Does a smart city have to pursue sustainability goals? Does it have to utilize the internet to involve citizens? Boyd Cohen tries to put some parameters around the discussion of smart cities - a nebulous term that means many things to many people.
As past articles on the subject demonstrate, the definition of a "smart city" can be stretched to include nearly any city doing some form of planning. As he endeavors to compile his annual rankings of smart cities, Cohen attempts to bring some order to the discussion by creating a vehicle to build "consensus around what a smart city is and what the components of a smart city actually are." To achieve this goal, Cohen introduces, "a new rubric for smart cities, that [he calls] the Smart Cities Wheel," which is oriented around six main "smart" categories.
"Most cities can agree that there is real value in having a smart
economy, smart environmental practices, smart governance, smart living,
smart mobility, and smart people," says Cohen. "Within each of these aspirational
goals, I have included three key drivers to achieving the goal. There
are over 100 indicators to help cities track their performance with
specific actions developed for specific needs."
Cohen goes on to explain a typical three-step process for how a city might, "use the Smart Cities Wheel to develop and implement a smart cities strategy."
FULL STORY: What Exactly Is A Smart City?
North America's 10 Smartest Cities
A year after he unveiled his list of North America's top "Smart Cities" based on a new metric meant to bring clarity and measurability to the discussion, Boyd Cohen is back with a refined methodology and a new ranking.
Ranking North America's Smartest Cities
For those of you who've been anxiously waiting since Boyd Cohen published his list of Europe's smartest cities last month...wait no longer, North America's top 10 smartest cities have been revealed.
Smart Cities and Utilities: Enhancing Energy Efficiency Through IoT Integration
Learn how IoT integration in utilities is boosting energy efficiency in smart cities, aiding urban planners in sustainable development.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
USDOT Revokes Approval for NYC Congestion Pricing
Despite the administration’s stated concern for the “working class,” 85 percent of Manhattan commuters use public transit to enter the city.
Tiny House Villages for Addressing Homelessness: An Interview with Yetimoni Kpeebi
One researcher's perspective on the potential of tiny homes and owner-built housing as one tool to fight the housing crisis.
Preserving Altadena’s Trees: A Community Effort to Save a Fire-Damaged Landscape
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena Green is working to preserve fire-damaged but recoverable trees, advocating for better assessment processes, educating homeowners, and protecting the community’s urban canopy from unnecessary removal.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Investigation Reveals Just How Badly California’s Homeless Shelters are Failing
Fraud, violence, death, and chaos follow a billion dollar investment in a temporary solution that is proving ineffective.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research