Blockchain Papers

Shamneesh Sharma, Nidhi Mishra

No abstract is available for this record.

Ehsan Dorostkar

The intersection of quantum urbanism and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) offers a new paradigm for remapping urban futures, wherein digital and physical realms merge into dynamic, decentralized ecosystems. This article examines how quantum computing, by applying principles such as superposition and probabilistic optimization, can simulate extremely intricate urban systems, from energy networks to traffic patterns, with unprecedented efficiency. Meanwhile, NFTs are transforming the notion of virtual land ownership, allowing decentralized control and hybrid economies that bypass geographical constraints. By integrating these domains, cities can become vibrant spaces where quantum algorithms optimize virtual land value, and NFT-based platforms democratize urban development. However, this transformation poses fundamental challenges: the energy consumption of quantum-blockchain infrastructures risks compromising sustainability goals, while algorithmic opacity and digital divides risk reproducing historical inequalities in virtual realms. Ethical governance policy and principles must concentrate on renewable energy integration, algorithmic transparency, and fair access to prevent exploitation. Drawing from emergent metaverse economy trials and quantum urban simulations, the paper argues that such a nexus would be capable of driving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely SDG 9 (innovation), SDG 11 (sustainable cities), and SDG 17 (partnerships) if they are premised on participatory design and cross-sectoral collaboration.

В. Г. Панченко, Kyrylo Oliinyk

The scientific hypothesis of the article assumes that inequality in access to digital infrastructure, inequality in digital skills and digital literacy, inequality in the use of digital technologies are new forms of social stratification and forms of manifestation of various digital divides. We argue that digital inequality objectively acquires new forms of manifestation. Digital and spatial inequality coexist in at least two forms of manifestation – digital periphery and digital gentrification. Digital periphery is the result of the formation of territories with limited access to digital infrastructure, which in the context of digitalization of economic processes inevitably leads to economic marginalization. An analysis of the literature has shown that digital gentrification is considered as a consequence of the increase in the cost of housing in areas with developed digital infrastructure due to the internal migration of digital workers. We believe that this approach to defining digital gentrification requires further study, because in the era of digitalization, digital technologies not only change the physical space of cities, but also create new forms of spaces – digital environments, digital platforms, digital communities. This allows us to develop the concept of "digital gentrification" as a phenomenon that describes the processes of displacement, exclusion and transformation in digital space. The purpose of the study is to determine the essence of digital gentrification and its typology, which will allow us to characterize the positive and negative consequences of gentrification processes for inequality from the perspective of socio-spatial transformation. We define the digital environment as the communication environment of digital devices and the environment of digital inequality. By considering the digital environment as the basis of a complex network of digital interactions, we can better understand the differences that arise in access to technologies, their use, and technology-related skills. In the context of spatial inequality, the household is a key entity, since its socio-economic situation directly depends on spatial opportunities: access to infrastructure, jobs, social services, environmental conditions, etc. The spatial localization of the household determines its inclusion in socio-economic processes and opportunities for development. In the context of digitalization, the concept of "household" is significantly modified. Under the conditions of digital transformation, traditional households are being modified into “digital communities” (groups of individuals united by common interests or goals in the digital space, who carry out economic activities) or “virtual collectives” (temporary associations of individuals for the implementation of short-term projects such as crowdsourcing initiatives) or into decentralized autonomous organizations (forms of collective economic activity based on blockchain technologies and smart contracts). Hybrid households are being formed – distributed households. We propose to consider digital gentrification as a process of transformation of digital interaction spaces and digital platforms, which is characterized by a change in the nature and intermediary functions of the digital environment, accompanied by a revaluation of digital assets in the interests of new user groups or data-driven companies, marginalization or displacement of initial users, forced simplification of digital specialization due to the development of ICT, which allowed us to distinguish platform gentrification, spatial digital gentrification, infrastructure digital gentrification, algorithmic gentrification, cultural digital gentrification, informational gentrification, economic digital gentrification, professional digital gentrification, virtual-spatial gentrification.

