1186 | 969 | Digital platforms for participatory smart cities: some insights from the institutional approach

The recent pandemic and its restrictions affected lots of businesses and economic spheres, as well as social connections and physical inclusion in a variety of activities. At the same time, the introduced restrictions limited the physical manifestations of those activities and connections, and many of them have shifted into digital environment. A possibility to keep being physically connected has affected, in turn, participatory processes and civic actions, as well as urban and regional integrality. While the restrictions related to the pandemic might change and be lifted, it is still an opportunity to revisit the existing models of participation and social inclusion in cities, in particular new urban form of smart cities. However, the new form of urban organization requires to widen economic stakeholders and third parties’ participation. Digital or platform urbanism transforms usual ways of public participation in a number of ways through providing access to various social groups and wider coverage of both territories and actors (stakeholders). _x000D_
However, simply an introduction of any digital technologies, including digital platforms, does not lead to a new state of urban form per se. The general technological application and in particular efficient and adequate integration in various operations and interactions in local and regional processes are framed and often limited by a number of factors. In such a way, our research focuses on investigating of those factors, which act as barriers or enablers of technological integrations in smart city operation and functioning. With the framework of the institutional approach applied to smart cities concept, the research aims at identifying and mapping the potential advantages and challenges brought by integration of a platform. The research methodology is based on literature review, document analysis, interviews. An effective, accessible and fair platform is a crucial new tool for open policy-making and our common future.

Alena Myshko
Ca’ Foscari university

ID Abstract: 969