Smart Cities and Regional Development (SCRD) Open Access Publishing
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The role of NHIH in the digitalization of health, smart citycondition
The digitization of health is a priority of the European Union, Romania being involved in several projects, some of which are carried out by the National Health Insurance House (NHIH), in collaboration with partner institutions. The objectives of the ongoing projects are: “Modernization and optimization of the contracting and settlement of medical services”, “Computer System for Modern Management of Access to Medical Services, Acts, Recommendations and Technologies – SIGMA SMART”, “Development and expansion of the electronic file of health (EFH)”, “Implementation of the electronic prescription”, “Implementation of the electronic referral ticket”, “Implementation of the electronic medical letter”, “Development of the national telemedicine system”, “Interoperability of health systems”. All these projects regarding the use of digital technology in health are aimed at optimizing the patient\u27s access to quality medical services, easing the work of medical personnel, reducing waiting times, ensuring the accuracy and security of data circulation in the national system and cross-border health system, generating reports and analyzes on the state of the health system, making the best diagnostic and therapeutic decisions for patient care and optimizing the use of funds in the social health insurance system. To carry out this work, I used the data available at the level of the National Health Insurance House (studies, plans), the press releases from the NHIH management and discussions with people involved in these projects. The implementation of digitization projects was based on feasibility studies, scientific data, based on the experience of the teams of specialists involved in the projects, in compliance with the standards and legal regulations in force and the recommendations of the European Commission. The work is a review of the ongoing projects at NHIH, the current problems facing the health system and is a basis for discussions for future debates, ideas, proposals and solutions in order to optimize the functioning of the health system
How research and development spending shapes societal welfare and sustainability metrics in Europe
This research delves into the intricate relationship between Research and Development expenditure and key societal indicators within European Union nations. Through this research we aim to elucidate the overarching relationship between the research and development investment and societal wellbeing, transcending borders and regions. Furthermore, we aim to assess the universal patterns between innovation funding and digital inclusivity, represented by the internet access rates. Another objective of this research is to determine the potential European impact of research and development allocations on sustainable practices, using the recycling rate of municipal waste and circular material use rate as key indicators. Nevertheless, we aim to contribute to the global dialogue on optimizing research and development spending for multifaceted societal and environmental advancements. Previous studies have illustrated the importance of research and development expenditure as a significant factor influencing a nation’s growth, technological innovation and societal well-being. Within the European context, research has consistently shown the intricate dynamics between innovation spending and societal indicators. However, few have delved deep into the multi-dimensional outcomes of such expenditures, particularly in areas like poverty internetaccess and sustainable practices. Drawing upon prior studies highlight the significance of the Research and Development expenditure to national growth and societal well-being, this investigation employs a quantitative approach, sourcing data from official EU databases. Utilizing SPSS for statistical analysis, preliminary results reveal a positive correlation between the expenditure on research and development and internet access, as well as sustainable practices. The findings offer profound implications for both academia and practitioners, suggesting that investments on research and development shape diverse societal and environmental outcomes. Unique in its comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted impacts of research and development spending, this research bridges economic, societal and environmental paradigms, thereby enriching the existing academic discourse and aiding in the formulation of holistic developmental strategies within the European Union
Cybersecurity: information and defence against data phishing
The paper presents the knowledge and information gained from participating in various events and workshops dedicated to cyber security. This highlights the need for information ownership in order to protect oneself in the jungle of data phishing, in a world that is constantly changing and where digital technology is the main means of conducting business in a modern society. Threats are evolving day by day and are difficult to contain, and this has highlighted the need for cyber security and cyber defence regulations. In the current context of digitization and technology, cybersecurity is a priority for every state
