As the topic of smart cities gets more current than ever and multiple smart city project examples can be identified, this seminar paper discussed the current state of knowledge of smart cities in the literature.
This paper aims to address political players and anyone who is interested in the topic of smart cities. It will be discussed what is known about smart cities, what topics are looked at mostly and what areas have not been analyzed deeply yet, so that eventually all relevant topics to look at when trying to build a smart city are written out.
First, current smart city projects are mentioned and a typical morning routine in a future smart city is shown. In the chapter of the literature search process, it will be explained that the literature search was conducted with the keywords “smart city/cities” on EBSCO, ULB and Google scholar and then checked for quality standards.
The literature review starts with analyzing the actors involved in the process of creating smart cities, showing that so far, mostly big companies push the idea of smart cities into politics and implement smart city projects together. It is assessed that integrating citizens and universities in this process to form a so-called quadruple helix would be smarter, though. This is followed by conducting a deeper research in the seven dimensions Smart Economy, Smart Mobility, Smart Governance, Smart Living, Smart People, Smart Environment, and Surveillance/Privacy. It could be analyzed that our future way of living together will consist of a lot of technology, including sensors and Artificial Intelligence. With that, smart cities will experience a new form of governance, travelling, and housing. Environmental aspects become more important than ever, being part of all dimensions, really. On the other hand, it becomes clear, that the term “smart city” is still vague and means something different to every author. Besides, psychological and privacy issues are still research gaps that need to be further analyzed. Also, it could be shown that mostly Western researchers deal with the subject of smart cities.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Literature Search Process
3 Literature Review
3.1 Involved Actors
3.2 Smart dimensions
3.2.1 Smart Economy
3.2.2 Smart Mobility
3.2.3 Smart Governance
3.2.4 Smart Living
3.2.5 Smart People
3.2.6 Smart Environment
3.2.7 Surveillance and privacy
3.3 Discussion
4 Identification of gaps
5 Conclusion
6 References
Objectives and Research Themes
This seminar paper aims to provide a comprehensive academic review of the current state of knowledge regarding "smart cities." It explores the diverse definitions of smart cities, analyzes the key stakeholders involved in their development, and evaluates the six core dimensions (economy, mobility, governance, living, people, and environment) along with the critical aspects of surveillance and privacy. The primary objective is to identify research gaps in the existing literature to guide future inquiries into how urban areas can be effectively and sustainably transformed.
- The role of various stakeholders and the "quadruple helix" model in urban development.
- Critical analysis of smart city dimensions and their impact on urban life.
- Governance, data-driven decision-making, and the use of urban dashboards.
- Challenges related to privacy, surveillance, and socio-economic inequalities.
- The identification of significant research gaps, particularly regarding psychology and psychological impacts.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Involved Actors
The smart city is currently being constructed as a solution to many urban problems, including crime, traffic congestion, inefficient services, and economic stagnation, and promises prosperity and a healthy lifestyle for all (Hollands 2015). This is the vision that is mostly being promoted from the industry side, especially from global high-tech companies. This approach is not altruistic, as when policy makers and citizens adopt these visions they will be the ones with huge profits (Appio, Lima, and Paroutis 2019; Hollands 2015). Until 2013, IBM has already generated $3 billion from 6000 clients, only 5 years after they started the “Smarter Planet” initiative. Other ICT companies include Cisco, Intel, Siemens, Microsoft, Fujitsu and Alibaba (Curran and Smart 2021; Söderström, Paasche, and Klauser 2014; Williamson 2015). The risk of corporate dominance in smart-urbanism efforts is that such “solutions” are overly technocratic and packaged as one-size-fits-all, stifling the creativity of local actors and institutions. Most authors therefore agree on the ideal form of a so-called triple or even quadruple helix, compared to a double helix consisting of governments and industry – an approach that is being promoted by the ICT companies and leaves out ordinary people to participate (Engelbert, van Zoonen, and Hirzalla 2019; Hollands 2015; Rabari and Storper 2015; Schiavone et al. 2020).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of urban growth forecasts and the rising importance of smart city solutions for economic and social well-being.
