This post has four different smart cities playbooks. They are by UNHabitat, the Smart Cities Council, 3Gict’s Smart Cities for All, and the fourth is by two urban planners.
UNHabitat – People-Centered Smart Cities Playbooks webpage introduces a series of playbooks as basic components of their smart cities program. The aim of the playbooks is to empower local government to take a co-design approach to digital transformations. This is so that cities can work on sustainability, inclusivity and human rights for everyone. The playbooks are titled:
- Centering People in Smart Cities
- Assessing the Digital Divide
- Addressing the Digital Divide
- Shaping Co-creation and Collaboration
- Infrastructure and Security
- Building Capacity
Connected Games Playbook
The Smart Cities Council is on the front foot preparing their thinking for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. They are focused on the digital aspects of the Games and have devised two smart cities playbooks.
Smart Cities Playbook No 1 sets the digital scene for the Games covering transport, facilities, housing and urban development.
Smart Cities Playbook No 2 provides guidance on the development of a South East Queensland Regional Data Strategy. Data is one the most valuable assets within the region but is undervalued and under utilised. The Strategy should support good governance and lead the implementation.
Five Pillars of Inclusive Smart Cities
A smart city uses communication technology to enhance liveability, workability, and sustainability. While the tech gets smarter it’s not getting more accessible. The most significant barriers to inclusion are lack of leadership, policy, and awareness, and limited solutions. James Thurston lists the five pillars in the Smart Cities for All Toolkit as:
- Strategic Intent: inclusion strategy and leadership
- Culture: citizen engagement and transparency
- Governance & Process: procurement and partnerships
- Technology: Global standards and solution development
- Data: Data divide and solutions
The Smart Cities for All Toolkit empowers city leaders and urban planners to make their programs truly “smart” by being inclusive and accessible by design.
Toni Townes-Whitley, Vice President, Microsoft.
You can see a 13 minute video of one of James’ presentations that covers similar ground.
Busting myths about smart cities
Chelsea Collier and Dustin Haisler’s Smart Cities Playbook begins with myth-busting. The myths include: it’s all about technology; it’s only for big cities, it costs a lot; and only governments can do it.
The second part of their playbook focuses on best practices covering infrastructure, people and intelligence. The third part introduces seven steps to a smart-er community with practical worksheets for guidance.
Smart cities and intercultural inclusion
For an extension of smart city thinking, see a paper from Europe which addresses issues of migration and cultural inclusion. The title, is, Design-Enabled Innovation in Smart City
Context. Fostering Social Inclusion Through Intercultural Interaction.