Geddes’s Concept and the Smart City Concept, Article Critique Example

Reflection on Geddes Approach and Its Application

Geddes’ concept has revolutionized to a large extent, the designing, and building of modern cities around the world. Geddes, in addition to engaging in city planning and face lifting, was involved in some scientific projects, and his contribution to some of these projects was immense. Botanist scientist, Geddes incorporated the concept of the appearance of the garden in designing towns. His success in pioneering the planning of his town of residence in Scotland inspired his further involvement in designing of towns and renovation of old structures and buildings. His concept regarding the planning and development of towns and cities has acted as the platform of interest in research, professionalism and educational development (Batty, 2013). This study will seek to analyse the concepts of space, communities, smart cities, and reposition the Geddesian ideas in contemporary learning strategies about the wide political spectrum associated with smart cities paradigm. The study will additionally seek to evaluate the challenges that abound while developing smart cities.

The essence of the ICTs in supporting different activities aimed at improving urban development and enhancing the way people engage in carrying out their activities is a factor that should be treated with acknowledgement (International Conference on Computers in Urban Planning & Urban Management et al., 2015). The emergence of the idea regarding the smart cities has largely been supported by a combination of innovation and research in digital concepts. The integration and blending of different aspects of knowledge with regard to the development of the smart cities has further contributed towards the enhancement of the notion. The digitalised broadband program has a high latent capability of supporting interactive features in most urban localities. The program may additionally act as a platform for enhanced exchange and collection of data that is essential to increasing the different aspects of infrastructural developments. The space refers to the viable opportunities and resources that are likely to be employed in the development of the smart cities. The space concept is additionally used to refer to additional technological means that may be employed in achieving the goals outlined in smart city development.

The implementation of the concept regarding smart cities has been enhanced by technological integration in design and planning of urban localities. The concept has been integrated with space and communities to broaden an understanding of some of the features that act as the enhancements towards achieving the goals of developing the smart cities. Different individual studies have been developed, and each of these studies has differently defined the concept of communities and space. The concept of the communities according to Batty (2013), refers to a system that enhances an exchange of information. While the information exchange process may entail increasing connection of individuals, the concept is applied in explaining the exchange of information between intelligent interceptive points. The concept according to Stratigea (2012) refers to the fact that the smart city is an integration of different technological and project development aspects that are important in achieving a modernized urban system. From the two definitions of the community with regard to the smart city, the concept should generally be used in emphasizing the value of social inclusion and involvement of the community in providing ideas that are relevant to achieving the goals outlined in developing the smart cities.

The application of Geddes’ ideology regarding the concept of planning and designing of cities may prove useful in planning and development of smart cities. Geddes showed and demonstrated the value of the community involvement in influencing the development of the urban cities. His concepts of community participation are likely to be effective when incorporated in smart city planning. The Geddess concept of using the view features of the virtual natural world in developing cities will be of value when included in developing the smart cities (Parsons & Schuyler, 2002). The government should promote the individual participation through directly investing in technologies and ventures that are likely to enhance the achievement and development of the smart cities.

Problematic Aspects of Smart Cities

The general process of establishing smart cities is likely to experience a range of challenges. The challenges are likely to be experienced within the context of planning, regulating, and managing city infrastructure. Various problematic issues are bound to arise during the planning process. The change in the economic features of a country is likely to double the effects of unemployment on the youth. The government, when faced with economic pressure, may resort to restructuring the state economic and foregoing change of city plans. Still, the doubling number of aging individuals has increased the social welfare budget resulting in more funding required. The use of funds for emergency state activities results in the deficit in the amount estimated for developing the smart cities (Parsons  & Schuyler, 2002).

The development of the smart cities is likely to experience challenges concerning the regulatory measures. Like most national projects, smart cities are regulated as a modality of enhancing the overall development of the smart cities. The state may decide to revoke a contracting license where a malpractice during the development of the smart cities occurs. The occurrence of such cases during the state of implementation may significantly negate the establishment of the smart cities. Alternately developing a proper regulatory framework that enhances regulation is imperative for the realization of the outcome.

The ability to coordinate and integrate the smart city idea into the existing urban plan depends on how well the city infrastructure is well managed. A properly maintained infrastructure is likely to enhance the smart city outcome. Some of the indicators to a properly managed infrastructure include strategically located drainage systems, proper flow of traffic and the ability of the town to develop and achieve a high percentage of immunity against natural calamities. The inability to integrate IT into determining flaws and improving the infrastructural features of smart cities is likely to negate the overall development (Bloom, 1997).

Re-poisoning Goddess Idea in Contemporary Planning

The integration of Goddess idea in city planning and development is likely to enhance the overall urban development outcome. A modern digital infrastructure blended with safe features of the accessibility of nonprivate information should be established. This will improve the process of access to valuable information by the urban individuals (Cowan, 2005). The establishment of systems that recognizes the interests and needs of individuals across a wide range of aspects is paramount. Intelligent infrastructural development should be prioritized in the development process. This will aid in enabling individual communication companies to use a broad variety of data in managing services. The result will be an enhanced infrastructural system that is capable of performing analysis of information. This will be applicable where adequate information regarding the traffic features is required. City service dashboards should be established as a means of improving transparency in results. This will additionally assist in enabling individuals to make viable comparisons of different types of infrastructures. The general learning process should be made open to facilitate integrative and mutual learning concerning the functionality and use of the infrastructural systems.

References

Batty, M. (2013). The new science of cities.London: Elsevier.

Bloom, H. (1997). The anxiety of influence: A theory of poetry. New York: Oxford University Press.

Cowan, R. (2005). The Dictionary of urbanism. Tisbury: Streetwise Press.

International Conference on Computers in Urban Planning & Urban Management, In Geertman, S., In Ferreira, J., In Goodspeed, R., & In Stillwell, J. C. H. (2015). Planning support systems and smart cities.New York: Sage Publications.

Parsons, K. C., & Schuyler, D. (2002). From garden city to green city: The legacy of Ebenezer Howard. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Stratigea, A. (2012). The concept of ‘smart cities’. Towards community development?. Netcom, (26-3/4), 375-388. doi:10.4000/netcom.1105