Igor Calzada

As generative AI (GenAI) technologies proliferate in urban governance, the challenge of building trustworthy AI systems becomes increasingly urgent. This chapter critically examines “trustworthiness” not as a purely technical attribute, but as a socio-political construct shaped by power, participation, and policy. Focusing on smart cities as testbeds of algorithmic governance, it explores how decentralized Web3 technologies—such as blockchain, DAOs, and data cooperatives—can offer structural alternatives to centralized, opaque systems. Drawing on action research from the Horizon Europe ENFIELD project and framed by EU policy developments like the AI Act and the Draghi Report, the chapter proposes a multi-layered governance model. It evaluates seven emerging techniques to strengthen GenAI accountability: (i) federated learning, (ii) blockchain provenance tracking, (iii) zero-knowledge proofs, (iv) DAO-based verification, (v) digital watermarking, (vi) explainable AI (XAI), and (vii) privacy-preserving machine learning (PPML). The chapter ultimately argues that trustworthy AI must be embedded in participatory governance, algorithmic transparency, and plural civic oversight. By reframing trust as a relational, institutional, and democratic issue, it contributes to reimagining smart cities not as technocratic projects, but as inclusive arenas for data justice and democratic renewal.

Igor Calzada

This chapter explores the technopolitical dynamics underpinning the monopolistic rise of data-opolies—dominant tech corporations such as GAFAM—and their implications for democracy in the age of AI. Drawing on Calzada’s conceptual framework and action research, it investigates how algorithmic governance in smart cities displaces democratic deliberation, eroding civic trust and transparency. The chapter critically engages with Web3 technologies—blockchain, DAOs, and data cooperatives—as possible countermeasures to platform capitalism, while remaining attentive to their ideological tensions, especially the crypto-libertarian vision of “Network States” à la Srinivasan. By linking the governance of AI systems with Richard R. Nelson’s “Moon and Ghetto” metaphor, the chapter underscores a key paradox: technological innovation soars, yet foundational democratic deficits remain unresolved. Through a multidisciplinary lens, it interrogates how decentralized infrastructures might reclaim digital sovereignty and foster more equitable innovation systems. The chapter concludes by proposing a pluralistic governance model rooted in algorithmic transparency, data ethics by design, and multistakeholder engagement—critical steps toward re-democratizing the datafied city.

Andrey Nechesov, Ivan Dorokhov, Janne Ruponen

Virtual Cities (VCs) transcend simple digital replicas of real-world systems, emerging as complex socio-technical ecosystems where autonomous AI entities function as citizens. Agentic AI systems are on track to engage in cultural, economic, and political activities, effectively forming societal structure within VC. This paper proposes an integrated simulation framework that combines physical, structural, behavioral, cognitive, and data fidelity layers, allowing multi-scale simulation from microscopic interactions to macro-urban dynamics. A composite fidelity metric ($F_{0}$) provides systematic approach to evaluate accuracy variations across applications in VCs. We also discuss autonomy of AI entities and classify them according to their capacity to modify goals—ranging from “tools” with fixed objectives to “entities” capable of redefining their very purpose. We also outline the requirements to define a coefficient to evaluate the degree of autonomy for AI beings. Our results demonstrate that such virtual environments can support the emergence of AI-driven societies, where governance mechanisms like Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) and an Artificial Collective Consciousness (ACC) provide ethical and regulatory oversight. By blending horizon scanning with systems engineering method for defining novel AI governance models, this study reveals how VCs can catalyze breakthroughs in urban innovation while driving socially beneficial AI development - consequently opening a new frontier for exploring human-AI coexistence.

