Consideration for a common definition: from Smart to Green Cities

The over-use of the term SC into the recent debate obliges to make observations upon the definition associated with SC concept. A preliminary reflection on terminological questions is needed to understand the research approach and the field of interest delimitation, as well as to understand the common uses of this terminology.

The concept of SC emerged in the late 1990’s in response to the rising concerns about the impact of human practises on the environment, about cities’

energetic consumptions, land use and about technological growing. There is no sure evidence of where and when exactly the word smart starts to be associated with city. The debate seems to take the incentive during the 1980’s and 1990’s from the reflections about urban evolution, and probably from the observation of High-Tech cities, industrial growth and from the general increasing role of technology. Among the authors giving a specific point of view and a boost on the theme analysis, a great influence is given by Peter Hall⁸ with the reflexions on technologies application on urban context evident in metropolitan cities in

8 For a complete analysis of these themes see Cities of tomorrow, Peter Hall, 1996 and the other publications (Buck, Gordon, Hall, & Kleinman, 2002; P. Hall & Castells, 1994; P. Hall & Pfeiffer, 2000; P. Hall, 1996, 2013; R. E. Hall, Bowerman, Braverman, Taylor, & Todosow, 2000).

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Europe and America (P. Hall, 1996). His analysis about cities’ evolution is centred into the reflection on the role of technology for boosting urban development⁹ and on scenarios of future cities into the contemporary age. In the meantime, other scientists as Nicos Komninos, Michael Batty, Mark Deakin, Leonidas Anthopoulos, Carlo Ratti et al. (N. Komninos & Sefertzi, 1998; N. Komninos, 2006) were reflecting on the role of industrialization and technologies applied to cities and peripheries, on the importance of social science and citizens’ wellbeing into the urban life, as specific and new key points for urbanism. In addition, other architects and urban planners from Le Corbusier, at first, to Aldo Rossi and Rem Koolhas, later, were reflecting about cities and urban development¹⁰. It is probably during this reflective periods, on all XX century, that the SC topic has its precursors and the proper background for its development.

Actual, there are several definitions of the concept SC. In fact the word can own different connotations depending on the field of application (Nam & Pardo, 2011). From the early 2000’s, different authors have tried to define the topic in different ways, aiming to highlight features and key points. Therefore, a common definition is still not present into the international debate, even if some important achievements have been accomplished. Each organisation, research centre, scientist, involved into the analysis of SC, tends to propose a personal definition of the topic. As a general guideline, each definition highlights in some way the specific field of interest of the proponent. So, for example, a social scientist tends to highlight citizens’ involvement on SC and recognise, as the main aim of smart strategies, people behaviour, social inclusion and growth, participation of citizens into public decisions making, etc. Alternatively, an electrical engineer will focus more on the role of smart grids to foster the development of urban context, on the role of renewable to reduce urban energy consumption, and so on .

Moreover, the locution SC seems to be born in the late 1980’s in the USA associated at first to growth instead of to city. The term smart growth was used to indicate a specific planning methodology for residential districts that considered necessary a reduction of urban expansion in order to avoid excessive land uses and urban sprawl. The smart growth planning was based on different key elements:

9 For the analysis of Peter Hall studies on smart cities and long waves see the studies of Michael Batty, 2015 (Michael Batty, 2015).

10 As an example, see: Le Corbusier projects for the Ville Radieuse, 1930; Aldo Rossi, L’architettura della città, Padova, Marsilio 1966; Rem Koolhas, Delirious New York, 1978 (Electa, 2011 new edition)

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- a compact and denser districts, where the physical extension and the land use was controlled, limited and the mixed-use of functions was pursued;

- the predominant use of public transport;

- the planning of spaces based on pedestrians and bicycles uses¹¹ .

From this experience, based on urbanism, urban form and sustainable principles, the locution smart starts to be applied to cities in Europe and, step by step, it enters inside European policies (at first into the SET-Plan) and into the international debate.

