Published Article / South African cities are in the process of transition in the changing scenario and need a change in the planning perspective for their sustainable development. The concept of smart city offers opportunities for such development to many middle sized cities of South Africa. Therefore, in this paper conceptual modelling for development of smart cities in South Africa is attempted based on systems concept. The conceptual models are built by using the principles of system dynamics methodology and based on causal feedback relationships among the various factors under different smart characteristics of a city such as, smart economy, smart people, smart governance, smart mobility, smart environment and smart living. The causal feedback loops and interrelationship among various parameters illustrate the dynamicity and influence of parameters on one another, which would able to assist in evolving plausible policy interventions for developing smart cities in South Africa. It is concluded that the modelling approaches presented here could guide the policy makers and city planners to evolve robust and responsive policy interventions for developing smart cities in the changing scenario.

Published Article / In this paper an evaluation of smart socioeconomic, physical and environmental characteristics of Bloemfontein city of South Africa was done to understand the current scenario of the city and evolve perspective indicative planning guidelines for transforming the city into a smart city. The evaluation was done based on 74 smart indicators, and 30 factors under six characteristics, such as, smart economy, smart people, smart governance, smart mobility, smart environment and smart living. For this purpose, survey research methodology with analysis of primary and secondary data and review of the current Integrated Development Plan of the city was followed. The investigation of the various indicators revealed that although the city is lagging behind in most of the characteristics, yet provides ample opportunity to develop it as a smart city, if smart city concept and smart growth principles are employed in city development process.

Contemporary cities challenge with complex problems. Different aspects of problems can be listed like ecological, demographical, economical or spatial. These problems require smart solutions. Increasing population and urbanization also force us to develop intelligent approaches to create economically, socially and environmentally sustainable cities. It&rsquo / s important that local authorities and planners have to have precise data to take actions against day to day urban problems. Collecting data and turning them in a knowledge are valuable for taking decisions and formulating urban policies. ICT technologies help spatial planners and decision-makers for collecting data and using them for taking agile and smart decisions. These smart solutions can be applied to different domains of cities. This thesis aims at elaborating the smart city concept and its potentials for solving complex urban challenges. A general analysis of world examples and a more profound analysis of a case study, namely Singapore Intelligent Island, have helped understanding the principles and criteria for attaining smartness in cities. The inferences from these analyses can provide a basis for the Turkish context. There are certain policies driven by Ministry of Environment and Urbanism in Turkey. Strategic action plans and legislative regulations can be a base for smart solutions for Turkish context.

The aim of the thesis Development of Smart Cities in the region of Latin America applied on the case of Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro stands on their comparison provided according to application of six axes smart city concept. Both cities provide their individual approach in their formulation and implementation of smart city initiative. According to this comparison this paper will prove that even though that there is not yet a uniform smart city definition there are indicators according to which it is possible to form a general a framework to identify smart cities. This framework will be important to prove several things about smart cities. They will be necessary for the future growth of humanity as cities become more and more important. This will happen by allowing for better functioning of cities and better use of existing resources. These cities will start to operate for their citizens in ways that lessen the impact of the environment while allowing cities to grow across multiple sectors while improving quality of life among a city s residents. This implementation of ITC technologies will prove a rising tide that will lift the city s poor by empowering their economic lives by improving quality of life and giving better access to resources. The comparison of the two cities will also prove that Rio de Janeiro through its many smart initiatives is further along in its path to becoming a smart city than Mexico City. The difference between the two will also prove just how important smart cities are to the region s future. Mexico City s projects have not been as holistic as those taken in Brazil s largest city. Rio de Janeiro s implementation of projects like COR have transformed the city allowing it to become one of the smartest cities in the region and the world. The COR has implemented ITC technologies and initiatives that have transformed every sector of the six-axes approach model.