M. M. Kamruzzaman, Bingxin Yan, Md Nazirul Islam Sarker, Omar Alruwaili · 6 authors
Nowadays, technology has been evolving rapidly. Due to the consequent impact of smart technologies, it becomes a ubiquitous part of life. These technologies have led to the emergence of smart cities that are geographic areas driven by advanced information and communication technologies. In the context of smart cities, IoT, blockchain, and fog computing have been found as the significant drivers of smart initiates. In this recognition, the present study is focused on delineating the impact and potential of blockchain, IoT, and fog computing on healthcare services in the context of smart cities. In pursuit of this objective, the study has conducted a systematic review of literature that is most relevant to the topic of the paper. In order to select the most relevant and credible articles, the researcher has used PRISMA and AMSTAR that have culminated in the 10 most relevant articles for the present study. The findings revealed that IoT, blockchain, and fog computing had become drivers of efficiency in the healthcare services in smart cities. Among the three technologies, IoT has been found to be widely incorporated. However, it is found to be lacking in terms of cost efficiency, data privacy, and interoperability of data. In this recognition, blockchain technology and fog computing have been found to be more relevant to the healthcare sector in smart cities. Blockchain has been presented as a promising technology for ensuring the protection of private data, creating a decentralized database, and improving the interoperability of data while fog computing has been presented as the promising technology for low-cost remote monitoring, reducing latency and increasing efficiency.
Bokolo Anthony, Sobah Abbas Petersen, Markus Helfert
Abstract Cities are actively deploying modern digital technologies to foster digitalization due to the emergence of data-driven innovations. Through modern digital technologies, municipalities aim to enhance services performance. Despite prior studies that focused on digital transformation in smart cities, there have been few studies aimed at managing service transformation and complexities needed to support cities in getting smarter. Also, as the deployment of information technology (IT) continues to grow within urban environment, there has been little research conducted that develops data-driven approach for digital services within urban environment. Additionally, cities are exploring methods of providing seamless mobility services based on collaboration among several enterprises and stakeholders in urban environment while achieving seamless data-driven services. Therefore, this study explores the adoption of Enterprise Architecture (EA) for digital transformations to achieve seamless urban mobility services. Qualitative data was collected using case study by interview from an organization that employs distributed ledger technology (DLT) to deploy digital services in smart cities. Findings from the interview sessions were modelled in ArchiMate language to illustrate the application of digital payment solution via DLT toward digitization of urban mobility services. The findings reveal that EA supports digital transformation of cities and manages data integration and alignment. Besides, findings from this study propose an EA approach to support urban planners and developers in understanding the actions required to implement digital transformation of their city services in becoming smarter.
Dave Murray-Rust, Chris Elsden, Bettina Nissen, Ella Tallyn · 6 authors
This paper presents an annotated portfolio of projects that seek to understand and communicate the social and societal implications of blockchains, distributed ledgers and smart contracts. These complex technologies rely on human and technical factors to deliver cryptocurrencies, shared computation and trustless protocols but have a secondary benefit in providing a moment to re-think many aspects of society, and imagine alternative possibilities. The projects use design and HCI methods to relate blockchains to a range of topics, including global supply chains, delivery infrastructure, smart grids, volunteering and charitable giving, through engaging publics, exploring ideas and speculating on possible futures. Based on an extensive annotated portfolio we draw out learning for the design of blockchain systems, broadening participation and surfacing questions around imaginaries, social implications and engagement with new technology. This paints a comprehensive picture of how HCI and design can shape understandings of the future of complex technologies.
Smart home designs have an essential role in enabling new urban co-living services for the rental housing market. These services are appealing for their flexibility, ease of access and comfort, but they impact the autonomy of the residents. By utilising a protection-appreciation space model we explore how bundled co-living contracts, community as a service, and smart spaces redefine the relationship between the tenants and housing service providers in the smart city. We discuss the compromises tenants have to accept for the comfortable housing service. Our results are based on a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with residents in two co-living studio facilities in a major Nordic city. We conclude with a reflection on how the technologies used function to cushion the autonomy of the residents and identify policy development needs to respond to the new challenges presented by the application of smart home technologies in co-living.
