Speaker
Description
Rapid urbanization and the growth of mega-cities have resulted in numerous risks, concerns, and problems across various aspects of urban life, including environmental, social, and economic domains. Cities and regions are inevitably moving toward urban digitalisation owing to the fast-paced development of information and communication technologies (ICTs). The concept of 'smart city' represents an emerging solution to urban challenges arising from increased urbanization through the use of ICTs. However, smart cities are often perceived primarily as technological initiatives and are implemented without considering the social and cultural contexts of cities and the needs of their residents. The implementation of smart city projects and initiatives has the potential to (un)intentionally exacerbate pre-existing social, spatial, and cultural segregation. Investigating the impact of smart city on social capital of people as the users and governance as the policymakers of smart city initiatives is worth exploring. 'Social capital' defined as the network of relationships and resources available to individuals through social interactions, is a glue that binds the community together. It is also a resource that benefits society by representing the collective amount of civic engagement, communal values, and interpersonal trust within a given geographic region or political entity. Despite the existing theoretical and practical knowledge, there is a significant research gap concerning the role and impact of smart city infrastructure in building social capital. Currently, there is no conclusive evidence indicating whether the impact of smart city infrastructure on social capital is positive or negative or to what extent smart city infrastructure can foster or deteriorate social capital in communities and cities. To shed light on this issue, this study aims to explore the domain of existing research in the field of smart city through the lens of social capital. This research will use the 'Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses' (PRISMA) method to review relevant literature, focusing on the key concepts of 'Smart City' and 'Social Capital'. The studies will be selected from the Web of Science Core Collection, using a selection process that involves identifying literature sources, screening and filtering studies based on titles, abstracts, and full-text reading.
| Keywords | Smart city, urban digitalisation, social inclusion, social capital, PRISMA |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
