The six Smart City verticals,
from an academic perspective.
This page is ARSC's complete academic reference for the six Smart City verticals. For each domain we include the official definition, the sub-fields, the indicators (KPIs), the relevant EU legal frameworks, the main academic studies, and verified links to the European Commission, the Parliament, universities and research institutes. A reference document for professionals in public administration, academia and the private sector.
Methodology note. The six verticals below are the international academic framework used by ITU, ISO and the IMD Smart City Index. In day-to-day work, ARSC documents projects in Romania using seven practical fields (Mobility, Digitalisation, Energy, Environment, Health, Education, Security). For up-to-date figures by county and by category, see map.arsc.ro (in Romanian).
Smart Mobility
The most technologically mature vertical in Romania · ITS, EV, MaaS and micromobility projects
Academic definition
Smart Mobility refers to transforming urban mobility systems by integrating digital technologies, real-time data and innovative services, with goals of efficiency, sustainability, safety and fairness. The concept is built around four pillars: modal integration (MaaS), electrification (EV), connectivity (CAV) and behavioural change (mobility shift).
Source: ITF/OECD (2021), The Innovative Mobility Landscape; European Commission, EU Strategy for Sustainable and Smart Mobility, 2020.
Main sub-fields
- Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS): adaptive traffic lights, real-time traffic management
- Mobility as a Service (MaaS): transport modes integrated in a single app
- Electromobility: electric vehicles, charging infrastructure
- Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV): V2X communications, autonomous vehicles
- Micromobility: shared bikes, kick scooters and scooters
- Sustainable urban logistics: last-mile delivery, urban hubs
- Smart Parking: digital management of public and private parking
- Public Transport Optimisation: dynamic routes, demand-responsive transport (DRT)
Standardised KPIs
- Share of trips made by sustainable transport - SDG 11.2
- Average home-to-work travel time - ISO 37120 §18.2
- EV charging stations per 1,000 vehicles - EU AFIR · 2023/1804
- Share of the public transport fleet that is electric - EU Clean Vehicles Directive
- Cycle lane density (km/km²) - ITF Bike Plan Index
- Coverage of 30 km/h speed zones - UN Decade of Action for Road Safety
EU legal frameworks
Essential academic studies
- Banister, D. (2008). The sustainable mobility paradigm. Transport Policy, 15(2), 73-80.
- Hensher, D. A. (2017). Future bus transport contracts under a mobility as a service (MaaS) regime. Transportation Research Part A, 98, 86-96.
- Litman, T. (2024). Evaluating Public Transit Benefits and Costs. Victoria Transport Policy Institute.
- Cervero, R., Guerra, E., Al, S. (2017). Beyond Mobility: Planning Cities for People and Places. Island Press.
Programmes & funding
- EIT Urban Mobility - the European innovation community for urban mobility
- Connecting Europe Facility - Transport
- EU Mission: 100 Climate-Neutral Cities by 2030
Smart Governance
The vertical for digitalising public administration · e-Government, Open Data, digital identity, data-driven decisions
Academic definition
Smart Governance describes the use of digital technologies and data to transform how public administration makes decisions, delivers services and interacts with citizens. The framework has four dimensions: e-Government (digitalised services), open government (transparency through open data), e-Democracy (digital participation) and data-driven decision making.
Source: Meijer, A. & Bolívar, M.P.R. (2016), Governing the smart city: a review of the literature on smart urban governance, IRAS.
Main sub-fields
- e-Government: end-to-end digital public services
- Open Government Data (OGD): publishing open public data
- Digital identity (eID): single sign-on, electronic signature
- Smart Procurement: digital, transparent public procurement
- Participatory budgeting: digital involvement of citizens
- Document Management: electronic archiving, automated workflows
- Predictive Public Services: anticipating citizens' needs
- GovTech & CivicTech: technology solutions for the public sector
Standardised KPIs
- Share of public services digitalised end to end - DESI
- Number of open datasets published - EU OGD Index
- Share of citizens with an active eID - eIDAS Regulation
- Participatory budgeting (€ / citizen / year) - OGP Romania
- Average processing time for a public request - Single Digital Gateway Reg.
- Local administration transparency index - Transparency International
EU legal frameworks
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 - Single Digital Gateway
- Regulation (EU) 910/2014 - eIDAS (revised 2024)
- Directive (EU) 2019/1024 - Open Data Directive
- EU AI Act 2024 - rules on the use of AI in the public sector
- Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030
Essential academic studies
- Mergel, I., Edelmann, N., Haug, N. (2019). Defining digital transformation: Results from expert interviews. Government Information Quarterly.
- Janssen, M., Charalabidis, Y., Zuiderwijk, A. (2012). Benefits, adoption barriers and myths of open data and open government. Information Systems Management.
- Bertot, J. C., Jaeger, P. T., Grimes, J. M. (2010). Using ICTs to create a culture of transparency. Government Information Quarterly.
- Vrabie, C. (2020). e-Government: Concept, Policies, Implementation. SNSPA.
