Developing People-Centered Smart Cities under Resource Constraints: A Stepwise Framework and Comparative Case Studies

With rapid urbanization and the development of digital technologies, smartcities have become a powerful tool for addressing urbanization challenges, withincreasing emphasis on the people-centered principle in recent years. In 2023,UN-Habitat proposed the concept of people-centered smart cities, outlining itsconnotations and guiding principles. However, in practice, this study found significantdisparities in the development of people-centered smart cities worldwide, with lowandmiddle-income regions experiencing slow development due to limited digitalcapabilities. Therefore, this study aims to propose a new guiding framework for citieswith different resources and backgrounds, providing a three-step developmentstrategy encompassing self-diagnosis, development path selection, andinstitutionalization and long-term operation. The new framework also proposes aseries of assessment indicators, forming a questionnaire to assist city governments indeveloping people-centered smart cities. Using Dar es Salaam and Hamburg as casestudies, this study attempts to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new framework,emphasizing its applicability to cities with diverse resource backgrounds. Ultimately,this study aims to advocate for recognition and support for people-centered smart citydevelopment in disadvantaged cities, achieving inclusiveness in improving urban lifeand contributing to the realization of SDG 11.