which are intrinsic to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Schwab 2017) while basically neglecting the social, ecological, and economic sustainability of Smart City
projects. The ISO definition for Smart Cities has a one-sided technological focus,
whereas all aforementioned definitions include social and/or ecological aspects.
Principally, SD consists of an element describing stability (“sustainable”) and an
element describing change (“development”), thus constituting an innovative change
preserving existing essential resources and values while taking ecological, economic, and social factors into consideration (Schwarz-Herion 2015a). Therefore,
genuinely sustainable Smart City projects should combine environmental protection
and the conservation or renovation of older buildings with the construction of new
buildings and innovative technology in favor of the ecological, social, economic,
and cultural pillar of sustainable development.
13.2 Mission, Visions, and Image of Smart Cities
in the Framework of the SDGs
13.2.1 Mission
Since the trend to further urbanization has increased from ca. 750 million people
living in cities back in 1950 to 3.6 billion people by 2011 and is reportedly supposed
to increase even further until 2030, 60% of the global population could be urban by
2030 (Romero-Bourbón et al. 2015; Smith 2017). This would lead to an imbalance
between the number of persons living in urban areas and the available resources
needed to ensure the adequate functioning of a city (Romero-Bourbón et al. 2015).
Some suggest solving this problem by expanding information and communication
technology (ICT) to most or even all areas of urban life to allow the city providing
essential services and resources (especially water and food) to its citizens in an
efficient way. Pursuing a common goal like the triple bottom line of SD involving
cooperation in favor of economic, social, and ecological improvements may allow a
city to progress (Romero-Bourbón et al. 2015). The extensive use of ICT might
optimize the measurement of various factors by using common standards to facilitate
the flow of goods and services to citizens; to shorten travelling ways to save time,
resources, and costs (Romero-Bourbón et al. 2015); and to provide increased
comfort and security.
13.2.2 Smart City Visions
Various visions are associated with the Smart City as follows (Libbe 2014):
• Value-added vision: In terms of economic policy, the Smart City is seen as a
future market with significant growth potential for companies operating in the
ICT sector.
13 The Role of Smart Cities for the Realization of. . .
211
projects. The ISO definition for Smart Cities has a one-sided technological focus,
whereas all aforementioned definitions include social and/or ecological aspects.
Principally, SD consists of an element describing stability (“sustainable”) and an
element describing change (“development”), thus constituting an innovative change
preserving existing essential resources and values while taking ecological, economic, and social factors into consideration (Schwarz-Herion 2015a). Therefore,
genuinely sustainable Smart City projects should combine environmental protection
and the conservation or renovation of older buildings with the construction of new
buildings and innovative technology in favor of the ecological, social, economic,
and cultural pillar of sustainable development.
13.2 Mission, Visions, and Image of Smart Cities
in the Framework of the SDGs
13.2.1 Mission
Since the trend to further urbanization has increased from ca. 750 million people
living in cities back in 1950 to 3.6 billion people by 2011 and is reportedly supposed
to increase even further until 2030, 60% of the global population could be urban by
2030 (Romero-Bourbón et al. 2015; Smith 2017). This would lead to an imbalance
between the number of persons living in urban areas and the available resources
needed to ensure the adequate functioning of a city (Romero-Bourbón et al. 2015).
Some suggest solving this problem by expanding information and communication
technology (ICT) to most or even all areas of urban life to allow the city providing
essential services and resources (especially water and food) to its citizens in an
efficient way. Pursuing a common goal like the triple bottom line of SD involving
cooperation in favor of economic, social, and ecological improvements may allow a
city to progress (Romero-Bourbón et al. 2015). The extensive use of ICT might
optimize the measurement of various factors by using common standards to facilitate
the flow of goods and services to citizens; to shorten travelling ways to save time,
resources, and costs (Romero-Bourbón et al. 2015); and to provide increased
comfort and security.
13.2.2 Smart City Visions
Various visions are associated with the Smart City as follows (Libbe 2014):
• Value-added vision: In terms of economic policy, the Smart City is seen as a
future market with significant growth potential for companies operating in the
ICT sector.
13 The Role of Smart Cities for the Realization of. . .
211