Evaluating Social Impact of Smart City Technologies and Services: Methods, Challenges, Future Directions

Hodson, E; Vainio, T; Sayún, MN; Tomitsch, M; Jones, A; Jalonen, M; Börütecene, A; Hasan, MT; Paraschivoiu, I; Wolff, A; Yavo-Ayalon, S; Yli-Kauhaluoma, S; Young, GW

Evaluating Social Impact of Smart City Technologies and Services: Methods, Challenges, Future Directions

Hodson, E Vainio, T Sayún, MN Tomitsch, M

Jones, A Jalonen, M Börütecene, A Hasan, MT Paraschivoiu, I Wolff, A Yavo-Ayalon, S Yli-Kauhaluoma, S Young, GW

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Publisher:: MDPI
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, 2023, 7, (3)
Issue Date:: 2023-03-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Hodson, E
dc.contributor.author	Vainio, T
dc.contributor.author	Sayún, MN
dc.contributor.author	Tomitsch, M https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1998-2975
dc.contributor.author	Jones, A
dc.contributor.author	Jalonen, M
dc.contributor.author	Börütecene, A
dc.contributor.author	Hasan, MT
dc.contributor.author	Paraschivoiu, I
dc.contributor.author	Wolff, A
dc.contributor.author	Yavo-Ayalon, S
dc.contributor.author	Yli-Kauhaluoma, S
dc.contributor.author	Young, GW
dc.date.accessioned	2024-04-26T00:48:35Z
dc.date.available	2024-04-26T00:48:35Z
dc.date.issued	2023-03-01
dc.identifier.citation	Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, 2023, 7, (3)
dc.identifier.issn	2414-4088
dc.identifier.issn	2414-4088
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/178376
dc.description.abstract	This study examines motivations, definitions, methods and challenges of evaluating the social impacts of smart city technologies and services. It outlines concepts of social impact assessment and discusses how social impact has been included in smart city evaluation frameworks. Thematic analysis is used to investigate how social impact is addressed in eight smart city projects that prioritise human-centred design across a variety of contexts and development phases, from design research and prototyping to completed and speculative projects. These projects are notable for their emphasis on human, organisational and natural stakeholders; inclusion, participation and empowerment; new methods of citizen engagement; and relationships between sustainability and social impact. At the same time, there are gaps in the evaluation of social impact in both the smart city indexes and the eight projects. Based on our analysis, we contend that more coherent, consistent and analytical approaches are needed to build narratives of change and to comprehend impacts before, during and after smart city projects. We propose criteria for social impact evaluation in smart cities and identify new directions for research. This is of interest for smart city developers, researchers, funders and policymakers establishing protocols and frameworks for evaluation, particularly as smart city concepts and complex technologies evolve in the context of equitable and sustainable development.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	MDPI
dc.relation.ispartof	Multimodal Technologies and Interaction
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3390/mti7030033
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	40 Engineering
dc.subject.classification	46 Information and computing sciences
dc.title	Evaluating Social Impact of Smart City Technologies and Services: Methods, Challenges, Future Directions
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	7
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Provost
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Provost/TD School
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2024-04-26T00:48:31Z
pubs.issue	3
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	7
utslib.citation.issue	3

Abstract:

This study examines motivations, definitions, methods and challenges of evaluating the social impacts of smart city technologies and services. It outlines concepts of social impact assessment and discusses how social impact has been included in smart city evaluation frameworks. Thematic analysis is used to investigate how social impact is addressed in eight smart city projects that prioritise human-centred design across a variety of contexts and development phases, from design research and prototyping to completed and speculative projects. These projects are notable for their emphasis on human, organisational and natural stakeholders; inclusion, participation and empowerment; new methods of citizen engagement; and relationships between sustainability and social impact. At the same time, there are gaps in the evaluation of social impact in both the smart city indexes and the eight projects. Based on our analysis, we contend that more coherent, consistent and analytical approaches are needed to build narratives of change and to comprehend impacts before, during and after smart city projects. We propose criteria for social impact evaluation in smart cities and identify new directions for research. This is of interest for smart city developers, researchers, funders and policymakers establishing protocols and frameworks for evaluation, particularly as smart city concepts and complex technologies evolve in the context of equitable and sustainable development.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/178376