Page 7 - Enabling digital transformation in smart sustainable cities – Master plan

Foreword

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Digital transformation is both one of the greatest opportunities and most pressing challenges
for cities and communities today.

When done well, the benefits of efficient digital services and sustainable use of resources
greatly improve quality of life for all inhabitants, contributing to new economic opportunities
and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. When done badly, digital
transformation projects can lead to wasted resources, fragmented services, and dissatisfied
inhabitants.

Cities' digital transformation strategies need to strike the right balance between people,
processes, and technology. These strategies will all take different forms, as each city constitutes
a unique system with different environmental, technological, and societal contexts.

Informed by ITU experience in developing international standards for smart cities, this report
provides guidance on governance and technology dimensions of a people-centred smart city.
It offers a comprehensive overview of the stages and technical aspects of successful digital
transformation projects for city administrations in both developing and developed countries.

ITU is the primary platform for smart city stakeholders to develop international standards
and associated guidance for sustainable digital transformation. Working together on the ITU
platform, these stakeholders are enhancing global knowledge of how the careful integration
of digital technology into city management processes can improve efficiency, transparency,
and service delivery.

I thank all the experts who have contributed to this report and hope that it will prove invaluable
to city stakeholders as a tool to help make our cities smart, sustainable, and inclusive.

Seizo Onoe
Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau
International Telecommunication Union

viii