Because of urbanization and industrialization, non-biodegradable garbage is growing at an exponential rate. Industries have their own waste management and treatment divisions to take care of their waste products. However, civilian entities are facing many issues in waste management due to the lack of proper systems for segregating waste materials. This article proposed a unique smart waste management system using Blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) to simplify the waste segregation with the help of smart bins. The proposed system distributes rewards to users for proper disposal of waste into smart bins using smart contracts. We deployed a prototype model on different test networks to compare its real-time performance. From the experimental analysis, we can conclude that the proposed model performs better on the Matic test network than the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) and Ropsten test networks. Finally, the proposed solution ensures system transparency, traceability, and scalability, as well as eliminating single points of failure (SPoF).
Recently, 6G-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) is gaining attention and addressing various challenges of real time application. The artificial intelligence plays a significant role for big data analytics and presents accurate data analysis in real time. However, designing big data analysis through artificial intelligence faces some issues in terms of security, privacy, training data, and centralized architecture. In this article, blockchain-based IoT framework with artificial intelligence is proposed which presents the integration of artificial intelligence and blockchain for IoT applications. The performance of the proposed architecture is evaluated in terms of qualitative and quantitative measurement. For qualitative measurement, how the integration of blockchain and artificial intelligence addresses various issues are described with the description of AI oriented BC and BC oriented AI. The performance evaluation of proposed AI-BC architecture is evaluated and compared with existing techniques in qualitative measurement. The experimental analysis shows that the proposed framework performs better in comparison with the existing state of art techniques.
Cities in the Middle East and North Africa are already suffering the effects of climate change. Weak urban regulation, ineffective climate policies, limited decentralization and insufficient empowerment of local authorities and civil society further decrease urban resilience. Future climate scenarios and projected urban growth threaten the stability of the region; with potential negative knock-on effects on Europe. This CASCADES Spotlight Study examines climate vulnerabilities in urban areas in countries to the south of the EU and the wider Middle East and North Africa region and advocates for systemic approaches to addressing urban climate resilience by strengthening the water-energy-food nexus, as well as other enabling factors such as decentralization. It concludes with recommendations on how the European Green Deal can help cities in the region adapt to climate impacts, based on a water-energy-food nexus approach. Over the past two decades, the European Commission has stepped up its support for urban climate action and resilience. An increasing number of programmes financed under the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) South have addressed urban climate resilience in response to the region’s rapid urbanization and the high climate vulnerability of cities. The number of urban dwellers in the wider Middle East and North Africa region is estimated to reach 527 million in 2050, an increase of 72% compared to 2020. At the same time, climate impacts – including both slow onset changes and sudden disasters – are putting additional stress on urban infrastructure. This stress is aggravated by weak urban regulations that have created unsustainable development trends which undermine the potential benefits of urbanization and adversely affect urban climate resilience. The prevalence of highly centralized administrative systems and incomplete decentralization reforms hamper local capacity building and decision-making, which are prerequisites for effective adaptation and resilience. At the same time, climate impacts – including both slow onset changes and sudden disasters – are putting additional stress on urban infrastructure. This stress is aggravated by weak urban regulations that have created unsustainable development trends which undermine the potential benefits of urbanization and adversely affect urban climate resilience. The prevalence of highly centralized administrative systems and incomplete decentralization reforms hamper local capacity building and decision-making, which are prerequisites for effective adaptation and resilience. The convergence of the region’s harsh climatic conditions with rapid, unsustainable urbanization and the associated socio-economic burdens can exacerbate existing political instability, conflict-induced migration and poverty. These developments could cascade into the EU, altering security, trade and diplomatic relations with the Southern Neighbourhood. The EU’s evolving approach to working with local authorities on urban infrastructure and climate governance is a first step towards addressing the region’s intertwined urban and climate crises. However, this approach is still in the early stages and there is a need to reflect on lessons learned and how urban spaces, climates and governance are evolving in the region. This study suggests that the EU’s overwhelming focus on supporting cities in the region with energy efficiency and the transition to sustainable energy systems is not enough to strengthen urban climate resilience. In cities of the Southern Neighbourhood, which typically struggle with resource management and scarcity, climate resilience will increasingly depend on local capacities to formulate and implement nexus approaches, especially in the water, energy and food sectors. Based on case studies of three small and intermediary urban areas, the study advocates for a systemic approach to addressing urban climate resilience in Southern Neighbourhood cities. Considering the established effectiveness of applying a water-energy-food nexus approach to improving climate resilience, the paper stresses the need for local governments to explore nexus opportunities between the water, energy and food sectors in order to achieve resilient and sustainable urbanism, while also highlighting other enabling factors such as decentralization. It concludes by exploring how future external action around the European Green Deal and its ambitions for systemic transformation could benefit from stepping up cooperation with cities in the Southern Neighbourhood around the water-energy-food nexus.
