Baku contains certain characteristics of “smart city"

/By AzerNews/

By Aynur Karimova

A growing interest in "smart cities" in recent years can be observed around the world. A smart city is characterized by a highly-efficient economy and city management, a high quality of life, mobility, respect for the environment, and the active participation of the population in urban life.

A smart city is a place where traditional networks and services are made more efficient with the use of digital and telecommunication technologies for the benefit of its inhabitants and businesses. With this vision in mind, the European Union is investing in ICT research and innovation and developing policies to improve the quality of life of its citizens and make cities more sustainable.

The smart city concept goes beyond the use of ICT for better resource management and less emissions. It means smarter urban transport networks, an upgraded water supply, improved waste disposal facilities, and more efficient ways to light and heat buildings. It also encompasses a more interactive and responsive city administration, safer public spaces, and meeting the needs of an ageing population.

"A smart city is the use of information technologies in all areas of the city life. These areas include safety of the city, transportation field, and cash flow of urban infrastructures," Osman Gunduz, the president of Azerbaijan Internet Forum, told local media. "As far as I know, today a number of ministries of the country use the opportunities of the smart city system in Baku. In particular, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Transport Ministry uses the system."

Several governmental organizations of Azerbaijan have implemented these mechanisms.

Vugar Bayramov, the Chairman of the Center for Economic and Social Development, who holds a doctorate in economics, told local media that the possibilities of the smart city are being used all over the world to ensure transparency in the financing of urban projects.

"A "smart city" is often used in larger cities. As far as I know, it has recently been introduced in Amsterdam. To understand how this system works it is sufficient to consider a basic example," he said. "A playground is being established in the yard of your house, or a park is under construction near your house. If a citizen wants to learn about a company in charge of the implemented works, or which company won the tender to carry out the improvement works, he/she can go to the website of the executive power or the City Hall and get all the necessary information on the matter."

Effective management and analytical tools are of great importance for the smart city in order to calculate possible negative externalities and minimize and manage them. The smart city system leads to the involvement of the population in the management of the urban environment. Smart citizens should be the key components of smart city. Transparency in information resources is useful in the relationship between the government and citizens.

Bayramov believes this approach towards the financing of urban projects is extremely important to ensure transparency and is an essential part of the smart city.

"However, currently, the possibility of introduction of this component of smart city is not even considered in Azerbaijan," he noted.