Class of 2025 Graduation

When people think of "smart cities" they frequently picture self-driving cars travelling along AI-controlled roads, IoT sensors optimizing energy consumption, and blockchain-based governance systems. But what if our fixation with technology prevents us from seeing what actually makes a city ‘smart?’ Through a multidisciplinary model that evaluates 32 performance indicators across 20 global cities, research demonstrates that a city's intelligence goes beyond its technological features. It also emerges when societies achieve equilibrium between social justice and environmental stewardship, together with economic resilience, and putting people and planet above financial gains.

Tech Can’t Fix Poverty 

Smart cities are often portrayed as technological hubs where innovation drives development. This limited perspective nevertheless risks converting urban development into an efficiency-based transactional process. The revolutionary nature of AI and IoT is derived from its tools, but these technologies do not represent the ultimate purpose. A study conducted by Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) found that cities like Toronto, Osaka, and Sydney outperformed the likes of London, Moscow, and New York because they chose to focus on environmental sustainability, social cohesion, and governance instead of digital infrastructure development.

With a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 107% per capita, Doha is undoubtedly a regional and global economic powerhouse. What this statistic does not capture, however, is the living conditions of all its residents or the environmental consequences of rapid growth. Similarly, despite its large size and economic performance, New York stands even further apart in the study due to its significant social segregation and unequal access to various essential services.

First place in the study went to Toronto thanks to its decision to dedicate 18% of its total area to green spaces while also providing equitable healthcare access and community-based governance. The study also revealed a 97% correlation between energy efficiency and economic growth, while social equity, as measured through education, healthcare accessibility, and poverty levels, demonstrates an 84% connection with economic success. Moreover, data shows that environmental sustainability creates a positive feedback loop with social health because cities implementing effective climate policies achieve better results in poverty reduction and public participation.

The research proves that environmental sustainability does not need to be at odds with economic development and that technology functions best when it becomes part of a system that ensures people's well-being. Key findings also demonstrate that investing in sustainable energy, affordable housing, and inclusive governance practices benefits society both morally and economically. Osaka proved that sustainability and growth are not competitors when it transitioned to renewable energy sources. The initiative led to the creation of 15,000 employment opportunities while simultaneously decreasing emissions.

Lessons from the Frontlines

Toronto’s remarkable achievements stem from past legislative decisions which backed both environmental stewardship and social fairness. The city’s Green Roof Bylaw, for instance, achieved its two main objectives of lowering urban heat islands while establishing community areas through the requirement of 20-60% rooftop vegetation coverage for new buildings. The "Zero Emissions by 2050" initiative in Osaka also combines public engagement through participatory budgeting to ensure policy decisions match community requirements.

Compare this to places like Dubai, where solar farms and AI-powered traffic systems shine but do little to address structural problems like water scarcity and labor rights. The United Arab Emirates’ commercial hub comes in at a lowly number 14 on the report because it places greater emphasis on individual elements rather than the holistic approach of cities that succeed in comprehensive planning.

Doha stands out as a unique model for smart cities, having embraced a long-term vision for empowerment and education. The Qatari capital’s massive urban development has always been coupled with capacity building, giving locals meaningful and empowering opportunities to grow the GDP per capita of $69,000. The distinction lies in integrating technology development, hand in hand with investments in education and local capacity building. Qatar Foundation and its emphasis on STEM education is a stark example of empowering future generations through education first, followed by technology. Doha, ranked 7th in this study, yet still has room for further innovation by prioritizing environmentally friendly and sustainable infrastructure. 

Does this imply that technology is unimportant for the advancement of smart cities? Not at all. Sydney reduced water waste by 30% thanks to IoT sensors, while Toronto's smart grid reduced peak energy demand by 18%. The latter’s Sidewalk Labs project, which initially drew criticism for putting data collection ahead of privacy, was modified to focus on affordable housing and carbon-neutral construction. These achievements became possible because human-centric objectives ultimately guided the development of technology

Rewriting the Smart City Playbook

HBKU’s research highlights three changes that must take place immediately to create genuinely smart cities. Policymakers and developers need to rethink what exactly constitutes a ‘smart’ city in the first place. Doing so will require greater incorporation of multidimensional indices that gauge equity, sustainability, and wellbeing, augmenting metrics like GDP and tech adoption rates in the process. From there, greater emphasis should be placed on democratizing innovation and public engagement in planning processes. Helsinki's "Co-Creation Model," in which citizens use blockchain technology to vote on urban projects, increased civic trust by 40%.

Aspiring smart cities should also prioritize investment in their invisible infrastructure. This reflects that the foundation of resilience is social capital, which includes cultural venues, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions. Cities like Copenhagen, which devotes a quarter of its budget to social programs, demonstrate how these expenditures boost innovation and productivity.

A machine-learning algorithm can optimize traffic flows, but only a society that prioritizes the welfare of all members can guarantee that the benefits are shared equitably. Conversely, cities cannot become smarter unless their citizens are given the ability to influence and shape that intelligence. The real test of a smart city is ultimately how many lives it improves, not gigabytes of data it produces. The world requires cities that combine technological sophistication with moral creativity so that profit benefits people and progress gets evaluated through the lens of human lifetimes instead of quarterly financial gains. A city’s IQ is not scored in silicon, but tallied in hospital wait times, bus fare affordability, and whether a tree grows where a child breathes.

Dr. Azzam Abu-Rayash is Assistant Professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Science and Engineering and a governor at Ontario Tech University. He is also the founding CEO of Polaris Energy Sustainability Solutions, a consultancy dedicated to advancing net-zero strategies for cities and industries. 

This piece has been submitted by HBKU’s Communications Directorate on behalf of its author. The thoughts and views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect an official University stance.