Smart-City as a New Subject of Statistical Studies: Terminological Definitions

Abstract

Cities consume 75% of global resources, and city administrations, regardless of country and size, face enormous challenges. These are high level of air pollution, congestion of roads, lack of public transport, poor security (meaning not only the crime but also road safety, the ability to obtain timely medical care, food quality etc.), poor quality of water, inefficient use of energy resources, the problem of waste disposal, increased costs and the need for their minimization.

Existing forms of urban management of public services, being obsolete, cannot meet modern requirements. An attempt to solve the complex of city problems is conceptualization of the notion of “smart-city”. Although the efforts at conceptualization and definition of “smart-city” are continuing on the global scale, there has been no crisp and consistent understanding among practitioners and in academia. The article aims to review and analyze the currently existing definitions of smart-city and its component characteristics.

The author’s investigation leads to the conclusion that definitions of smart-city depend on the stakeholders (institutional agencies, academic community, civil society, business companies or enterprises) and focus area. Thus, institutional agencies have been increasingly focused on network infrastructure (energy, mobility, and ICT), while aspects of smart-city associated with the increasing quality of life play a secondary role. Definitions offered by the scientific community are more systematic and cover all the urban activities; they are largely concentrated on the theoretical basis of the concept and the different dimensions of smart-cities. Business companies, as well as institutional agencies, in their interpretations tend to focus on network infrastructure and particularly on ICT as a product or service.