Page 141 - Shaping smarter and more sustainable cities - Striving for sustainable development goals

Consideration should be accorded to setting measurable SSC targets and timeframes for their
achievement. This step involves, among others, the identification of SSC targets in regards to:
a) Developing SSC infrastructure and integrated platform for example using Internet of Things
(IoT);

b) Identifying and developing SSC services;
c) Defining SSC Key Performance Indicators (KPIs);
d) Educating the stakeholders on the advantages of SSC.

Step (3) Achieve political commitment

Engagement with political leadership is imperative. Local governments should obtain the necessary
political approval and backing to ensure that the SSC strategic programme is pursued. This includes
the adoption of the SSC programme/targets through consensus. This will provide the basis for an
agreed document that has widespread support, and will serve as a reference for the strategic
planning by the local authority.

Step (4) Build your SSC
Using the political backing gained in Step 3 and support from other SSC stakeholders, local
governments should lead the way to actually initiating the establishment of their smart sustainable
city. For this step, the existing traditional infrastructure may be significantly improved on by
integrating the required ICT applications for the upgrade to SSC. The stakeholders may also choose
to build a new infrastructure from scratch.
For either of the aforementioned scenarios, the following features are pertinent:
a) Making of a feasible master plan for your SSC journey;

b) Conforming to appropriate construction models (e.g. Public Private Partnerships in various
SSC programmes);
c) Ensuring long term services via good operation and maintenance after the infrastructure is
in place.

Step (5) Measure your city progress
The fifth step consists of monitoring and evaluating a work programme required to achieve the
targets. This stage involves close coordination and collaboration among SSC stakeholders, as well as
an assessment on the basis of relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The FG‐SSC has developed
a useful set of KPIs for SSC, which can be utilized for this specific step. These KPIs form an excellent
baseline for city decision makers, as they map their city’s progress of their overall SSC journey.
Step (6) Ensure Accountability and Responsibility

The last step is focused on evaluating, reporting and learning from the SSC process and related
experiences. This involves an assessment of the implementation of the work programme, and an
analysis of reflections about strengths and shortcomings. Such an evaluation contributes to
informing the decision making process of the local council, as well as to inform the preparation of
future baseline reviews to deepen SSC master plans, among others.

Better decisions are reached if they emerge out of a process of knowledge sharing and dialogue
between stakeholders. The reflective process of evaluation will feed into a process of continuous
learning, which in turn will influence and inform the development of the future vision and strategy
for SSC.

ITU‐T's Technical Reports and Specifications 131