Smart Cities and Regional Development (SCRD) Open Access Publishing
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Smart supply chains and digital security: Integrating AI into hospital construction in Morocco in the era of smart cities
Get PDFIn the era of smart cities, Morocco is undergoing a profound transformation of its hospital infrastructures, marked by the gradual integration of intelligent technologies into construction and logistics management processes. This study explores the contribution of artificial intelligence (AI), Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to optimizing hospital construction supply chains, while analyzing the critical cybersecurity issues associated with these changes. Using a mixed methodology, articulating systematic literature review, qualitative interviews and quantitative survey, the article proposes an analytical framework integrating logistics performance, digital governance and data security. The results show that AI can significantly improve planning, multi-actor coordination and flow traceability, provided that structured digital governance and strengthened cybersecurity policies are in place. Drawing on empirical data collected from construction and healthcare players in Morocco, this research proposes an integrated model of an intelligent and secure hospital supply chain, adapted to the specificities of the Moroccan context. It thus aims to inform public policy on the digitization of healthcare infrastructures, while contributing to the literature on smart supply chains in developing countries
Reimagining Bucharest’s Central Station: PPP and Air Rights as Tools for Metropolitan Integration
Get PDFThis article explores how public-private partnerships (PPPs) combined with the development of air rights can unlock latent value above railways, finance modernization, and catalyze the intensification of smart mixed use. The proposed research focuses on how PPPs combined with the development of air rights can transform Bucharest\u27s North Train Station-Basarab railway station into an intermodal hub of European importance. It argues that the development of land adjacent to railways can co-finance the modernization of the station, a high-quality public space and intensive mixed use, promoting decarbonization and metropolitan competitiveness. The study is based on node-site and TOD frameworks, international rail plus property models, and recent SCRD themes on urban regeneration and infrastructure governance. It extends these concepts to the context of Central and Eastern Europe, where integrated PPP/air rights applications remain under-explored. Methods combine GIS spatial analysis, scenario design for a covered "urban slab" operational modeling for a two-terminal concept, PPP/air rights financial structuring and value capture testing, plus stakeholder contributions/surveys on housing-work-study patterns and station use. Results show that selective coverage can unlock substantial buildable areas while connecting the urban fabric across rail barriers; value capture can co-finance rail and intermodal upgrades; an operational two-terminal model improves frequency, orientation, and transfer times; and intensified mixed use driven by stations supports polycentric growth and better public domain performance. The contribution is an integrated framework, adapted at the local level - spatially, operationally, and financially - that demonstrates how PPP + air rights can transform an old railway hub into a resilient metropolitan center, providing a scalable model for Romanian and European stations
Poate inteligența artificială (AI) influența opinia publică?
Get PDFAm tot primit (și adresat) această întrebare în ultimele patru luni: Oare o inteligență artificială (super-inteligentă – poate așa cum am vorbit într-un articol precedent ) asociată rețelelor sociale, va putea să (ne) controleze cu ușurință – întrebare ridicată de altfel și de Daniel Kahneman, laureat Nobel în Economie (2002)?
