Socially Inclusive City: Socially Inclusive and Economically Beneficial Smart Cities

Abstract

In the latest years of the twentieth century, information and communication technologies (ICT) and urbanisation are two major issues that are in egression. The progress in technology during the 1980s and 1990s majorly improved well-being in the urban centres. This encouraged development of urban centres, leading to the migration from rural areas to cities. This is with the motive that cities offer tonnes of opportunities in areas, such as social life, job, education, etc. Cities are the major pillars of economic and human activity. Furthermore, the demand for natural resources, energy and general resources for infrastructural developments are controlled by the nature and type of city. Therefore, it is expedient that urban centres strive to promote the sustainability of the environment, social unity and the standard of living of its inhabitants through effective support of economic competition and management of their developments. Therefore, in an effort to safeguard the health of the people and the condition of the earth from been ruined, the concept of ‘Smart City’ came into existence. In addition with the introduction of new technological concepts (majorly ICTs, the ‘Smart City’ concept has egresses as the pathway to accomplish more sustainable and efficient cities. This implies that such cities should not only accommodate the people with minimum health hazard but should be socially inclusive and economically beneficial to concerned stakeholders.

Citation

Oke, A.E., Stephen, S.S., Aigbavboa, C.O., Ogunsemi, D.R. and Aje, I.O. (2022), "Socially Inclusive City: Socially Inclusive and Economically Beneficial Smart Cities", Smart Cities: A Panacea for Sustainable Development, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 109-118. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80382-455-020221010