Gender Inequality in Cybersecurity Exploring the Opportunities and Progression in Albania
This paper explores gender inequality in Albania’s cybersecurity sector, focusing on the barriers and opportunities for women. Despite global demand, gender disparity persists, with women significantly underrepresented. The aim is to assess the perception of gender equality in Albania’s cybersecurity workforce, examine career gaps, and identify factors hindering women\u27s entry and progression. This research highlights the importance of addressing inclusivity in this critical sector. Building on global research regarding gender gaps in technology and cybersecurity, this paper offers a localized view of Albania. Prior studies have emphasized the broader issue of underrepresentation in ICT, and this research contributes by analyzing recent data on gender and career progression specifically in cybersecurity. A survey was conducted to gather perceptions of gender equality in Albania’s cybersecurity field. Respondents shared insights on educational background, career breaks, and challenges in entering and progressing in cybersecurity roles. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were employed to identify key issues. The findings indicate that although progress has been made, significant challenges remain. Gender biases, a lack of role models, and misconceptions about the field continue to discourage women. The study underscores the need for initiatives to close the gender gap. This research provides recommendations for policymakers, civil society, and industry leaders to address gender disparities. It offers insights for future academic research and highlights practical steps to align strategies with labor market needs. The paper contributes original insights into Albania’s gender gap in cybersecurity and offers a foundation for future initiatives aimed at fostering inclusivity and gender equality in the field
Smart Urban Governance. Administrația Publică în era Smart: Tehnologie, Date și Cetățeni
Smart Urban Governance reprezintă o abordare inovatoare în managementul urban, care îmbină tehnologiile moderne cu strategii avansate pentru a transforma modul în care administrațiile publice interacționează cu cetățenii și furnizează servicii. Acest suport de curs explorează conceptul de guvernanță urbană inteligentă prin analizarea principalelor direcții și tendințe ale digitalizării administrației publice, cu accent pe rolul esențial al tehnologiilor informației și comunicațiilor (IT&C). Printre temele majore abordate se numără gestionarea documentelor electronice, utilizarea inteligenței artificiale (AI) în luarea deciziilor bazate pe date, parteneriatele public-private (PPP) pentru accelerarea digitalizării, securitatea cibernetică și protecția datelor.
Un punct de plecare al cursului îl reprezintă demitizarea conceptelor asociate digitalizării, cum ar fi ideea că guvernarea electronică (e-Government) nu aduce beneficii tangibile sau că va conduce la pierderi masive de locuri de muncă. De fapt, implementarea soluțiilor de e-Government demonstrează multiple avantaje, inclusiv eliminarea birocrației excesive, creșterea transparenței și eficientizarea proceselor administrative. Aceste soluții sunt discutate prin prisma etapelor evolutive, de la prezența online simplă la guvernanța predictivă, bazată pe AI, care anticipează nevoile cetățenilor și optimizează serviciile publice.
Dimensiunile e-Government sunt analizate detaliat, inclusiv relațiile dintre Administrație și Cetățeni (G2C), Administrație și Mediul de afaceri (G2B), și între diferite instituții ale Administrației (G2G). În acest context, sunt subliniate beneficiile majore aduse cetățenilor, precum accesibilitatea sporită la servicii publice esențiale, participarea activă în procesele decizionale și reducerea timpilor de răspuns. Aceste dimensiuni sunt completate cu exemple practice din România și alte țări, care demonstrează eficiența platformelor electronice, precum ghișeul.ro, și a soluțiilor integrate de gestiune a datelor.
Un capitol important este dedicat analizei datelor și utilizării AI pentru a sprijini deciziile strategice în administrația publică. AI permite optimizarea proceselor și identificarea tiparelor, având un impact major asupra eficienței operaționale. Studiile de caz includ utilizarea AI pentru clasificarea petițiilor cetățenilor sau analiza predictivă pentru planificarea urbană. Astfel, administrațiile publice pot aloca resurse în mod eficient, pot preveni fraudele și pot personaliza serviciile oferite cetățenilor.
De asemenea, cursul analizează rolul parteneriatelor public-private (PPP) în accelerarea inovației și implementarea tehnologiilor avansate. Exemplele de succes din România și alte țări demonstrează că aceste parteneriate pot asigura accesul la expertiză, resurse financiare și tehnologii de ultimă generație, reducând riscurile și maximizând impactul investițiilor.