Kate Bennett

‘ReFi’ is a rapidly emerging movement in the web3 space that seeks to leverage blockchain technology and decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols to deliver positive real-world impact. While ReFi is short for regenerative finance, regenerative practitioners query the regenerative claims of the movement. This perspective article explains why the regenerative claims of the ReFi movement are under scrutiny and highlights the implications for the Global Commons if the movement does not adhere to regenerative principles. Given that ReFi is a blockchain-enabled movement, the impact of ReFi on the Global Commons is implicitly a blockchain-related concern. This article provides a regenerative practitioner’s perspective on the ReFi movement as a point of reference for blockchain practitioners in the ReFi movement seeking to be a force for good. Long-standing research in ecological economics highlights the negative impacts of over-financialization and commoditization on the natural world. Given that blockchain technology enables more of the world’s natural assets to become commoditized, securitized, and collateralized than ever before, the article asserts that DeFi’s drive to financialize everything could make the Global Commons the next, and final, commodity frontier. It also asserts that the ReFi movement has the potential to reverse this trend if it can genuinely adhere to the regenerative paradigm.

Bruno Henrique Sanches, Marlei Pozzebon, Eduardo Henrique Diniz

Abstract Westernised paradigms dominate the information systems (IS) field, often overshadowing alternative epistemologies. This study challenges the prevailing hegemonic view and contributes to the decolonization of IS research and practice by proposing a Latin American and decolonial approach to technological development that emphasises community centrality and epistemic justice through recognition of local knowledges and Indigenous traditions. Using design ethnography, we follow the development of a solidarity cryptocurrency in a Brazilian favela. Our paper offers two key contributions. By introducing tecnologia social , an underrepresented perspective in IS, we highlight ecology of knowledges, centrality of the local and decolonial reconfiguration as principles that can enrich the understanding of IS projects from a decolonial perspective. In addition, we propose a new concept—epistemic dialogical tension—as a process wherein different epistemologies coexist and accommodate each other, encouraging a dynamic interplay of distinct human experiences and worldviews. It offers new paths to IS scholars and practitioners in navigating the complexities of epistemic plurality. We argue that tecnologia social and epistemic dialogical tension provide fertile ground for developing reimagined, decolonized approaches where multiple epistemologies can coexist, favouring the often‐silenced communities they are intended to benefit.

Andrew Ebekozien, Clinton Aigbavboa, Wellington Didibhuku Thwala, Mohamad Shaharudin Samsurijan · 7 authors

Purpose Twenty-first century digitalisation birthed new methods of payment systems like the emergence of cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrency technologies have been identified as drivers for crypto-smart contracts and procurements. Studies regarding the application of cryptocurrency technologies in the Nigerian built environment industry are uncommon. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the relevance of cryptocurrency technologies to the sector, examine the perceived barriers that may hinder cryptocurrency technologies implementation and propose measures to promote the applications. Design/methodology/approach The research conducted a virtual interview across Abuja and Lagos cities to appraise stakeholders’ perceptions. The interviewees were requested to proffer answers to the research questions. The study conducted 25 semi-structured interviews with knowledgeable stakeholders. The data were analysed, and findings were reported in themes. Findings Enhanced the era of smart contracts, increased liquidity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and new openings to raise more funds for capital-intensive construction projects emerged as the advantages where cryptocurrency technologies can benefit the sector if allowed to operate. Cryptocurrency technology applications are not without some anticipated hindrances. Risk of loss of investment/price instability, lack of intrinsic value, money laundering, attracting speculators, criminal activities/security issues, lack of clarity and awareness and lack of skills emerged as the frequently anticipated barriers that may hinder cryptocurrency technologies applications. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to cryptocurrency technology applications in Nigeria’s built environment, and a qualitative method has been adopted. Originality/value Besides uncovering barriers hindering cryptocurrency technology usage via an unexplored mechanism, the study is one of the few studies to proffer measures to improve cryptocurrency technology usage in the built environment.

