6th International Conference

PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT: THE MAIN TOOLS FOR SUSTAINABILITY

The impact of technological and social innovation in developing

smart green cities in EU Balkan area
Corneliu IAȚU1, Alexandru BĂNICĂ*1, Mihail EVA1,2
1 Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University Iași, B-dul Carol I 20A, RO-700505 – Iași
2 University François-Rabelais of Tours, 37200, Tours, France

* corresponding author - E-mail: [email protected]

Introduction Results
Urban areas of Eastern Balkan Europe face numerous challenges in different domains such as
1 Analysis of Balkan context 60

technical-economic (lower degree of innovation, poor infrastructure, insufficient funds), social (polarisation Problem 50

of living conditions, lower governance level) and environmental (insufficient green areas, increased traffic Eastern Balkan EU cities have low ranks at European level when it comes to green and smart
and air pollution etc.). In the context of European policies, especially taking into account the new EU development. A good example is Green City Index (EIT, 2012). The 3 capitals (Athens, Sofia and 40

SCORE (points)
territorial agenda, the development of green, smart and inclusive cities is promoted by financial instruments Bucharest) occupy inferior positions in case of overall index, but also regarding transport and air quality 30
tackling all three categories of issues mentioned above. domains. Balkan cities know therefore a certain delay in relation to modernization processes, while
smart green urban development is, in most cases, only “wishful thinking”. 20

The overall premises of present study is that the technological and social innovations and A policy solution promoted by EU 10
consequent investments are reinforcing each other and could become factors for developing green and
Probably the most important measure initiated by the European Commission to promote smart green
smart cities in three EU Balkan states (Romania, Bulgaria and Greece), contributing thus to reducing the gaps 0
cities consist in encouraging the adoption and implementation of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans GCI Transport Air quality
between urban centres within EU.
(SUMPs) (since 2009). For the Balkan countries of the European Union, the adoption of these plans is Athens Bucharest Sofia
actually a more complex process because it involves adopting and combining the two types of
Theoretical framework innovations simultaneously:
1) social innovation in urban mobility governance BUT hard surmountable lack of tradition;
Figure 3. Green City Index –score for the
capitals of Eastern Balkan EU countries
2) technological innovation in transport infrastructure and superstructure BUT lack of sufficient funds.
Cities are capable of engaging various constituents in the innovation process on a very broad range of
activities, fostering citizen-centric governance; the result is well established smart city ecosystems (Bria, 2 Towards smart mobility in the Balkan EU countries
2012; Angelidou, 2014).
“A Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan is a strategic plan designed to satisfy the mobility needs of people and businesses in cities and their surroundings for a better quality
of life. It builds on existing planning practices and takes due consideration of integration, participation, and evaluation principles.” (SUMP Guidance: EC, 2014).
GREEN CITIES – those urban areas that are SMART CITIES - a community of average size,
environmentally friendly. The greening of cities
requires : (1) controlling diseases and their health
interconnected and sustainable, comfortable, attractive
and secure. (Lazaroiu & Roscia, 2012)
2012 2016
Difference in promoting sustainable mobility in EU countries Curent state of SUMPs policy in eastern Bakan countries of EU
burden; (2) reducing chemical and physical hazards; Smart cities are all urban settlements that make a
(3) developing high quality urban environments for conscious effort to capitalize on the new Information and Bulgaria Greece Romania
all; (4) minimising transfers of environmental costs Communications Technology (ICT) landscape in a strategic SUMP in Not required by law, but NOT required by law MANDATORY by
to areas outside the city; and (5) ensuring progress way, seeking to achieve prosperity, effectiveness and a legal
national stipulated in National (no reglementation, but law (2013
towards sustainable consumption. competitiveness on multiple socio-economic levels. legislations Program for Reforms in guidelines pro,oting onwards)
Bulgaria (2011) best ractices have benn
-put forward in 2015)
SMART GREEN CITIES ----an urban development model based on the utilization of social and technological Cities envisaged First 35 cities - All cities.
capital for the enhancement of development and prosperity in urban agglomerations (Angelidou, 2014).
First SUMP Burgas (2014) Thessaloniki (2015) Oradea (2013)
----new solutions to old and new problems (Clark & Cooke, 2016)