Programmes & funding
- Digital Europe Programme 2021-2027 - €7.5 billion
- Open Government Partnership - Romania is a member
- Joinup - EU Interoperability Solutions
- EU funds - digital transformation
Smart Living
The vertical for urban quality of life · e-Health, e-Education, smart buildings, housing, digital culture
Academic definition
Smart Living aims to raise the quality of urban life by integrating digital technologies into health, education, housing and culture. The concept responds to demographic challenges (ageing, urbanisation) and social ones (inclusion, accessibility), using IoT, AI, telemedicine and digital platforms as tools, not as ends in themselves.
Source: Caragliu, A., Del Bo, C. (2018), Smart innovative cities: The impact of Smart City policies on urban innovation, Technological Forecasting and Social Change.
Main sub-fields
- e-Health: telemedicine, electronic health records (EHR), remote monitoring
- e-Education: digital learning, EdTech, digital libraries
- Smart Buildings: energy-efficient buildings, BMS, automation
- Smart Housing: smart homes, residential IoT, accessibility
- Digital culture: virtual museums, online ticketing, digital archiving
- Sport & recreation: digitalised public spaces, sports apps
- Digitalised social services: social benefits online
- Ageing in Place: solutions for older people at home
Standardised KPIs
- Healthy life expectancy - WHO · ISO 37120 §6
- Broadband access >100 Mbps - DESI Connectivity
- Green space per inhabitant - ISO 37120 §11
- Share of NZEB buildings - EPBD Directive 2010/31/EU
- Digital access to health services - Digital Health Europe
- Share of children with access to EdTech - UNESCO ICT in Education
EU legal frameworks
Essential academic studies
- Eysenbach, G. (2001). What is e-health? Journal of Medical Internet Research.
- Selwyn, N. (2016). Education and Technology: Key Issues and Debates. Bloomsbury.
- Berardi, U. (2013). Sustainability assessment of urban communities through rating systems. Environment, Development and Sustainability.
- WHO (2022). Global strategy on digital health 2020-2025. World Health Organization.
Programmes & funding
- European Health Data Space
- EIT Health - the European innovation community for health
- Erasmus+ Programme - for EdTech projects
- EU funds - digital health
Smart Economy
The vertical for the digital urban economy · FinTech, innovation hubs, Industry 4.0, smart tourism, entrepreneurship
Academic definition
Smart Economy refers to a city's capacity to generate economic prosperity through innovation, entrepreneurship, digitalised productivity and attracting talent. The concept has four dimensions: an innovation ecosystem (hubs, incubators, accelerators), business digitalisation (Industry 4.0), urban e-commerce and the circular economy.
Source: Giffinger, R. et al. (2007), Smart cities: Ranking of European medium-sized cities, TU Vienna; the founding report for the six verticals.
Main sub-fields
- FinTech: digital financial services, cashless payments
- Innovation Hubs: innovation centres, fab labs, accelerators
- Industry 4.0: connected manufacturing, automation, industrial IoT
- Urban circular economy: sustainable business models
- Smart Tourism: digitalised tourism, visitor experience
- Talent attraction & retention: attracting and keeping talent
- Digital Single Market: urban e-commerce
- Entrepreneurship & start-ups: the local entrepreneurial ecosystem
Standardised KPIs
- GDP per capita - Eurostat · OECD
- Youth unemployment rate - ISO 37120 §5
- Foreign direct investment (FDI) - UNCTAD
- Number of start-ups per 100,000 inhabitants - Startup Genome
- Share of SMEs with a digital presence - DESI Integration of Digital Tech
- E-commerce volume - EU Digital Single Market
EU legal frameworks
Essential academic studies
- Schwab, K. (2016). The Fourth Industrial Revolution. Crown Business.
- Brynjolfsson, E., McAfee, A. (2014). The Second Machine Age. W.W. Norton.
- Florida, R. (2017). The New Urban Crisis. Basic Books.
- Glaeser, E. (2011). Triumph of the City. Penguin Press.
Programmes & funding
- EIT Digital - the European digital innovation community
- European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH)
- European Investment Fund
- EU funds - support for the private sector
Smart Environment
The vertical for urban sustainability · air quality, smart grids, renewables, water, waste, biodiversity
Academic definition
Smart Environment aims at the sustainable management of urban resources (energy, water, waste, air) and at protecting the environment through digital technologies and data-driven policies. The concept is aligned with the UN global framework (SDGs 7, 11, 13) and with the European Green Deal: climate neutral by 2050.
Source: Bibri, S.E., Krogstie, J. (2017), Smart sustainable cities of the future, Sustainable Cities and Society.
Main sub-fields
- Air Quality Monitoring: PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, O₃, VOCs
- Smart Grids: smart electricity networks
- Renewable Energy: solar, wind, energy communities
- Smart Water Management: smart distribution and treatment
- Waste Management: optimised collection, automated recycling
- Urban Biodiversity: urban forests, green infrastructure
- Climate Adaptation: adapting to climate change
- Carbon Tracking: measuring and reporting emissions
Standardised KPIs
- Annual average PM2.5 - EU AAQ Directive 2008/50
- CO₂ emissions per capita - ICLEI GPC Protocol
- Share of renewable energy - RED III Directive
- Waste recycling rate - EU CEAP
- Water network losses - ISO 37120 §21
- Green space area - EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030
EU legal frameworks
Essential academic studies
- IPCC (2022). Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. WG III Report.