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Integrating NVIDIA AI Microservices with the Eclipse Arrowhead framework for smart city applications
Get PDFIn order to provide a solid, scalable solution for edge AI applications suited to smart city projects, this article suggests an architecture that combines NVIDIA AI Microservices with the Eclipse Arrowhead Framework. The integration addresses the demand for smooth, real-time AI-powered functions across heterogeneous devices and serves a variety of sectors, including social innovation, urban planning, and e-government. The framework seeks to improve citizen services and optimize urban resource management by utilizing Arrowhead\u27s service-oriented skills and NVIDIA\u27s cutting-edge AI models. As seen by applications like automated systems and industrial IoT, the study expands on developments in cloud-edge integration and service orchestration within the Arrowhead Framework. Few existing frameworks have specifically addressed the integration of high-performance AI microservices for smart city contexts, instead concentrating on general interoperability and dynamic service discovery. By using Docker for containerization, the suggested approach makes it possible to deploy AI services in a secure and scalable manner. While Arrowhead manages service registration, discovery, and secure communication, NVIDIA AI models take care of activities like data analysis and pattern identification. Workloads are balanced across cloud and edge settings because of the architecture\u27s support for decentralized execution. The successful orchestration of AI microservices for applications such as environmental monitoring and traffic optimization is demonstrated by the preliminary implementation. Through simulated urban scenarios, the system\u27s ability to process data with minimal latency and make dependable decisions across heterogeneous platforms is tested. By providing a model for improving urban infrastructure, this framework can greatly increase the effectiveness of smart city operations for both practitioners and scholars. Additionally, it establishes the framework for incorporating upcoming advancements in AI into public services. To guarantee compatibility, scalability, and security, the study presents a novel method of integrating Arrowhead\u27s orchestration tools with NVIDIA\u27s AI Microservices. The framework provides a creative answer to contemporary urban problems by considering the particular requirements of smart cities
The duality of the road landscape
Get PDFThe article carries out a brief analysis of the road area, defining this term through the notion of limit which, seen from another perspective, can turn into a threshold - a very important concept in understanding the relationship between the road and the localities around it -, asserting, thus, the dual nature of the road and reviews the evolution of infrastructure and road facilities, from old (commercial) routes to contemporary high-speed road networks, focusing on the investigation of service spaces, with the aim of showing the fact that roads, through their endowments (or their absence) can act either as elements that separate different environments (urban - rural) and fragment the landscape, or as elements that facilitate connections, the interaction between urban - the road - and rural - the localities they cross - and local development through a fair reporting to the context. Also, the potential of the Japanese concept of road service stations - michinoeki - is explored, as a model for the transformation of current (non)road service spaces, from simple temporary stopping points into multifunctional centers - and even development poles - relevant at the local level, able to positively influence the perception, ambience and relationships between the infrastructure, the driver and the surrounding landscape - the depths of the territory -, supporting the local economy and regional culture - through the synthesis and integration of the local specificity - and thus emphasizing the importance of an integrated approach for the revitalization and sustainable development of predominantly rural areas. The study may be relevant to architects, urban planners and authorities, as it offers a different perspective on road infrastructure planning and development and proposes, by redefining road service spaces, a practical, viable and widely applicable solution to transform roads – especially the high-speed ones -, from passive barriers to permeable elements that participate in a real and active way in solving problems, development on a multitude of levels and social cohesion of the rural environment crossed
Educational Challenges and Opportunities in the Era of AI-Driven Smart Cities
Get PDFObjectives: This paper aims to identify and analyze the most significant challenges and opportunities of the educational processes in smart cities, from both the perspective of providers and beneficiaries. Prior work: Currently, there is an increased interest in achieving results in a very short time, a trend that also affects the knowledge acquisition and delivery. This has led to the emergence of numerous platforms offering courses in various fields, often with exaggerated promises. On the other hand, traditional education systems are generally more rigid, requiring long-term effort and determination. The highly dynamic life in smart cities, along with social, technological, and economic changes, has created new individual expectations and a constant need for adaptation. Naturally, these changes are also reflected in the educational process. Approach: Based on existing literature, this paper aims to identify and propose solutions for solving these challenges and exploiting the opportunities, focusing on integrating the latest and most efficient technologies, but only to the extent that they bring real benefits to the citizens of smart cities. Results: As a result, there are numerous challenges for institutions and organizations that provide education in a formal setting, requiring continuous adaptation to meet the expectations of both beneficiaries and the market (curriculum, teaching style, interaction methods, etc.). Implications: The numerous and diverse technologies used in smart cities need to be understood and utilized effectively to contribute to the goal of a better quality of life for citizens, in a cleaner and safer environment. This requires educational adaptation by providers to meet beneficiary and market expectations. Value: The value lies in the paper\u27s focus on integrating the latest and most efficient technologies, but only to the extent that they bring real benefits to the citizens of smart cities