Yana Testina, Artur Kuchumov, Julia Boykova, Marina Voloshinova
Abstract. The Arctic is a platform for scientific, geopolitical, economic, and social initiatives. The Arctic zone is a strategically important territory for both public authorities and the business community, hence we should further the growth of this region taking into account environmentally sustainable development and the latest achievements in the field of digitalization. The purpose of this article is to identify the possibility of developing the Arctic zone through creation of smart cities taking into account the principles of environmentally sustainable development and using digital technologies. The study identifies global environmental problems related to direct human intervention and climate change the Arctic faces. Global warming will accelerate the process of urbanization in the region, which will involve creation of new cities and related infrastructure. To reduce the level of anthropogenic impact in the development of the territory, it is recommended to prioritize construction of smart cities, which, thanks to their high degree of digitalization, should facilitate reduction in environmental problems and in the degree of harm caused by humans. Digital tools and technologies will aid in reducing anthropogenic impacts during urbanization of the Arctic. To improve the efficiency of functioning of smart cities, the following digital technologies should be used in their creation: the internet of things, cloud technologies, distributed ledger technology and others. Even though those are already in use, their application is not comprehensive. Analysis of the world practice of creating and developing smart cities showed that with a high degree of digitalization, they can act as drivers for intensification of development of the Arctic, contributing to reducing the number of environmental problems, which reflects the scientific novelty of the study. Furthermore, analysis of the degree of digitalization of smart cities is important. To this end, it is proposed to use a system of indicators based on the Balanced Scorecard methodology adapted for the purposes of the study. The use of this methodology will allow authorities at all levels to determine priority areas for supporting smart cities, identify and eliminate problems in the field of digitalization and environmentalization of the region, and the business community to effectively invest.
The contribution of smart campuses to smart cities’ development and vice versa has been elucidated in extant literature. The micro-transfer of smart technologies and probable procurement and contracting models remain critical for such contributions to take place. This study used a systems thinking approach to establish the interrelationships existing between smart campus technologies which can be scaled towards the development of smart cities and assess the critical failure factors negating the micro-transfer of these technologies to smart city development initiatives in developing countries. To achieve its objective, the study adopted a phenomenological research design wherein qualitative data was elicited from a purposively selected sample of seven interviewees in South African Universities. The next phase of the analysis involved a thematic approach for the production of a causal loop diagram (CLD) reflecting the interrelationships between the abovementioned facets and the associated impact on the transference of knowledge and technologies from smart campuses to smart cities. This CLD was subsequently validated by a cohort of five experts. Findings from the validation phase were incorporated in an improved CLD which provided different archetypes for engendering successful transference. This study holds salient implications for universities, cities and other stakeholders seeking to engage in a quadruple helix innovative arrangement for smart campus/city development. This study concluded that smart campuses could act as living labs for future smartness of cities globally. Government funding and willingness to produce smart cities from campuses is a fundamental feature of creating smart infrastructure in cities.
Open access
Smart Cities and Technologies
Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development
Abderahman Rejeb, Karim Rejeb, Steven J. Simske, John G. Keogh
Blockchain can function as a foundational technology with numerous applications in smart cities. The objective of this paper is twofold. First, it provides a detailed overview of the extant literature on blockchain applications in smart cities; second, it reveals the trends and suggests future research directions for scholars who wish to contribute to this rapidly growing field. We conducted a bibliometric review using a keyword co-occurrence network and article co-citation analysis. The analysis includes the assessment of 148 articles published between 2016 and 2020 in 76 academic journals. The review results demonstrate that the number of articles devoted to the study of blockchain applications and smart cities has increased exponentially in recent years. More importantly, the research identifies some of the most influential studies in this area. The paper discusses trends and highlights the challenges related to the deployment of blockchain in smart cities. To the authors' best knowledge, this represents the first study to review the literature from leading journals on blockchain applications in smart cities using bibliometric techniques.