Alessia Pisu, Livio Pompianu, S. Castello, Daniele Riboni · 5 authors

Local communities engage production systems based on a set of agreed quality standards to which each member must adhere. Most of these systems, from local food production to renewable energy communities, require continuous and transparent monitoring of sensor values collected from users’ devices. Existing centralized solutions for data monitoring grant sole authority to a single entity, introducing risks of data manipulation without consensus. Distributed ledger technologies offer promising solutions, but their scalability limitations pose challenges in handling the vast volume of data generated by Internet of Things applications. This paper proposes an innovative approach that leverages distributed ledger technologies to certify sensor data, allowing user groups to customize their certification policies by exploiting the policy templates we provide. We develop our templates and system monitoring as Hyperledger Fabric smart contracts and validate our solution on three different use cases in local communities. Experimental results show that our system reduces blockchain stored data volume and enhances trust and transparency in sensor monitoring while accommodating diverse stakeholder requirements. Our solution enables a simple, detailed analysis of certified policy violations.

Radosław Wolniak, Bożena Gajdzik, Michaline Grebski, Roman Danel · 5 authors

This paper examines business model implementations in three leading European smart cities: London, Amsterdam, and Berlin. Through a systematic literature review and comparative analysis, the study identifies and analyzes various business models employed in these urban contexts. The findings reveal a diverse array of models, including public–private partnerships, build–operate–transfer arrangements, performance-based contracts, community-centric models, innovation hubs, revenue-sharing models, outcome-based financing, and asset monetization strategies. Each city leverages a unique combination of these models to address its specific urban challenges and priorities. The study highlights the role of PPPs in large-scale infrastructure projects, BOT arrangements in transportation solutions, and performance-based contracts in driving efficiency and accountability. It also explores the benefits of community-centric models, innovation hubs, revenue-sharing models, outcome-based financing, and asset monetization strategies in enhancing the sustainability, efficiency, and livability of smart cities. The paper offers valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers seeking to advance smart city development worldwide.

Megha Chauhan, Deepali Rani Sahoo

This article examines the potential for artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to advance sustainability. Through a literature review and critical analysis, the study evaluates the possible advantages, difficulties, and opportunities of utilizing these technologies to support a sustainable future. The research study emphasizes how effective AI is at streamlining resource management, increasing system efficiency, and optimizing energy use. It focuses on the potential of blockchain to improve supply chain accountability and transparency, and it also discusses the game-changing potential of IoT to improve resource management. However, some issues must be resolved, including excessive costs, technological difficulties, data privacy concerns, and social repercussions. The essay advocates creating multidisciplinary research programs, funding R&D, and supporting collaborative relationships. It also suggests creating sustainable implementation plans, prioritizing ethical issues and data governance, and encouraging information exchange and awareness. By accepting these proposals, stakeholders may leverage the promise of green technology and innovation to build a sustainable future. It is also clear that the Internet of Things (IoT) can potentially optimize resource management. Real-time data on a variety of topics, including traffic conditions, air and water quality, and water management, can be provided through IoT-enabled sensors. Cities may reduce traffic, increase energy efficiency, enhance environmental conditions, and encourage sustainable water management techniques by utilizing this data to inform their decisions. However, serious consideration must be given to data privacy, security, scalability, and interoperability issues to ensure IoT solutions’ ethical and efficient adoption. Despite their enormous potential, the paper acknowledges the difficulties and constraints in implementing these technologies. Significant obstacles include high implementation costs, complex technical requirements, and the requirement for adequate data privacy and security safeguards. A sustainable and inclusive future also requires resolving ethical issues, including algorithmic prejudice, social fairness, and equitable access to technology. The report recommends encouraging cooperative relationships between academia, business, government, and communities to address these issues. Research and development investments are required to evaluate these technologies’ practical use, scalability, and economic viability. In addition, multidisciplinary research initiatives can comprehensively comprehend green technology and innovation’s social, economic, and environmental effects. It has been concluded that there is great potential for future technologies, such as AI, blockchain, and IoT, to advance sustainability. Stakeholders can use these technologies’ revolutionary potential to build a sustainable future by resolving obstacles, promoting collaboration, and doing additional research. To ensure the ethical and successful application of green technology and innovation for the benefit of the environment and future generations, it is essential to prioritize ethical considerations, establish sustainable implementation strategies, and foster information exchange and awareness.

