The concept of the smart city differs from person to person. For some, a city flourishes with its institutional growth, and for some, an excellent infrastructural development is a definition of a progressive city. To understand the sustainability and transition of a smart city, we must first trace the organic growth in its socio-technical system, which means that there is a need for a noticeable change in the institutional-material structures of the smart city.

– “Regulative, normative and cultural-cognitive elements that, together with associated activities and resources, provide stability and meaning to social life” (Scott, 1995)

The three prominent dimensions that need to be carefully considered to order to determine the development of a city as a smart city are as follows:

Regulative – A city requires explicit regulatory processes, such as formal rules, laws, policies, protocols, and standards to constitute a developed city. In case if a city fails to comply with these rules, there may have more profound implications in terms of legal sanctions. When we try and analyze how a city can develop based on the above points, we have a fair idea and understanding that the institutional analysis of smart city initiatives would elaborate on the formal dimensions of these initiatives. This should be done in such a way in which they are deep-rooted in urban, regional, national, or even international policy initiatives for urban development.

Normative – A city should have rules that introduce a prescriptive, evaluative, and obligatory dimension. This should also refer to changes like values, role expectations, social norms, duties, and responsibilities. Just in case if a city fails to comply with these rules, it may result in strong emotional responses for those who show active behavior of following the rules, which can lead to a sense of shame or disgrace. On the contrary, it would raise a feeling of pride and honor, if all rules are diligently followed. As the debate of what makes a city smart continues, it has increased the scope and needs for more inclusive development. It may also be noted that the economic, social, and ecological challenges may have a far-reaching impact and ideally should also be prioritized in order to consider a city to be smart. However, it should be a significant point of discussion for the policymakers to prioritize the smart city initiatives and form the goals.

Cognitive – To understand the cognitive dimension, we should understand the cognitive behavior of the people. The world is interpreted based on shared conceptions and frames through which the social-structure gains meaning. Comprehensively, they form implicit ‘cultural reservoirs’ or ‘cognitive logics’ for action. These schemes can lead to confusion if not conformed at the earliest stage of policy formation. Symbols, discourse, and cultural categories, and how they are ‘brought to life’ in social interactions, are essential elements of the cultural-cognitive pillar in forming a smart city. For example, in the analysis of how smart cities are framed as solutions to contemporary urban challenges and such conversational approaches have received relatively much interest in this field, in forming a critical perspective of a smart city.

The study of a smart city is framed propositions for comparison as highlighted below:

1. Prevailing institutional pillars can be regulative, normative as well as cognitive. It configures the form of new smart city institutional arrangements (or governance arrangements).
2. These pillars are place-specific and multi-scalar. And hence, institutional arrangements across urban contexts will differ.
3. The study of a smart city will be based on specific facts and data. It will vary from places to places based on different features and outcomes across the urban contexts.
4. The cities that are elected as smart cities in each country should be explored based on certain socio-cultural, institutional, technologies, and other engagements.

A smart city is not as perceived to be but as explored to be one.

When all focus is on building your smart city, how can we negate the role of the development of physical infrastructure? The purpose of physical infrastructure towards the development of a smart city is essential and critical. It provides the base foundation upon which a smart city is developed. Due to an increase in population and pollution, our Earth is going through a series of environmental changes. Our world is open to countless challenges every day.

To have a smart city, developing smart physical infrastructure is vital. It is fundamentally essential because technology should be intelligently used. Today, some of the critical information technology (IT) companies have provided solutions for a sustainable planet and city, and by far the technology plays an important role in achieving this. Smart physical infrastructure is making our world a better place to live. An excellent physical infrastructure integrated with intelligent technology provides a strong resistance to certain environmental imbalance and shock. When your city is equipped with the latest and modern technology, your strong infrastructure can withstand natural calamities or environmental changes. You take a step ahead to set an example for the people who haven’t thought of the solution before.

How smart technology integrated with physical infrastructure to develop a smart city?

Smart technology creates specific opportunities for people. In order to build outstanding physical infrastructure with smart technology and solutions, we need to understand the requirements. A smart city can never be built in a day. It requires planning, serious decision making, and implementation in a real way. All sectors involved in planning the physical infrastructure need to put together all important aspects to bring it to a visible result.

To consider our environment, one must understand the economic possibilities. New businesses and services are offered in the developing city when the costs are reduced. Innovation and cutting-edge technology are merged with the existing physical infrastructure of a city that works best for all the sectors of physical infrastructure required to the lives of people in a smart city. It is a perfect source for developing the city. The successful development of a smart city requires technology integration, as advanced technologies are used in many areas to build a smart physical infrastructure.

Some of these leading technology services include:

• Sensors
• Low-cost communications
• Real-time analysis and control
• Technology integration of isolated pre-existing services

Smart City Development

As a smart city requires a smart physical infrastructure, sustainable urban development, or the city that is heading towards development also requires a smart infrastructure. There are many challenges that a city faces on its way towards a developed city. Being well-equipped with smart technology can over-power any challenges that come on its way towards development. Integrating buildings, building infrastructure, taking care of basic needs, and providing services with real-time information technology constitutes a smart city. Towards urban development, today, the cities have created a strong base of smart physical infrastructure.

There are some smart principles like data collection and analysis, which have made it possible to manage and take care of the necessities of the cities and the residents. Water system management, energy and utility grids, transportation, and all services that a smart city resident requires to maintain a decent lifestyle, wouldn’t have been possible without proper research of people’s basic requirements. As for these objectives of the data assessment to build the perfect the development of the smart city has become a reality.

When you have a smart physical infrastructure, society can progress. The integration of energy, utilities, and telecommunications are important parts of physical infrastructure. Thankfully, the smart city development has become a global phenomenon with the use of smart devices. Smart energy, smart buildings, smart water, smart transportation, and other sectors have made our life so easy. There is a rise in energy-efficient buildings, which is an integral part of smart physical infrastructure. These are great contributions to developing a smart city. And it also plays a crucial role in building a sustainable planet.