Accelerating Innovation

A special issue of Smart Cities (ISSN 2624-6511).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 32122

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Public Administration, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: e-government; smart cities; internet of things; artificial intelligence; big data; computer and society

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Guest Editor
Department of Economics and Public Policies, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: public decision modelling; market failure; adaptive economic policies; economic analysis.

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Guest Editor
Public Administration College, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), 012244 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: public administration reform; europeanization; foreign aid
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Faculty of Public Administration within the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration in Bucharest, Romania, cordially invites you to submit a paper for the Special Issue of the MDPI journal Smart Cities entitled “Accelerating Innovation”—which is an anniversary issue celebrating the tenth edition of the Smart Cities International Conference (SCIC) and aims to focus more on longitudinal studies of digital reforms, locally and globally. Successful applications may also broach one or more of the following: e-government, e-democracy, social innovation, urban planning, and development.

This special issue is open to academics, policy makers, early-stage researchers and students in social sciences and other related fields. Experts in comparative public administration and elected officials of local governments are strongly encouraged to engage and submit their contributions. 

Special Issue topics

  • Smart governance
  • Smart environment
  • Smart technology
  • Smart economy
  • Smart people
  • Smart mobility
  • Smart living
  • Smart education
  • Young leaders for smart cities
  • Future trends—smart(er) state

