The Smart City Concept in the Experts’ and Residents’ Perception: Problems and Contradictions in the Concept Implementation

Abstract

Smart city technologies are designed to make human life easier and more comfortable. However, in reality, there haven’t yet been developed unambiguous criteria for measuring the effectiveness of smart city initiatives. This means that the city residents’ needs fade into the background. Therefore, the aim of the study is to identify the main problems and contradictions that impede the introduction and dissemination of smart city technologies in existing Russian cities. This article uses such techniques as expert interviews (with municipal representative, IT businessman, sociologist, economist and urban researcher) as well as semi-formalized interviews with residents of Novosibirsk. The study describes key measurements of the smart city effectiveness (Physical environment, Society, Government, Technology & Data) and examines in detail two of them: Society and Government. The research also indicates the main problems and obstacles to the effective implementation of the smart city program for each of these dimensions. The study has scientific importance, as it describes the contradictions between government and society when trying to introduce smart technologies. Also the results of the study may help IT companies to pay attention on people’s needs when developing and promoting smart applications and services.