Reyan M. Zein, Hossana Twinomurinzi

Blockchain technology is increasingly being recognized for its pivotal role in enhancing security, immutability, and transparency across government sectors, notably in land registration (LR) processes. This research emphasizes the need for contextually adapted blockchain technology solutions, particularly in resource-constrained and culturally diverse settings. Utilizing the elaborated action design research method, this study presents a Hyperledger-based blockchain technology system tailored for Sudan’s LR, addressing technical challenges, evaluation frameworks, privacy measures, and deployment strategies. This system not only facilitates secure and transparent land transactions from planning to certificate issuance, but also integrates the management of land sales, significantly reducing the need for intermediaries. By providing a detailed exploration of the system’s goals, technical hurdles, and practical deployment insights, this research contributes valuable knowledge to the implementation of blockchain technology in LR, with findings that are applicable to similar contexts globally. This study underscores the importance of customizing blockchain solutions to meet the unique requirements of different environments, thereby advancing digital government in resource-constrained settings.

Massimo Biasin, Andrea Delle Foglie

Smart Cities are urban areas that leverage technological solutions to enhance the management and efficiency of traditional networks for the benefit of their residents and businesses. This paper presents a systematic literature review based on the SPAR-4-SLR protocol, aimed at analyzing the literature and the progress in Smart Cities research. It specifically focuses on the impact of blockchain technology on the urban environment and its potential to contribute to the development of inclusive and sustainable communities, including financial systems with similar characteristics to serve these societies. The findings reveal a lack of research on practical applications of Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs) and blockchain in developing the financial ecosystem of Smart Cities. To address this gap, a future research agenda is proposed, highlighting several research questions that could be useful for academics and practitioners interested in exploring the development of Smart Cities' financial systems. It also highlights the potential of blockchain technology for the real estate market, which is a crucial component of urban organization in smart city constructions. Blockchain can provide a secure and transparent land registry system that reduces fraud, streamlines property transactions, and enhances land management. Therefore, research is needed to develop blockchain-based solutions for land registration, title verification, and property taxation in smart city governance.

Michael Lustenberger, Sabrina Wollenschläger, Lukas Küng

This paper explores the promise of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) as a digital governance tool for collaborative housing initiatives. Based on existing literature around the collaborative housing initiative no1s1, we explore the research question: How can DAOs help govern collaborative housing initiatives? To address this, we employ conceptual research methods, synthesizing theories from the field of collaborative housing and DAOs to propose a new framework for the governance of such initiatives. Our analysis identifies five key benefits of DAOs in collaborative housing governance: a transparent crypto-accounting system, scalable decision-making, global jurisdiction and rule enforcement, automated rights and incentives system, and flexible polycentric governance. These benefits align with Elinor Ostrom’s “Governing the Commons” principles and highlight the potential of DAOs to enable scalability and autonomy in geographically dispersed communities. While theoretical, our study provides insights into the transformative potential of blockchain-based DAOs in collaborative housing governance, laying the groundwork for further research and real-world and empirical validation.

