Relationship between smart city drivers and socially cohesive societies

The awareness, adoption and practice of smart city system has been on the increase among developers, regulators and other stakeholders of city planning and development. This study examines the relationship between drivers of smart cities and social inclusion of citizens in the societies with a view to enhancing urban citizens’ identification and willingness to share skills and knowledge. Relevant literature materials relating to smart city concept and social cohesion were reviewed and variables obtained were further examined through the administration of questionnaires to experts and professionals concerned with the planning, development and regulation of cities. Majority of the respondents are willing to share knowledge and skills among themselves and prefers to be identified as an individual rather than by their race, gender or ethnicity. The study also assess the importance of the six smart city drivers. Therefore, smart city model, which is an urban design mechanism, has the capacity and capabilities to re-form and modify any environment provided the correct and rigid frameworks are built, adopted and properly followed.