Page 11 - Enabling digital transformation in smart sustainable cities – Master plan

Enabling digital transformation in smart sustainable cities – Master plan

Figure 2: Phases of action: Smart sustainable city master plan

Source: ITU-T Supplement 33 to ITU-T Y.4000 series
This SSC master plan corresponds to the SSC 8-step transition cycle presented in the "Guide
for Smart and Sustainable City leaders: Envisioning Sustainable Digital Transformation".

1.1 Phase I: Setting the basis for a smart sustainable city

Cities that decide to become smart and sustainable have to start by determining their motivations
and priorities, including the identification of the stakeholders that need to be involved, the
implications of digital transformation on the city's governance, as well as the mechanisms
needed to ensure sustainable inhabitant participation and feedback throughout the process
(in the short, medium and long term, and across scales).

Setting the basis for an SSC consists largely of gaining a clear, yet in-depth, understanding of
what it means to become an SSC and what the overall digital transformation process would
entail.

As stated in the preceding sections of the analysis, the concept of the SSC is broad, and there
are multiple and often competing approaches on how to achieve goals related to "smartness"
and "sustainability" within urban settings. The concept of an SSC could vary significantly in
different regions.

Also, involved in this first stage of implementation is the definition of a baseline identifying the
strengths and weaknesses of the city, and defining clearly the priorities and objectives, as the
city moves towards the attainment of SSC status. This baseline must be defined in an empirical
and standardized way using indicators.

In this context, it is important to recognize that for SSC strategies to succeed over time, they
need to be well articulated and aligned with existent approaches to urban planning, to ensure
that smart technologies, infrastructures and city services respond to a broader, more holistic
vision of the city. Understanding the urban system, its goals, operation, gaps and opportunities,
is a necessary step that should precede, and serve as a foundation for, the implementation of
SSC strategies.

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