Background/Objectives: As urbanization increases worldwide, so do the need for smart cities that enable more efficient city management.Based on smart city operational data, it explains the digital twin technologies required to predict outcomes and control according to circumstances through virtual simulations and presents related metaverse technologies.Methods/Statistical analysis: Introduction and explanation of smart city services using blockchain.The data infrastructure underlies each area, such as city operations, essential in a smart city.Findings: Therefore, blockchain is used to avoid hacking, data errors, and system failures of the existing centralized management and ensure data integrity and system stability by building a more secure server.In addition, blockchain enables the establishment of governance and free access to information through individual information sovereignty.Improvements/Applications: Most smart city models do not have a high level of authentication.Therefore, this study investigated a new smart city model that provides security and convenience to citizens by mutually complementing the virtual and real worlds by predicting urban situations through digital twins that can simulate impossible conditions in reality based on blockchain-based authentication.
Yehia Ibrahim Alzoubi, Ahmad Al‐Ahmad, Ashraf Jaradat
<span lang="EN-US">Due to the expansion growth of the IoT devices, Fog computing was proposed to enhance the low latency IoT applications and meet the distribution nature of these devices. However, Fog computing was criticized for several privacy and security vulnerabilities. This paper aims to identify and discuss the security challenges for Fog computing. It also discusses blockchain technology as a complementary mechanism associated with Fog computing to mitigate the impact of these issues. The findings of this paper reveal that blockchain can meet the privacy and security requirements of fog computing; however, there are several limitations of blockchain that should be further investigated in the context of Fog computing.</span>
Sustainable development can be attained at a microlevel and having smart campuses around the world presents an opportunity to achieve city-wide smartness. In the process of attaining smartness on campuses, the elements requiring attention must be investigated. There are many publications on smart campuses, and this investigation used the bibliometric analysis method to identify such publications produced over the last decade. A matrix of 578 nodes and 3217 edges was developed from 285 publications on smart campus construction and procurement. Fifteen cluster themes were produced from the bibliometric analysis. The findings revealed that China contributed 48.4% of all published articles on the smart campus. The findings presented a framework from the cluster themes under the four broad infrastructure areas of building construction or repurposing, technology and IT network, continuous improvement, and smart learning and teaching management. The implications of the findings identified that IT project management, traditional procurement strategy, and standard forms of contracts such as the New Engineering Contract (NEC) and the Joint Contract Tribunal (JCT) are applicable in the procurement of smart cities.
Open access
Smart Cities and Technologies
Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development
Vitor N. Coelho, Thays A. Oliveira, Wellington Tavares, Igor Machado Coelho
This paper introduces state-of-the-art possibilities for using smart contracts capabilities for governance. Assisted by blockchain, the use of these tools can provide a transition that society currently needs due the huge amount of information that reaches citizens. The core mechanism of this study lies within the scope of smart accounts and digital identities. These topics enclose smart cities trends that seek to increase citizens’ participation in the social decision making process, in a transparent way that is usually managed throughout decentralized systems. We define a set of available features that can automatically guide the flow of resources, after the conclusions of voting processes also conducted on trusted environments of distributed ledgers. By presenting innovative ideas and didactically describing the possibilities, we aim to promote awareness of blockchain capabilities among readers, students, decisions makers and, mainly, the younger generation.
Abstract In the process of rapid development of information technology, to promote the further construction of new smart cities, comprehensive utilization of cloud computing technology, big data technology and Internet of Things technology will help improve the convenience of residents’ lives. The development of blockchain technology provides more possibilities for the construction of new smart cities. The use of blockchain and other new technologies to build a smart city big data platform can realize a point-to-point communication mechanism. At the same time, this can also establish a more reliable trust agreement. It is conducive to the realization of applications such as smart IoT, government affairs, and big data. Using the blockchain big data platform to build a new type of smart city can break information islands and achieve the purpose of data sharing and information security. This is a key issue that must be paid attention to in the current construction of new smart cities. In this link, it is necessary to strengthen the research and analysis of blockchain technology to understand the problems that exist in the process of building a smart city on a big data platform. This article discusses the application advantages and related strategies of a smart city big data platform based on blockchain technology.
In construction, BIM (Building Information Modeling) promises to increase quality of data and to provide a shared, uniform view to all parties. While BIM tools and exchange formats exist, the distribution and safeguarding of data is an ongoing challenge. Distributed Ledger Technology and Blockchains offer a possible solution to this task, and they promise quality attributes such as tamper resistance, traceability/auditability and safe digitalization of assets and intellectual property. However, the practical application and adoption of Distributed Ledger Technology in the built environment requires a good understanding of tool maturity, performance and standardization. Also, user-oriented integration of BIM tools with the blockchain backend needs attention. The contribution of this paper is an overview over both industrial and academic progress at the intersection of BIM and blockchains/DLT.