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This paper examines the potential of smart city design as a transformative strategy for natural disaster risk reduction (DRR), using Songdo, South Korea, as a key case study. Urban regions are increasingly confronted with climate change-related threats, including floods, typhoons, and heatwaves. The incorporation of smart technologies and sustainable infrastructure offers creative strategies to enhance urban resilience. Songdo, an internationally acknowledged exemplar of smart city development, demonstrates how sophisticated urban systems can improve disaster readiness and adaptive capability.
The research analyses essential components of Songdo's smart city framework, encompassing real-time sensor networks, advanced water management systems, energy-efficient architectural designs, and automated emergency response systems. These technologies facilitate proactive risk management, data-informed decision-making, and swift responses to natural disasters, therefore diminishing vulnerabilities and enhancing urban resilience. The study highlights the necessity of combining sustainable urban planning with technological advancements to successfully mitigate increasing climate hazards.
Notwithstanding these gains, considerable obstacles persist. Socio-economic inequalities in access to smart technology generate equity issues, whereas intersectoral collaboration and policy coherence are essential for the effective operation of smart city systems in times of crisis. This paper examines Songdo's triumphs and limits, offering critical insights into the function of smart cities in mitigating disaster risks and enhancing urban resilience.
This research enhances the current dialogue on urban futures by elucidating the advantages and constraints of smart city designs as mechanisms for climate adaptation. It provides practical insights for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers aiming to reduce vulnerabilities and promote sustainable, resilient urban populations in response to increasing natural disasters.
| Keywords | Smart city design, Disaster risk reduction, Urban resilience, Songdo |
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