Smart City Case Study——Barcelona

Tianqi Wang

Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, University College London, WC1E 6BT, London, UK

Abstract: The popularization of technologies such as computer technology, smartphones and Global Position System (GPS) have brought great convenience to urban life in the past few decades (Ratti &Claudel, 2016). As a result, the structure and function of urban system are changing gradually. However, the challenges are emerged as well as opportunities. In most cities around the world, the planning and management methods are hysteretic and lacking application of modern technologies. In this era, planning and policy are required to be forward-looking and high efficiency to promote healthy development of cities (Angelidou, 2015).Therefore, smart cityconcept has been put forward. Smart city using smart technology and data analysis to optimize urban functions and drive urban development(Albino, Berardi & Dangelico, 2015). Technologies like sensor, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Internet of Things (IoT) are foundations to achieve smart. However, the practice of smart city is facing many divergences and challenges. The unsuccessful and ineffective of some idealistic cities and high-tech cities announced that high technology is not the only way to make a city smarter. Sometimes, innovative thinking, design thinking and considerations of actual demand are even more important (Stimmel, 2015). Therefore, some excellent cases are worth learning and referencing. This essay will introduce Barcelona as a typical case of smart city and then summarized the achievements and experiences.

Keywords: Smart city; Barcelona; Digital city; Governs