Un alt aspect esențial abordat în acest material este securitatea cibernetică, care devine critică în contextul digitalizării masive a administrației publice. Documentul subliniază provocările întâmpinate, precum complexitatea infrastructurilor IT și amenințările în evoluție, oferind soluții precum implementarea autentificării multifactor, criptarea datelor și educarea utilizatorilor pentru a preveni atacurile cibernetice.
Concluzia subliniază importanța adoptării unui cadru strategic pentru digitalizarea administrației publice, care să includă tehnologii moderne, soluții de guvernanță electronică și colaborare eficientă între sectorul public și privat. Prin acest curs, se urmărește dotarea funcționarilor publici cu cunoștințe practice și teoretice pentru a implementa soluții eficiente de digitalizare, contribuind la crearea unor administrații publice transparente, reziliente și orientate către cetățeni. Acesta nu doar că evidențiază bunele practici și inovațiile existente, dar oferă și un ghid complet pentru gestionarea provocărilor asociate unei tranziții digitale durabile
Smart Governance in Kazakhstan: A Systematic Review and Analysis of Development, Challenges, and Future Directions
This research examines how Kazakhstan is gradually implementing smart governance practices, studying how these efforts are changing government operations, improving citizen participation, and encouraging more transparency in policy-making. Kazakhstan\u27s dedication to integrating digital tools and methods into governance gives rise to important inquiries regarding the efficiency of these initiatives and how well they adhere to worldwide norms for modern governance. As Kazakhstan aims to become a digitally advanced nation, it is crucial to comprehend the impacts and potential challenges of smart governance.
By combining recent literature, this research offers a thorough evaluation of Kazakhstan\u27s smart governance strategy, which concentrates on digital infrastructure growth, public participation, policy openness, and data protection. Initially, advancements in digital infrastructure are the foundation of an agile, effective governance system, facilitating improved service access for the public. Furthermore, smart governance promotes a collaborative atmosphere that enhances public trust and inclusivity through encouraging citizen engagement. Thirdly, highlighting policy transparency facilitates accountability, leading to a governance framework that follows global standards. Ultimately, maintaining data security is crucial to guaranteeing that digital governance remains strong and reliable.
This paper concludes with a series of specific recommendations for improving Kazakhstan\u27s smart governance capabilities and overcoming existing constraints. In this way, it aims to help achieve Kazakhstan\u27s overall sustainable development objectives and add to the wider conversation on efficient smart governance in developing countries. These suggestions offer practical advice that could help policymakers and stakeholders advance Kazakhstan\u27s digital governance evolution
The impact of digital transformation: From traditional education to smart education
European Union\u27s focus on a green and digital transition, but how is this being implemented in local communities in disadvantaged areas of Romania? A major priority that requires our particular attention is the digitization of education. Through the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience, schools in deprived areas of Romania can apply for projects aimed at improving the quality of learning and enabling digital transformation. Using a concrete example, this paper aims to highlight the real impact such projects have on pupils and how a smart school enhances the learning process. Education plays a crucial role in the development of society, which is why we must pay more attention to it. Building on existing research that has focused on the digitalization of learning processes, this study contextualizes the findings within the field of education, addressing digital disparities and systemic issues specific to rural schools. The aim of this paper is to emphasize both the importance of the digital transformation of education in schools and the role this modernization plays. The main objectives of the paper include analyzing the significance of digital skills training for students and teachers to ensure the effective integration of technology into the educational process, and highlighting the contribution of technology to the modernization of education. It is essential to recognize the importance of education in our lives, and this paper underscores how technological modernization, especially in primary education, is being implemented in schools in rural areas
Impactul transformării digitale:De la educația tradițională la educația inteligentă
Uniunea Europeană acordă o deosebită atenție tranziției verzi și celei digitale, acestea reprezentând în prezent direcții importante care contribuie la dezvoltarea omenirii și, totodată, la îmbunătățirea nivelului de trai. Tranziția digitală subliniază direcția spre digitalizarea educației, un element esențial pentru dezvoltarea și progresul societății. Prin Planul Național de Recuperare și Reziliență, școlile din zonele defavorizate din România pot aplica pentru a obține finanțări ce aduc îmbunătățiri tehnologice asupra instituțiilor de învățământ, acestea vizând îmbunătățirea calității învățării și facilitarea transformării digitale. Educația joacă un rol crucial în dezvoltarea societății, motiv pentru care trebuie să acordăm atenție sporită calității acesteia. Bazându-se pe cercetările existente privind digitalizarea proceselor de învățare, acest studiu contextualizează constatările din domeniul educației, abordând provocările întâmpinate în urma tehnologizării instituțiilor de învățământ, în special în zonele rurale. Printre principalele obiective ale lucrării se numără analiza importanței formării competențelor digitale pentru elevi și profesori pentru a asigura integrarea eficientă a tehnologiei în procesul educațional și evidențierea contribuției tehnologiei la modernizarea educației.