- Rockström, J. et al. (2009). A safe operating space for humanity. Nature.
- Bibri, S.E. (2018). Smart Sustainable Cities of the Future. Springer.
- Albino, V., Berardi, U. (2015). Smart cities: Definitions, dimensions, performance, and initiatives. Journal of Urban Technology.
Programmes & funding
- Horizon Europe Cluster 5 - Climate, Energy & Mobility
- LIFE Programme - €5.4 billion for the environment
- EU Modernisation Fund
- EU funds - energy
Smart Citizen
The vertical for digital civic participation · participatory budgeting, e-democracy, transparency, digital inclusion
Academic definition
Smart Citizen puts citizens at the centre of urban transformation, as active players, not just users. The concept covers citizens' ability to take part in governance (e-democracy), to co-create public services (Living Labs) and to act as "human sensors" in the smart city through reporting and feedback platforms.
Source: Cardullo, P., Kitchin, R. (2019), Being a 'citizen' in the smart city: up and down the scaffold of smart citizen participation, GeoJournal.
Main sub-fields
- Participatory Budgeting: digital participatory budgeting
- Citizen Reporting: platforms for reporting urban problems
- e-Voting & e-Democracy: digital public consultations
- Open Government: transparency and public access to information
- Digital education: digital literacy for all ages
- Digital inclusion: narrowing the "digital divide"
- Living Labs: co-creating public services
- Online communities: neighbourhood platforms
Standardised KPIs
- Participation in public consultations (% of the active population) - OGP
- Digital literacy (% aged over 16) - DigComp · DESI
- Number of citizen proposals implemented per year - OGP Romania
- Share of women on the Local Council - SDG 5.5
- Home internet access (% of households) - DESI
- Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) - Transparency International
EU legal frameworks
Essential academic studies
- Hollands, R. G. (2008). Will the real smart city please stand up? City: Analysis of urban trends.
- Cardullo, P., Kitchin, R. (2019). Being a 'citizen' in the smart city. GeoJournal.
- Marvin, S., Luque-Ayala, A., McFarlane, C. (2016). Smart Urbanism: Utopian Vision or False Dawn? Routledge.
- De Filippi, P., Wright, A. (2018). Blockchain and the Law: The Rule of Code. Harvard University Press.
Programmes & funding
- Open Government Partnership - more than 75 member countries
- Decidim - an open source e-democracy platform
- EU Citizen Science Platform
- The "Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values" programme (CERV) 2021-2027
Core literature
on Smart City in general.
Beyond the references specific to each vertical, there is a core of books and studies that make up the Smart City "canon". We recommend them to anyone who wants to understand the field in depth.
Reference books
- Townsend, A. (2013). Smart Cities: Big Data, Civic Hackers, and the Quest for a New Utopia. W. W. Norton.
- Greenfield, A. (2013). Against the Smart City. Do Projects.
- Ratti, C. & Claudel, M. (2016). The City of Tomorrow. Yale University Press.
- Glaeser, E. (2011). Triumph of the City. Penguin Press.
- Florida, R. (2017). The New Urban Crisis. Basic Books.
- Sassen, S. (2018). Cities in a World Economy. SAGE.
- Mitchell, W. J. (2003). Me++: The Cyborg Self and the Networked City. MIT Press.
Foundational studies (academic)
- Caragliu, A., Del Bo, C., Nijkamp, P. (2011). Smart Cities in Europe. Journal of Urban Technology, 18(2), 65-82.
- Giffinger, R. et al. (2007). Smart cities: Ranking of European medium-sized cities. TU Vienna.
- Kitchin, R. (2014). The real-time city? Big data and smart urbanism. GeoJournal, 79, 1-14.
- Albino, V., Berardi, U., Dangelico, R.M. (2015). Smart Cities: Definitions, Dimensions, Performance, and Initiatives. Journal of Urban Technology, 22(1), 3-21.
- Meijer, A., Bolívar, M.P.R. (2016). Governing the smart city: a review of the literature on smart urban governance. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 82(2), 392-408.
Reports by international institutions
Specialist scientific journals
- Journal of Urban Technology - Routledge, IF 4.5+
- Sustainable Cities and Society - Elsevier, IF 11.7
- Cities - Elsevier, IF 6.0
- Urban Studies - SAGE, IF 5.0
- Government Information Quarterly - Elsevier, IF 7.8
- Technological Forecasting and Social Change - Elsevier, IF 12.0
Would you like a practical discussion
on one of the verticals?
For companies, public institutions and academia that want to go deeper into one of the Smart City verticals: book a meeting with the ARSC team of experts. We can offer thematic advice, specialist material and introductions to specialists in the vertical you are interested in.