Shahbaz Siddiqui, Sufian Hameed, Syed Attique Shah, Junaid Arshad · 6 authors

Smart cities represent a promising paradigm aimed at enhancing citizens’ quality of life through cutting-edge infrastructure and technological advancements. Collaborative services serve as a cornerstone for any smart city, fostering seamless cooperation among diverse entities, including government agencies, businesses, and individuals, thereby enhancing community outcomes. These services are pivotal, promoting seamless communication and collaboration among various smart applications, and facilitating data exchange, resource sharing, and functional interactions within smart city environments to optimize efficiency, effectiveness, and user experiences. However, the development and deployment of secure, interoperable services in smart cities present significant challenges. These issues encompass, ensuring data security compliance during interoperation, effective management of interconnected services, securely handling sensitive data across services, and addressing issues related to confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) traits. To tackle these challenges, this research proposes an innovative adaptive security governance framework tailored for smart cities. This framework relies on dynamic security policies implemented through smart contracts to guarantee data security and privacy during smart service interoperation. Real-world use cases in collaborative smart city environments validate the framework, integrating multi-chain blockchain technology, smart services APIs, and Software-Defined Networking (SDN), showcasing its ability to enhance security and efficiency in collaborative services. This study contributes to the development of safe and efficient collaborative services inside smart cities, tackling administrative issues while emphasizing data security and privacy. Smart cities may improve citizens’ living conditions while successfully addressing crucial security problems in an ever-changing environment by using this architecture.

Igor Calzada

In an era of rapid technological advancement, decisions about the ownership and governance of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence will shape the future of both urban and rural environments in the Global North and South. This article explores how AI can move beyond the noise of algorithms by adopting a technological humanistic approach to enable Social Innovation, focusing on global inequalities and digital justice. Using a fieldwork Action Research methodology, based on the Smart Rural Communities project in Colombia and Mozambique, the study develops a framework for integrating AI with SI. Drawing on insights from the AI4SI International Summer School held in Donostia-San Sebastián in 2024, the article examines the role of decentralized Web3 technologies—such as Blockchain, Decentralized Autonomous Organizations, and Data Cooperatives—in enhancing data sovereignty and fostering inclusive and participatory governance. The results demonstrate how decentralization can empower marginalized communities in the Global South by promoting digital justice and addressing the imbalance of power in digital ecosystems. The conclusion emphasizes the potential for AI and decentralized technologies to bridge the digital divide, offering practical recommendations for scaling these innovations to support equitable, community-driven governance and address systemic inequalities across the Global North and South.

А.М. Кузнецов

Настоящая статья посвящена исследованию методов верификации данных в умных городах с использованием синергии искусственного интеллекта, распределённых реестров и сетевой теории. Актуальность вопроса определяется возрастающей сложностью городской инфраструктуры и необходимостью обеспечения безопасности, прозрачности и достоверности информации, поступающей с множества сенсоров и устройств в рамках концепции умного города. Во введении обоснована необходимость разработки новых методов проверки данных для повышения устойчивости и эффективности городских систем управления. Отмечается, что традиционные решения зачастую не справляются с масштабами и динамикой современного городского пространства, где данные генерируются в реальном времени и требуют быстрого анализа и подтверждения подлинности. В разделе «Методы» описаны использованные подходы, включающие алгоритмы машинного обучения для обработки и анализа информации, протоколы распределённых реестров, обеспечивающие неизменность данных, а также методы сетевого анализа, позволяющие выявлять ключевые узлы и связи в городской инфраструктуре. Проведён сравнительный анализ характеристик предложенных методов и технологий, что позволило сформировать единую методологическую модель верификации. Раздел «Результаты» демонстрирует, как применение интегрированной модели обеспечивает повышение надежности систем умного города. На основе экспериментальных данных показано, что использование комбинированного подхода позволяет существенно сократить число фальсификаций информации, а также оптимизировать процессы распределённой обработки данных. Выявлены основные закономерности и преимущества, связанные с синергией технологий искусственного интеллекта, блокчейн-решений и сетевой теории. В обсуждении делается акцент на перспективности интегрированных решений для устойчивого развития городской среды, а также рассматриваются вызовы и возможные направления дальнейших исследований. Авторы предлагают рекомендации по внедрению разработанных методов в реальные городские системы, что позволит обеспечить более гибкую, надёжную и саморегулируемую инфраструктуру умного города. Работа может стать основой для разработки новых стандартов верификации данных и улучшения взаимодействия между информационными компонентами городской среды. This article is devoted to the study of data verification methods in smart cities using the synergy of artificial intelligence, distributed registries and network theory. The urgency of the issue is determined by the increasing complexity of urban infrastructure and the need to ensure the security, transparency and reliability of information coming from multiple sensors and devices within the framework of the smart city concept. The «Introduction» substantiates the need to develop new methods of data verification to improve the sustainability and effectiveness of urban management systems. It is noted that traditional solutions often cannot cope with the scale and dynamics of modern urban space, where data is generated in real time and requires rapid analysis and authentication. The «Methods» section describes the approaches used, including machine learning algorithms for information processing and analysis, distributed ledger protocols that ensure data immutability, as well as network analysis methods that identify key nodes and connections in urban infrastructure. A comparative analysis of the characteristics of the proposed methods and technologies was carried out, which made it possible to form a unified methodological verification model. The «Results» section demonstrates how the use of the integrated model improves the reliability of smart city systems. Based on experimental data, it is shown that using a combined approach can significantly reduce the number of information falsifications, as well as optimize distributed data processing processes. The main patterns and advantages associated with the synergy of artificial intelligence technologies, blockchain solutions and network theory have been identified. The discussion focuses on the prospects of integrated solutions for the sustainable development of the urban environment, as well as discusses challenges and possible areas for further research. The authors offer recommendations on how to implement the developed methods into real urban systems, which will ensure a more flexible, reliable and self-regulating smart city infrastructure. This work can become the basis for developing new standards for data verification and improving interaction between information components of the urban environment.

