Smart and Sustainable Cities?: Pipedreams, Practicalities and Possibilities

Smart cities promise to create economic, social, and environmental value through digital technologies, but there is scant evidence of how they can enhance social well-being and contribute to just and equitable communities. Smart and Sustainable Cities? Pipedreams, Practicalities, and Possibilities examines how smart cities relate to environmental and social issues and highlights the need for more intentional engagement and collaboration with all urban stakeholders to ensure everyone benefits from the digitalized urban environments.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 108 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Smart cities are envisioned as hubs of economic, social, and environmental value, driven by the seamless integration of urban services and infrastructure through digital technologies. However, there remains a limited understanding of how these initiatives can effectively enhance social well-being and contribute to the creation of just and equitable communities.

In response to this gap, Smart and Sustainable Cities? Pipedreams, Practicalities, and Possibilities emerges as a pioneering examination of the relationship between smart cities and environmental and social concerns. This book delves into the gap between the ambitious visions of smart cities and the realities of their implementation, focusing on the social and environmental dimensions of real smart city initiatives and the potential they hold for fostering more equitable and progressive urban environments.

Through detailed analyses of case studies in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, India, and China, the contributors shed light on the diverse ways in which social and environmental issues are interpreted and integrated into smart city initiatives and actions. The findings highlight the urgent need for more intentional engagement and collaboration among all urban stakeholders, including policymakers, developers, citizens, and community organizations, in the design, development, and maintenance of smart cities. This collaboration is essential to ensure that the benefits of the increasingly digitalized urban environments of the twenty-first century are shared by everyone, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.

The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the journal Local Environment, showcasing the cutting-edge research and insights on smart cities and their impact on society. This book serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, urban planners, developers, researchers, and anyone interested in understanding the complexities and opportunities of smart city development. By exploring the social and environmental dimensions of smart cities, this book contributes to the ongoing dialogue and efforts to create more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities for the future.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367636814