cities and their effectiveness in the method used. These cities are; Barcelona, Hong Kong, and Bangalore. Hong Kong and Barcelona are Smart Cities. These cities have advanced technology and machines in production sectors. These sectors perform efficiently and effectively due to the availability of better techniques and skilled workers. In Bangalore, the city does not have advanced planning as compared o Hong Kong and Barcelona. There are policies used in each town in the accomplishment of smart city approach implementation and is applied by the government.
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