De asemenea, un obiectiv fundamental al acestui studiu vizează motivele reticienței avute de cadrele didactice asupra folosirii tehnologiei și dacă digitalizarea ajută la obținerea unui proces de învățare mai facil. Este esențial să recunoaștem importanța educației în viața noastră, iar această lucrare subliniază modul în care modernizarea tehnologică, în special în învățământul primar, este implementată în școlile din zonele rurale
Environmental literacy, the key to sustainable conservation of wetlands in urban areas
The study focuses on understanding human effect on urban development and wetland degradation in Harare and Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. Wetlands are a crucial ecosystem as various living things depend on them for their survival and existence. In Africa, particularly Zimbabwe, continued existence of wetlands is under threat due to human activities, such as construction of houses, urban farming and waste dumping. There are limited conservation efforts in place to save the resourceful wetlands whose benefits to human beings and other various living species are immeasurable. This study was conducted in Seke in Chitungwiza, Warren Park and Mufakose in Harare where wetlands are affected by human activities. The study explores the effect of urban development on environmental sustainability due to urbanisation. A qualitative approach was adopted where 30 households were engaged in in-depth interviews. The study highlighted various reasons for residing, farming and dumping waste on wetlands.Moreover, the study explores challenges associated with living in wetlands,while showcasing the limitedlevels of environmental literacy among residents regarding wetlands and environmental conservation. Major gaps have been realised on environment literacy and policies that govern environmental conservation and these were identified as the main factors contributing towards continued wetland degradation in the three areas under the study. The study concluded that individuals are more concerned with their primary needs of securing food and shelter, with little or no consideration of the after effects of such on the environment which include individual heath, as well as depreciation of other services and goods found in wetlands. Recommendations have been put forward to ensure that literacy levels are increased and more importantly, comprehensive and binding policies should be put in place to enforce the conservation strategies
A crowdsensing-based framework for sound and vibration data analysis in smart urban environments
In this paper, we introduce a framework tailored to the precise analysis of sound and vibration data in the dynamic context of smart cities. By harnessing the power of crowdsensing data, our system offers a robust and highly adaptable solution for the real-time monitoring and comprehensive assessment of acoustic and vibrational parameters within urban environments. The rise of smart cities, fueled by sensor tech and data analysis, demands advanced tools to tackle urban environmental issues and improve residents’ quality of life. Our framework empowers city stakeholders, offering insights for informed decisions in urban planning, transportation, infrastructure maintenance, and public health. Key features of our system include data acquisition through mobile crowdsensing application, advanced signal processing algorithms for noise and vibration identification, and the integration of geospatial information to provide location-specific context. Furthermore, our framework supports scalable and adaptable data analytics, ensuring the efficient utilization of resources and the effective management of urban environments. The presented framework addresses the challenges of noise pollution, structural health monitoring, transportation optimization, and public safety in smart cities. By exploiting crowdsourced data, it promotes a collaborative approach to data collection, analysis, and decision-making, fostering an environment where cities can continuously evolve and adapt to the evolving needs of their residents. This paper offers a detailed exploration of the system’s architecture, and showcases its practical implementation, affirming its potential as a powerful starting point for advancing the science of smart cities