Dr. Catalin Vrabie
Dr. Teodora I. Bițoiu
Dr. Diana-Camelia Iancu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Smart Cities is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 312 KiB  
Article
The Concept of Learning Cities: Supporting Lifelong Learning through the Use of Smart Tools
by Ionelia Hirju and Radu-Ionut Georgescu
Smart Cities 2023, 6(3), 1385-1397; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities6030066 - 14 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2317
Abstract
This paper presents an initiative in which QR codes on public transport are used to provide citizens with books that they can read and that will improve their general knowledge. It builds on the concept of the learning city and combines it with [...] Read more.
This paper presents an initiative in which QR codes on public transport are used to provide citizens with books that they can read and that will improve their general knowledge. It builds on the concept of the learning city and combines it with smart city tools. This paper aims to use a descriptive–empirical approach, including an experiment in Bucharest. This research aims to contribute to the academic world, urban sociology, public administration, and lifelong learning education. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Accelerating Innovation)
10 pages, 942 KiB  
Article
The Role “Chief Digital Officer (CDO)” in Public Municipalities—The Conceptual Effect of a Functional Profile for Successful Transformation
by Christian Schachtner
Smart Cities 2023, 6(2), 809-818; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities6020039 - 3 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2401
Abstract
The objectives of this study are to demonstrate the effect of a function called ‘Chief Digital Office’ as a responsible positioning of digitization at the C-level. This is intended to show both the importance of digitization measures and the effect of change projects [...] Read more.
The objectives of this study are to demonstrate the effect of a function called ‘Chief Digital Office’ as a responsible positioning of digitization at the C-level. This is intended to show both the importance of digitization measures and the effect of change projects with a methodical approach in cross-sectional tasks for strategic work. The previous work shows different functional layouts and individual responsibilities without conceptual foundations in the implementation of digital strategies. To provide the first contribution to a common framework for the work of CDOs, a basic concept for public administration based on the municipalities is to be launched. The results lead to statements about the optimization potentials of the status of the study survey of the digitization of German municipalities: “Digital Vorangehen [Leading the way digitally] (2020)”. In particular, this includes the development of a holistic digital agenda, the use of future technologies and the mindset for the development of innovative implementation solutions in both internal service provision and outward-looking services. The value lies in contributing to the establishment of the framework of ‘Public Digital Transformation Governance’ to transfer the fundamental standardization of the action strands into a functional profile. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Accelerating Innovation)
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13 pages, 2633 KiB  
Article
Research on LMS and KPIs for Learning Analysis in Education
by Milena Krumova
Smart Cities 2023, 6(1), 626-638; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities6010029 - 16 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3511
Abstract
Learning Analysis (LA) trends show that KPIs used for better understanding and investigation of the learning process are diverse and often depend on the goals of the analyses. One of the most crucial questions for the implementation of LA is the availability of [...] Read more.
Learning Analysis (LA) trends show that KPIs used for better understanding and investigation of the learning process are diverse and often depend on the goals of the analyses. One of the most crucial questions for the implementation of LA is the availability of data. Currently, each education organization uses some type of Learning Management System (LMS), thus gathering, storing, and managing different data about the learning process. The initial point of this research is the fact that the time framework of the learning process is predefined, and that learning process analyses must be done according to this limit because each learning activity takes time to be performed. This research conducts an overview of the LMS and proposes KPI clusters for measuring and analyzing learning processes regarding (i) learning engagement, (ii) learning community building and management, and (iii) knowledge no-boundaries. It is structured into three parts. Based on the research methods used (a literature review, desk research, and experiments), (1) a review of LMS is conducted, then (2) the learning analysis is presented, (3) KPI analyses are done, and, finally, a new KPI model for LA is proposed, which includes 22 KPIs grouped into 4 Clusters. In the conclusion, the advantages of the model are explained along with the scientific contribution of the research. The next research steps, regarding the implementation of the model in the real classroom, are presented at the end. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Accelerating Innovation)
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28 pages, 440 KiB  
Article
Privacy and Security Concerns in the Smart City
by Brian F. G. Fabrègue and Andrea Bogoni
Smart Cities 2023, 6(1), 586-613; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities6010027 - 10 Feb 2023
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 18546
Abstract
This article will highlight negative personal privacy and informational security outcomes that may arise from development programs currently pursued in smart cities. It aims to illustrate the ways in which the remedies proposed so far appear insufficient from a legal or practical standpoint, [...] Read more.
This article will highlight negative personal privacy and informational security outcomes that may arise from development programs currently pursued in smart cities. It aims to illustrate the ways in which the remedies proposed so far appear insufficient from a legal or practical standpoint, and to set forth a number of tactical approaches that could be used to improve them. Cities require spatial efficiency to address rising complexities, which can only be attained through an adequately efficient exchange of information among its citizens and administrators. Unprecedented volumes of private, public, and business data can now be collected, processed, and transmitted thanks to present technology. According to the authors’ analysis of current trends in technology, data collection, legislation, and the related public acceptance in Italy and Switzerland, governments, corporations, employers, and individuals will increasingly experience hazard and damage given the ease at which tracking technologies can be abused. The study clarifies how significant data privacy and information protection are in the making of a successful smart urban community and provides insights on local Italian and Swiss policy makers’ interest about digital innovation tied to the development of data protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Accelerating Innovation)
35 pages, 2495 KiB  
Article
The Smart Community: Strategy Layers for a New Sustainable Continental Framework
by Vlad Stoicescu, Teodora Ioana Bițoiu and Cătălin Vrabie
Smart Cities 2023, 6(1), 410-444; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities6010020 - 2 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4230
Abstract
The topic investigated in this article is a comparison, contrast, and integration effort of European strategies for sustainable development with the evolving market initiatives that are beginning to fuel the fourth industrial revolution. Several regulatory initiatives from continental bodies come into effect to [...] Read more.
The topic investigated in this article is a comparison, contrast, and integration effort of European strategies for sustainable development with the evolving market initiatives that are beginning to fuel the fourth industrial revolution. Several regulatory initiatives from continental bodies come into effect to radically change access to finances for business development, based on sustainability goals, and an analysis of the legislation and trends becomes essential for an effective pivot tactic in the face of adversity, as well as change management policies to pre-emptively adapt and perform. The general research question is “what the strategic tools are best employed to overcome the hurdles laid forth by the drastic changes legally required for a sustainable future?” The research methods include a quantitative analysis of norms, regulations, and legislation, including strategic initiatives circulated in the European Union governmental bodies, integrated with qualitative research of the literature. The study finds and draws synergies between national strategies that have recently been drafted or are currently evolving with sustainability-centric initiatives such as the hydrogen initiative, the nuclear initiative, the natural gas initiative, the renewables initiative, the synthetics, and biomass initiative, the ESG initiative, the digital initiative. The findings are to contribute to the business administration field by providing an appropriate image of the organizational design model in the sustainability era, and a strategy framework to build the optimum long-term vision founded on continental regulatory initiatives that have come into effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Accelerating Innovation)
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