2 Literature Search Process: This section details the methodology used for the literature review, including the selection of databases, keywords, and quality criteria for the analyzed papers.
3 Literature Review: This core chapter evaluates existing academic research, covering key stakeholders and specific smart city dimensions like mobility, governance, and environment.
3.1 Involved Actors: This section examines the influence of large high-tech companies and the push for a quadruple helix model involving government, industry, academia, and citizens.
3.2 Smart dimensions: This section outlines the analytical framework used to categorize smart city initiatives based on six established dimensions.
3.2.1 Smart Economy: This section explores how smart city policies stimulate innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent retention.
3.2.2 Smart Mobility: This section discusses the integration of Internet of Vehicles and autonomous solutions to reduce traffic, pollution, and improve urban flow.
3.2.3 Smart Governance: This section addresses the use of big data and urban dashboards in policy making and citizen interaction.
3.2.4 Smart Living: This section details how technology in homes and neighborhoods can improve waste management, sustainability, and quality of life.
3.2.5 Smart People: This section highlights the role of education and talent development in creating citizens who can contribute to city management.
3.2.6 Smart Environment: This section analyzes technology-driven initiatives for resource management, such as smart power grids and tracking plant growth in agriculture.
3.2.7 Surveillance and privacy: This section critically examines the rise of surveillance technologies and the risks they pose to personal privacy and data security.
3.3 Discussion: This section synthesizes the findings, noting both the potential benefits and the risks of widening social inequalities through technological adoption.
4 Identification of gaps: This chapter highlights the lack of consistent definitions, the bias toward the Global North, and the surprising lack of psychological research in smart city studies.
5 Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the main takeaways, reiterating the need for more inclusive, citizen-centric smart city approaches.
6 References: This chapter lists all academic sources used throughout the seminar paper.
Keywords
Smart City, Urban Planning, Literature Review, Smart Governance, Information and Communications Technology, Sustainability, Digital Transformation, Surveillance, Privacy, Quadruple Helix, Artificial Intelligence, Smart Mobility, Innovation Ecosystems, Urban Dashboards, Psychological Impacts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this seminar paper?
The paper provides a structured literature review on the concept of "smart cities," examining current projects, stakeholder dynamics, and the technological dimensions that shape modern urban environments.
What are the central themes discussed in the paper?
Key themes include the corporate-driven nature of current smart city models, the six main dimensions of smart cities, the role of data-driven governance, and the socio-technical challenges that cities face.
What is the main objective or research question?
The objective is to synthesize existing knowledge to determine what is currently understood about smart cities and to identify significant gaps in literature that require further academic research.
Which scientific methodology was applied?
The author conducted a systematic literature search using keywords such as "smart city/cities" on academic databases like EBSCO, Google Scholar, and ULB, followed by a filtering process based on relevance, quality metrics, and English language availability.
What content is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section evaluates specific dimensions (Economy, Mobility, Governance, Living, People, Environment) and critical issues such as surveillance and privacy, followed by a discussion on moving from centralized models to citizen-centric approaches.
What are the defining keywords of the work?
Key terms include Smart City, Urban Planning, Sustainability, ICT, Governance, Privacy, Innovation Ecosystems, and Psychological Impacts.
How does the paper categorize the actors in a smart city?
The paper discusses the move from a "double helix" model (government and industry) toward a "quadruple helix," which emphasizes the inclusion of universities and citizens to ensure more democratic and innovative development.
Why is the "Barcelona Model" significant in the paper?
Barcelona serves as a case study for shifting from top-down, corporate-led urban planning to a bottom-up, citizen-centric approach utilizing open-source platforms to involve the public in decision-making.
What is the most notable research gap identified by the author?
The author identifies a significant lack of research regarding the influence of smart city technology on the human psyche, specifically how constant surveillance and digitized living affect thinking, behavior, and interpersonal relationships.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2021, Smart Cities. The Current State of Knowledge, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1126194
