Benchmarking city smartness: Towards developing a robust multi-dimensional evaluative framework

Kadiri, Kabir

Abstract

With increasing urbanization globally, the rapid growth in information and communication technology (ICT), the ubiquity of the internet of things (IoT) vis-à-vis the rising depletion of the natural habitat and biodiversity, there has been tremendous pressure on cities to transform to a smart city. However, despite efforts to benchmark smart cities coming into full swing, existing frameworks have not taken cognisance of all relevant dimensions of a smart city and had been criticised for lack of robustness and disparate measurement approaches. This study therefore sets out to explore and develop a robust multi-dimensional framework for benchmarking of smart cities, using the UK as context. Using exploratory sequential mixed methodology approach, the study harnessed literature review, documentation, and interviews with experts in private and public sectors as data collection sources, to unearth one hundred and twenty-four city smartness indicators across diverse dimensions of smart cities (i.e., smart mobility, smart governance, smart living, smart people, smart economy etc.). Wider applicability and validity of each smartness indicators were confirmed through a questionnaire survey where a larger audience of experts were sampled. Series of statistical tests were conducted on the data generated from the questionnaire survey like, Descriptive and Reliability Analysis, and Fuzzy Synthetic Equation to develop a robust city smartness benchmarking tool. After normalizing all the variables of each dimension by a factor of 0.5, it was possible to evolve the seventy critical success criteria/factors (CSFs) which underlie the development of the smart city benchmarking framework/model. The study produced a framework which considered the physical, economic, social, and political dimensions of smart city development. Theoretically, the framework is comprehensive and very robust to benchmark the smartness of cities taking into cognisance the economic and social indicators, technological advancement, sustainability, liveability and governance. Additionally, the framework is flexible and context-sensitive, as cities differ in term of their size, population, resources and other characteristics. Professionally, the framework would assist in the benchmarking and ranking of smart cities by providing the different dimensions and indicators for assessing the smartness of cities. The framework would be of utmost value to the government, city councils, policy makers and stakeholders from different organizations to measure the level of smartness of cities, measure the complex relationships and interactions among smartness indicators in cities, compare the level of smartness of cities and understand strategies to achieve the desired level of smartness.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Mar 20, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 19, 2024
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10571739
• Award Date: Jun 19, 2024