Data analysis and triangulation for problem source elimination in smart cities: the societal city

Abstract

A recent ambition for smart city (SC) is to become people centric, which means to realize sustainability, inclusiveness, prosperity, and human rights for the benefit of all. In this respect, the local authorities aim to utilize technology to meet the community needs, and among others to identify and address the sources of local problems. This work in progress describes the concept of the "social/societal city" and attempts to justify the reasons that the SC should evolve to a societal city. A societal city focuses on the people and living SC dimensions, and promote social well-being, justice, equality, and participation. To improve the performance of the services provided to their citizens, the municipal authorities must collect data from different sources, analyze them, identify local problems and their sources, and do the appropriate policy making to deal with the sources instead of simply responding with the consequences of the problems. This ongoing study uses a multi-method research methodology: it defines the societal city with findings from literature review. Then, it investigates accidents in the SC of Trikala, Greece and uses data triangulation to define their sources. Finally, it interviews the municipal authority to propose measures that require emergent strategic changes.