Title: Analysing smartness in European cities: a factor analysis based on resource efficiency, transportation and ICT

Authors: Filippo Corsini; Francesco Rizzi; Marco Frey

Addresses: Institute of Management, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, P.zza Martiri della Libertà 33, 56127 Pisa, Italy ' Institute of Management, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, P.zza Martiri della Libertà 33, 56127 Pisa, Italy ' Institute of Management, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, P.zza Martiri della Libertà 33, 56127 Pisa, Italy

Abstract: The interest in smart cities has been growing steadily in recent years; however, there are few examples of analyses, which take into account, at the same time, multiple socio-demographic variables, economic variables and smart city characteristics. In our study, we took into account different types of socio-demographic and economic variables and smart city characteristics of 63 European cities. Data were analysed using a factor analysis. Results suggest that there is no correlation between city size and smart city characteristics and no correlation between economic wealth and smart city characteristics. Our investigation highlighted shared features between top-ranking cities in terms of smartness in the same countries. The results presented in this study could be used to better delineate a strategic agenda for European cities allowing decision makers to address challenges for smarter urban development.

Keywords: urban planning; smart cities; sustainable development; mobility; information and communication technology; ICT; information technology; sustainability; socio-demographic variables; economic variables; Europe; city size; urban development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2016.076957

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2016 Vol.15 No.3, pp.235 - 254

Accepted: 22 Nov 2015
Published online: 08 Jun 2016 *

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