A smart social sustainability model for smart city to enhance human context experience

Abstract

Rapid technological advances have improved the convenience and efficiency of modern urban life. However, how we might promote the abilities of humans and communities to adapt to digital transformations has not been adequately considered. Therefore, this study focuses on how we might shape a healthy smart environment promoting human experiences toward a seamless adaption facing the city's smartisation. The research framework comprises three dimensions: urban cognitive context, human interactive experience, and subjective wellbeing. We conducted structured interviews in two smart cities—Seoul and Sydney—to compare the interactive experiences and subjective wellbeing of inhabitants. We found that an integrated physical–digital environment focusing on place-based have led to a high level of cognitive, affective, and achievement wellbeing. Based on this result, we propose a smart social sustainability model based on two proposed dimensions—smart context and smart context experience dimension— that may be used by future urban planners and policymakers to develop human-friendly smart cities.