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Key performance indicators related to the use of information and communication
technology in smart sustainable cities

Executive summary

These Technical Specifications give general guidance to cities and provides for the definitions of key
performance indicators (KPIs) related to the use of information and communication technology (ICT)
in the context of Smart Sustainable Cities (SSCs).

These Technical Specifications are expected to become an ITU‐T Recommendation and the focus
will be on the application of the ICT. Other Technical Specifications, under development within the
Focus Group on Smart Sustainable Cities (FG‐SSC), cover the definitions of KPIs related to the
sustainability impacts of ICT and are expected to become another ITU‐T Recommendation.
Keywords

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Smart Sustainable Cities (SSC), Sustainability
Impacts, Cities

Introduction

According to the terms of reference (ToR) of the Focus Group on Smart Sustainable Cities (FG‐SSC),
one of the objectives is to:
 Identify or develop a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess how the use of ICTs has
1
an impact on the environmental sustainability of cities.
 One of the specific tasks and deliverables of the FG‐SSC is to:
– Develop a document of KPIs to assess the impact of the use of ICT projects in cities.
This document is one of the deliverables developed by the FG‐SSC and defines the KPIs. The series
of KPIs definitions deliverables include:
 Technical Specifications on overview of key performance indicators in smart sustainable cities
[ITU‐T L.KPIs‐overview].
 Technical Specifications on key performance indicators related to the use of information and
communication technology in smart sustainable cities. This document lists the KPIs focusing on
ICT use in SSC.
 Technical Specifications on key performance indicators related to the sustainability impacts of
information and communication technology in smart sustainable cities [ITU‐T L.KPIs‐impact].
This document lists the KPIs proposed for ICT impact on sustainability.

 Technical Report on key performance indicators definitions for Smart Sustainable Cities [ITU‐T
L.KPIs‐Supp]. This document provides the information regarding existing KPIs and evaluation
index systems for smart cities, KPIs for sustainable cities, etc.

In this document FG‐SSC proposes ICT related KPIs in alignment with the definition of SSC while
considering the dimensions of such a city. This document is aligned with the framework provided by
UN Habitat in its City Prosperity Index with respect to the categorization of indicators as described
in Appendix II and further detailed in [ITU‐T L.KPIs‐overview].

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1 The terms of reference of FG‐SSC particularly mention environmental sustainability. However, this
document tries to have a broader perspective and embraces also indicators that are related to quality of
life, social and economic aspects.

ITU‐T's Technical Reports and Specifications 775