Sustainable Smart Urban Governance Enabled by Context-Aware QR Codes: A Scalable Framework for Property Visualisation in Saudi Arabia

The digitisation of urban governance requires a context-sensitive method that balances operational efficiency, data security and transparency. This study proposes a context-sensitive QR code system as a conceptual framework for smart urban governance and real estate visualisation in Saudi Arabia, aligned with the strategic objectives of Vision 2030. Unlike traditional static QR code applications, the proposed system acts as a smart urban interface dynamically linking physical buildings to structured digital records and delivering role-specific information through a single scan. This system enables municipal authorities to retrieve compliance and regulatory data and allows emergency response teams to access real-time occupancy data with geographic coordinates. The proposed system enables visitors to explore curated heritage and site-based information, with each interface subject to policy-defined access rules. The proposed QR code system is evaluated by using a scenario-based computational simulation across three representative Saudi cities (Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam), and the results show that it significantly reduces service response time compared to manual processes while maintaining data integrity through role-based dynamic filtering. The proposed system enhances administrative efficiency and supports heritage preservation in sensitive areas such as the Al-Balad district in Jeddah city. By integrating governance, visualisation, and cultural sustainability within a simple, scalable and interactive model, the study provides an important framework for emerging smart cities in Saudi Arabia.