Austin Zwick, Zachary Spicer

Cohen's Smart City Generational model has been the basis of understanding for the evolution of the Smart Cities movement. However, how does this model align with practitioners’ conceptualization of the term? Our research focuses on Infrastructure Canada's Smart City Challenge (SCC). Through 14 primary interviews and 20 finalist applications, this research reveals that practitioners overwhelmingly understand Smart City building as a government-driven, data-centric endeavor (Smart City 2.0), as opposed to being about vendor transactions (Smart City 1.0), resident engagement (Smart City 3.0), or community co-creation (Smart City 4.0), where the specific technology is of secondary importance to project objectives. We conclude that, rather than moving through distinct generations, the smart cities movement should be understood as a gradual process of municipal public administration modernization as local governments are becoming increasingly savvy and experienced about contracting with technology firms to address urban problems.

Xi Chen, Wei Hu, Jingru Yu, Ding Wang · 7 authors

Urban growth sometimes leads to rigid infrastructure that struggles to adapt to changing demand. This paper introduces a novel approach, aiming to enable cities to evolve and respond more effectively to such dynamic demand. It identifies the limitations arising from the complexity and inflexibility of existing urban systems. A framework is presented for enhancing the city's adaptability perception through advanced sensing technologies, conducting parallel simulation via graph-based techniques, and facilitating autonomous decision-making across domains through decentralized and autonomous organization and operation. Notably, a symbiotic mechanism is employed to implement these technologies practically, thereby making urban management more agile and responsive. In the case study, we explore how this approach can optimize traffic flow by adjusting lane allocations. This case not only enhances traffic efficiency but also reduces emissions. The proposed evolutionary city offers a new perspective on sustainable urban development, highliting the importance of integrated intelligence within urban systems.

Albert Eddy Husin, Priyawan Priyawan, Bernadette Detty Kussumardianadewi, Rizkiawan Pangestu · 7 authors

Climate change is a threat and crisis that hit the world today; one of them is causing drought, rising sea levels, melting polar ice, and heat waves; therefore, the target towards Net Zero Emission (NZE) in 2060 must be an obligation in all countries. Green Building (GB) is a building that meets Building Technical Standards, and has demonstrated demonstrable success in conserving resources such as water, energy, and other resources. The application of GB principles following the function and classification in every stage of their implementation is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This research aims to analyze the cost of improvement work based on GB assessment in applying the Technical Guidelines from Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) No. 1 of 2022, which is the latest regulation in Indonesia. The blockchain-BIM method and the implementation of the GB component will be analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to find the most influential factors. The results of this study show that by applying Blockchain-BIM to overcome the cost constraints, it is proven to be able to increase the cost performance of GB in modern shopping center buildings by 3–3.8% in the Basic rating, while for other ratings, it is 0.5–2.1% higher, where the selection of a renewable energy model is very influential. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-10-09 Full Text: PDF

