ارزیابی و تحلیل شاخص‌های عملکردی شهر هوشمند با رویکرد توسعه پایدار در شهر کرمان

مهدیه  زینلی کرمانی; کوروش افضلی; هوشمند   علیزاده

Authors

Mahdiyeh Zeinali Kermani Department of Urban Planning, Ke.C., Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5603-1352
Kourosh Afzali Department of Urban Planning, Ke.C., Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6998-553X
Hooshmand Alizadeh Department of Urban Planning, Kurdistan University, Sanandaj, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6441-8797

Keywords:

Smart City, Sustainable Urban Development, Grounded Theory, Performance Indicators, Kerman

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and empirically validate a context-sensitive framework of smart city performance indicators emphasizing sustainable urban development in Kerman, Iran. An applied sequential exploratory mixed-methods design was employed in two phases. In the qualitative phase, grounded theory was used to analyze expert interviews in urban planning, urban management, and smart-city development following Strauss and Corbin’s open, axial, and selective coding procedures, resulting in 10 main categories and 58 subcategories. The extracted indicators were subsequently operationalized into a 58-item questionnaire. In the quantitative phase, survey data were analyzed using SmartPLS and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Measurement and structural models were evaluated through reliability and validity indices, path coefficients, and bootstrapping procedures. All tested structural relationships were statistically significant. Smart technology infrastructure (β = 0.400, t = 6.825, p < 0.001) and information technology implementation (β = 0.204, t = 3.463, p = 0.001) positively predicted strategic formulation capacity. Smart society (β = 0.279, t = 4.224, p < 0.001), smart governance (β = 0.226, t = 3.241, p = 0.001), smart structures (β = 0.171, t = 2.549, p = 0.011), and sustainable transportation (β = 0.301, t = 4.570, p < 0.001) significantly predicted smart-city performance. Smart-city performance also positively affected strategic formulation (β = 0.339, t = 5.223, p < 0.001). The strongest effects were observed for strategic formulation on sustainable urban development (β = 0.809, t = 29.194, p < 0.001) and environmental conservation (β = 0.808, t = 35.352, p < 0.001). The model explained approximately 73% of the variance in smart-city outcomes. Sustainable smart-city development in Kerman depends on the coordinated integration of technological, social, governance, physical, and transportation capacities rather than technological advancement alone. The particularly strong effects of strategic formulation on sustainability outcomes indicate that effective strategy development and implementation constitute the principal mechanism through which smart-city capabilities can be translated into sustainable urban and environmental outcomes.

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