Smart city as a developing engine for the local communities : Ramallah City as case study

Joint Authors

Awwad, Ruba
al-Jawlani, Nabil

Source

المؤتمر الدولي حول المدن الذكية : آفاق و حلول، 30-31 أغسطس 2016

Publisher

Islamic University of Gaza Faculty of Engineering

Publication Date

2016-08-31

Country of Publication

Palestine (Gaza Strip)

No. of Pages

11

Main Subjects

Engineering & Technology Sciences (Multidisciplinary)

English Abstract

This study investigates if smart cities, as a new concept, can be used as a development tools in building sustainable communities.

The study focus on Ramallah city as case study to see if achieving smart city components will reflect on the development process that this city needs due to the high pressure that it faced as main and center city in the west bank.

The study highlights the policies that Ramallah municipality is developing to meet the concept of a smart city and what actions are considered on ground to achieve it.

The main questions of this study: what are the major challenges that face Ramallah for sustainable development ?, and how can smart city’s concept help Ramallah to enhance their infrastructure, environment, community, economy and energy to achieve development ? To achieve the objectives of this study and to answer its main questions, a structured questionnaire is prepared and distributed randomly on about 210 samples in order to inspect the degree of awareness that communities have about smart city and their role to improve the quality of life of people in Ramallah.

Also, different interviews were conducted with the city decision makers, experts, economist, urban planners..

.etc, to discuss the methods and tool that are necessary to develop this concept within Ramallah.

SWOT analysis is used to reach the main challenges which are facing the Ramallah city from being a smart city.

The analysis of the questionnaire and interviews revealed that Ramallah city has started the first steps toward being a smart city by defining its vision, and having the people aware of the smart city role in development of their city and quality of life.

Having the ICT as a major tool, it is important to start dealing with all smart city components such as infrastructure, energy, governance, economic and environmental issues.

Data Type

Conference Papers

Record ID

BIM-775824

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