Natarajan Sankaran

Revolutionizing data processing, security and real-time decision making, the move to IoT edge intelligence is advancing the state of the art in how we approach these and all challenges of modern business. Latency, bandwidth constraints, security vulnerability are the traditional pain points of traditional cloud-based service models, edge computing is a critical solution. The IoT systems can be made more responsive, better able to utilize resources more effectively, and more secure by way of integrating ML driven visualization and edge AI strategies. Nevertheless, there are still some challenges about this such as scaling, data privacy, and computational efficiency. These risks can be mitigated with the solutions like federated learning, blockchain integration and then the anomaly detection, and all that data can actually flow seamlessly and securely. Edge AI takes the best of centralized cloud along with cost efficiency of distributed systems and results in reducing dependence on centralized cloud infrastructure, and optimizing data processing by doing the computation locally to lower latency and save bandwidth. Furthermore, ML based visualization tools help in making IoT applications efficient for smart cities, health-care and industrial automation domains. Though the technology was developed years ago, security continues to be a key consideration as blockchain technology ensures secure, tamper proof data management, while federated learning ensures that data is private because it is decentralized during training. It is expected that later IoT edge intelligence can be advanced further from emerging technology such as quantum computing and AI driven automation. Such advancements will enable more scalable, secure and efficient processing frameworks that would lead to making intelligent, autonomous decisioning in the real time environment. As organizations adopt the edge AI solutions, it is important to address their current limitations and exploit the future innovation for the further growth and efficiency of IoT ecosystems.

Sarmad Khawaja, Vahid Javidroozi

Abstract Smart cities driven by modern technologies are the need of the day to alleviate the urbanisation challenges and improve the overall experience of the citizens. As the role of data‐sharing to facilitate systems integration across city sectors for developing smart cities has grown ever so profoundly, there is a need for decentralisation, transparency, and openness in terms of integration of city sectors to have efficient data diffusion among them. This is extremely important as the requirements of smart sustainable cities are open data sharing to allow service providers to better serve the citizens. Blockchain technology offers these characteristics with the extremely important added advantage of maintaining data security via an immutable record. However, the notion of the use of Blockchain for smart sustainable cities is still in the early years and requires extensive efforts to research and test it. In this research, a state‐of‐the‐art review is conducted to explore the usefulness of Blockchain technology in smart sustainable city development with a specific focus on cross‐sectoral systems integration, highlighting the gaps in the existing body of knowledge. This leads to the proposal of a novel framework for the use of Blockchain for smart sustainable cities, linking together service providers and citizens.

Marco Fiore, Marina Mongiello

The combination between innovative topics and emerging technologies lets researchers define new processes and models. New needs regard the definition of modular and scalable approaches, with society and environment in mind. An important topic to focus on is the smart city one. The use of emerging technologies lets smart cities develop new processes to improve services offered from various actors, either industries or government. Smart cities were born to improve quality of life for citizens. To reach this goal, various approaches have been proposed, but they lack on a common interface to let each stakeholder communicate in a simple and fast way. This paper shows the proposal of an architecture to overcome the actual limitations of smart cities: it uses Blockchain technology as a distributed database to let everyone join the network and feel part of a community. Blockchain can improve processes development for smart cities. Scalability is granted thanks to a context-aware approach: applications do not need to know about the back-end implementation, they just need to adapt to an interface. With Blockchain, it is possible to collect data anonymously to make some statistical analysis, to access public records to ensure security in the city and to guarantee the origin of products and energy.