Indicators For Data-Driven Smart Cities: Paving the Path to Sustainable Urban Development

Abstract

In an era of rapid urbanization and technological advancements, smart and sustainable urban and regional development has never been more critical. Territories worldwide face complex challenges with regards to sustainability, resource management, and equitable development, which beg for a paradigm shift in urban governance, echoing the United Nations' call for smart and sustainable urban development. However, the success of this transformation depends on establishing comprehensive indicators guiding public policies and urban interventions. This thesis explores new potentials of Smart Cities and Regions, emphasizing data-driven approaches that can pave the path for sustainable development. Through the six studies compiled in this work, we present four composite indicators to measure urban and regional multidimensional phenomena at high spatiotemporal resolution. Firstly, the novel Urban Dynamic Indicator is introduced, capturing urban activity through the integration of high-resolution data on mobility and environmental factors, aiming at supporting city planning and management. Complementing this, we propose the Regional Dynamic Indicator, extending the previous approach to capture multidimensional activity within a region, transcending city boundaries. Moreover, focusing on the mobility vertical, a novel street-level methodology to calculate walkability and support urban design is presented alongside critical review of post-COVID-19 walkability indicators. Finally, an indicator and predictive model for illegal parking risk is described, offering insights and predictions about urban parking to support its management. These studies present findings across various geographical areas, providing insights into urban and regional management challenges and opportunities, giving examples of decision-making and analytical tools for sustainable development. Our aim is to address a global audience of researchers, policymakers, and urban planners, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and interoperable indicators in the complex landscape of urban and regional environments.