Authors associates the begin of the smart-brand (considered alone) in 1996 because of the production of an innovative object. The Daimler AG group proposed into the market a small, cheap and technological car, a Smart car. From this idea, the word became a synonym of useful, simple and cheap, as well as a word associated with objects having a different usability (multi-tasking or automatic uses) (Bonomi & Masiero, 2014). Then, it enters more and more into the market and become a “nice to have” characteristic, indicating a kind of intelligent usability, of technological skills of uses’ integration and innovation (Bonomi &

Masiero, 2014). In 1992, the IBM placed, then, into the market the first mobile smart phone. This object integrated in itself additional and different functions:

management of personal data, email, games, other programs and apps. From that moment on, this phone was named smartphone, because of its efficiency, smallness and multi-functionalities (Bonomi & Masiero, 2014; Dall’O, 2014).

Hence, the use of the word smart is not the first one being associated with city. This practise of adding different adjectives to city is quite recent (it can be considered starting at the end of 1990’s) and answers to the necessity of identifying new attributions and descriptions to cities appearing as evolving entities. For example intelligent or cyber cities (Nicos Komninos, 2011), which indicated the connection of cities with technologies and, in particular, with digital technologies; or wired (Hollands, 2008) and ubiquitous cities (Anthopoulos

& Vakali, 2012), indicating the extension of digital and Internet as enabler of interactions overcoming physical barriers; the more recent creative and sharing city, highlighting soft components and the role of citizens as prosumers; ending with the new definitions of porous city (Secchi & Viganò, 2012) or extreme city (Viganò & Fabian, 2010) or recycling city (Fabian, Giannotti, & Viganò, 2012)

11 For an overview of Smart Growth Planning aspects see the website: http://www.smartgrowtha-merica.org/what-is-smart-growth

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or senseable city (Resch, Britter, & Ratti, 2012). It seems that the evolution of those definitions starts from considerations about digital implementation and technology presence inside cities, going toward the identification of a secondary role attributed to technologies in respect of a major one attributed to people or to climate change.

Furthermore, in the English language the word smart is an equivalent for clever, intelligent and sharp, even if the Oxford Dictionary confines it for the colloquial use. Actually, the formal use of smart is generally referred to fashion and dressing (Oxford Dictionnary, 2015).

Thus, if we assume the word smart as an extension of the word intelligent it is possible to analyse the etymology. Intelligent comes from the Latin intelligentia / intelligere and means the “complex of psychic and mental faculties making the mankind able to think, understand or explain facts or actions, to judge” (Treccani Dictionnary). The intelligence makes the mankind able to adapt to new and coming situations and to modify the same situation when necessary for mankind survivance (Treccani Dictionnary). This definition highlights two important elements:

- the comprehension/knowledge related attribute. An intelligent object can think, understand, explain and judge. It means, if the word is applied to cities, that it must be something able to “think” what are the best actions to be addressed into the contest, then “to understand” how these actions are implemented and finally to “evaluate” them in respect of some indicators;

- the adaptation related attribute. This is the most interesting element, because it means that an intelligent (or smart) city can adapt itself to barriers and adverse conditions. This means also that an intelligent (or smart) city is not a fixed city, but an evolving entity.

Moreover, analysing the definition gave by the Treccani vocabulary about SC it is possible to find the following: “A SC is a city formed by the integration of knowledge, structures and technological advanced systems. These elements are specific of a communication and information society and are finalized to a sustainable growth and to the improvement of quality of life¹² ”. The analysis of

12 Personal translation from the Treccani vocabulary. The original definition is the following: “Città caratterizzata dall’integrazione tra saperi, strutture e mezzi tecnologicamente avanzati, propri della società della comunicazione e dell’informazione, finalizzati a una crescita sostenibile e al miglioramento della qua-lità della vita.”

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these definitions is interesting because it gives the dimension of the common knowledge on the topic and of the general non-scientific understanding, as for example also the following: “A SC function, or digital or intelligent city, is a function of a city that is not satisfied to act as a physical container, but seeking to preside global spaces, including new protagonists and supporting creativity and innovation inside schools and enterprises”. (Renato Mattioni, Corriere della sera, 10 October 2011)¹³ . These definitions, even if they are not scientific, highlight some additional important elements:

1. at first the objective of SC is to improve the urban quality of life and to