Technological innovation - integrating physical Social innovation-integrating technological innovation Current state of SUMPs implementation in major Romanian cities
design and development of infrastructure and in social behavior; the need of collaboration among City Name Current state of the SUMP
buildings, incorporating all aspects of edge technology, public and private actors and the engagement of the city’s Bucharest Final report (Dec 2015). Launched in public consultation (Jan 2016)
modern amenities and best practices of city planning people, in order to design socially sustainable and livable Brașov Interim report 4 – draft of the SUMP (Nov 2015)
(Pentikousis et al., 2011, Angelidou, 2014). smart cities (Sassen, 2011). The need for a bottom-up Cluj-Napoca Final report – 2nd version (Nov 2015)
BUT the replication of technological solutions entails approach to accelerate the innovation process. The most
Constanța Final report (Nov 2015)
risks. The same solution may not be suitable for all successful smart cities have opted for a demand-driven
Craiova Final report (Nov 2015)
cities. rather than a supply-driven approach (Angelidou, 2015).
Iași Final report (Nov 2015). Launched in public consultation in March 2016
Ploiești Final report (Nov 2015)
Timișoara Final report (Dec 2015). Launched in public consultation in April 2016
A human approach of technological innovation:
technology responsive to needs, skills and interests Data source:ELTISplus, 2012 Figure 4. SUMPs as a preliminary step towards green smart cities
of users, respecting their diversity and individuality
(Bria, 2012; Roche et al., 2012; Angelidou, 2015). SMART CITY GREEN CITY
3 Perception of sustainable mobility for smart green cities in Romania
Smart cities integrate not only products but also Figure 5. The contribution on planning the actual transport system (highest Figure 6. The average scores for different issues of urban transport in the
scores i.e. 4-5 on a 1-5 scale) main three cities
services (namely platforms and applications), that
do not need large investments on smart city 100 Periurban public transport efficiency
80
infrastructure (Garner & Dornan, 2011; Angelidou, • Technological innovation 60 The quality of transport infrastructure at the periphery
2014). 1 40
The quality of transport infrastructure in Central Area
IASI
20 CLUJ-NAPOCA
• Social innovation 0 The degree of assureing intermodality BUCHAREST
2 Local Engineers Public or NGOs The citizens Others
authorities teams private The degree of assureing interconnectivity
consultants
The European Commission’ “smart city” - energy Smart Government and Governace 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5

efficiency, renewable energy and green mobility for Smart Mobility

Smart Building Figure 7. The degree of implementing certain innovations in public
the large urban areas (ESC, 2012) . Smart Utilities transport in three important Romanian cities (average scores) Figure 8. Prioritizing accessibility by car or life
quality in urban environment
Exclusive lanes for public transport
Figure 1. General conceptual framework Schedules displayed in real-time transport…
The endowment of transport means with GPS
IASI
Bike rental places Good life quality over 40%
CLUJ-NAPOCA

Methodology Bike lanes

Electric buses or minibuses
BUCHAREST
accessibility
Good accesibility over
life quality 60%
Intelligent signaling / Traffic lights

The purpose of present paper is conducting an exploratory study of the relation between technological 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

and social innovation in smart green cities, by hightlighting the sustainable mobility i.e. smart green Figure 9. Existing traffic air pollution health effects Figure 10. The perception of traffic contribution to
transport practices within EU Eastern Balkan countries (Greece, Bulgaria and Romania). impact assessments air pollution in cities (scores 1-10)
30
Yes, I have knowledge of 25
Two research questions: some such studies
23% 20
Yes, I have knowledge of one
15
such study
- What is the actual state of adopting Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) in most important No, such a study was not
10
58% 14%
cities from Greece, Bulgaria and Romania? accomplished 5

I do not know 0
5% ...1 ...2 …3 ...4 ...5 ...6 ...7 ...8 ...9 ...10
- How do practitioners and academics percive certain elements included in smart and green mobility
planning? Are their visions congruent with new practices promoted by SUMPs?

The study has in view the identification of fruitfull directions of future research that could actually
Discussions and Conclusions
contibute to understanding and creating green smart cities.
•Technological instrumentation does not automatically transforms a city into a ‘smart’ one. A reflection on the appropriateness and the social utility
Specific exploratory methods have been taken into account: of technological solutions is needed. Not just applying best practices, but adapting them to local conditions and identity.
- Bibliographical review; •In urban transport area, the selected cities form the Balkans envisage different stages in planning and implementing sustainable solutions, such as
- Content analysis of planning documents; SUMPs, as an important step towards promoting green smart cities. In adopting SUMPs, the technological innovation was received and perceived
- Evaluating the present state of art in implementing SUMPs in the main cities of the three countries; faster than the social one.
- Conducting a basic survey targeting 140 experts (practitioners and academics) in the field by applying •The survey suggested that, in Romania, implementation of smart green mobility is at an early phase in both simple measures and complex IT
online questionaries. related equipment installation (with lower score for the capital city and Iasi and higher scores for Cluj-Napoca). The target group is willing to sustain
The survey took place in Romania in October 2016 and took into consideration nine big Romanian cities. an environmentally friendly transport, but there is a lack of knowledge regarding de actual planning process. It also suggests a lack of governance in
transport sector of Romanian cities as the decisive role in urban management is taken almost exclusively by official authorities, while other
Figure 2. The structure of the sample used for the survey by: A) Cities; B) Field of work; C) Experience in work professionals are hardly integrated in decision process.
50 •The general perception is that traffic has a general negative impact on air quality and life quality in the city and that the modernization process is
Oradea 45 still at an early phase.
no. of respondents

7% Others 40
10% Bucharest 16%
35 •Theoretical contributions are needed so that the complementarity between technological and social innovation could be better understood.
Timisoara 27%
6% 54% 30
25

Cluj-
8% 20
15
10
References
Napoca Angelidou, M. (2015). Smart cities: A conjuncture of four forces. Cities, 47, 95–106; Angelidou, M. (2014). Smart city policies: A spatial approach. Cities, 41, S3–S11.
Iasi 5
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41% 0
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3-10…
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