The next level of the urban innovation: from the 15 minute city to the synergic smart city
Get PDFColombian urban planner Carlos Moreno, who first introduced the concept of the "15-minute city", brought a new vision and perception to the metropolis of the last decade, realigning the urban experience to ensure that every essential service is accessible within a short walk or a bike ride. This concept encouraged a sustainable lifestyle, reducing dependence on cars and promoting the principles of smart mobility. The concept emphasizes the importance of creating human-centered cities where residents\u27 well-being and convenience are paramount, supporting ecological sustainability by reducing pollution and promoting greener urban spaces. Implementing this concept in metropolises such as Paris, Melbourne, Milan, Bogotá, Portland, and Shanghai posed several challenges, thus announcing, 10 years later, the next stage of urban innovation: "Synergic Smart City". This new paradigm, which combines advanced technologies with a holistic design philosophy based on sustainable development and infrastructure, aims to create cities that are not only intelligent but also deeply adapted to the rhythms of human life. The ultimate goal is to recreate urban environments where technology and humanity coexist harmoniously, enhancing everyday life through seamless integration. This article presents how the transition from the 15-minute City to the Synergic Smart City is achieved through innovative strategies that introduce and explain new concepts such as Predictive Urbanism, which uses artificial intelligence and big data to anticipate and respond to the evolving needs of residents, and sustainable infrastructures are powered by renewable energies and form the backbone of these cities. Autonomous mobility and smart resource management ensure efficiency, while collaborative digital platforms create a framework for citizens to actively participate in their urban experience. The key message of this article is that the adoption of this innovative synergistic smart city model represents a shift towards sustainable urbanism, highlighting the transformative power of technology in synergy with the essence of human experience, thus proposing a prototype of cities that are not only smart but also deeply human
Development of STEM skills and competencies through object-based STEM learning
Get PDFDeveloping STEM competencies is a key topic in the education system in the EU and beyond. Many studies have proven the importance of Competence-Based Education (CBE) and its methods applied in the classroom. In recent years, research on problem-based and project-based learning in STEM has been extensive. This study aims to propose a new method for the development of STEM competencies, “Object-Based STEM Learning” (OBSL). The study provides a brief overview of STEM skills and competencies, as well as conceptual thinking skills. The OBSL method is a system thinking approach for non-linear learning. The method includes 4 stages, detailed and structured in the OBSL process. The study proposes a definition of OBSL and instructions for designing an OBSL lesson that can be used by teachers when implementing the method in the classroom. The study concludes with some principles for effective OBSL, as well as future research steps
Securitatea cibernetică în administrația publică din România: Provocări și măsuri de protecție în contextul digitalizări
Get PDFDigitalizarea administrației publice din România scoate la iveală în prim-plan amenințările legate de securitatea cibernetică, în special în cazul unor instituții centrale precum Parlamentul României. Această lucrare analizează vulnerabilitățile cibernetice specifice în acest context, evidențiind importanța unei infrastructuri IT moderne și a unor măsuri adecvate de protecție. În contextual actual, lipsa educației digitale a personalului și resursele insuficiente de securitate sunt factorii decisivi atunci când vine vorba de funcționarea optimă a instituției. Utilizând o combinație de metode, printre care analiza documentară a legislației, studii de caz si analiza datelor colectate de la funționarii publici care activează în domeniu, putem obține rezultate care subliniază necesitatea implementării unor soluții avansate, precum sisteme moderne de detecție și programe de formare continuă pentru personal. Totodată, lucrarea propune modernizarea cadrului legislativ pentru a sprijini o abordare integrată a securității cibernetice, adaptată nevoilor specifice ale Parlamentului României. Datorită analizei aprofundate a provocărilor și soluțiilor identificate, această lucrare oferă o contribuție semnificativă la înțelegerea și gestionarea riscurilor cibernetice din administrația publică. În plus, subliniază importanța capacității de adaptare digitală pentru protecția infrastructurilor critice ale statului și pentru îmbunătățirea interacțiunii dintre instituții și cetățeni. Lucrarea sprijină dezvoltarea unui cadru teoretic și practic de valoare, adresat atât factorilor de decizie, cât și specialiștilor în securitate informațională. Se evidențiază necesitatea unei colaborări între sectorul public și cel privat pentru implementarea unor măsuri eficiente de securitate. Investițiile în educație digitală și conștientizarea publicului cu privire la amenințările cibernetice reprezintă pași esențiali pentru asigurarea unei tranziții line spre digitalizarea completa a administrației publice.
Analiza nevoilor de conținut a unui website municipal
Get PDFPrezenta lucrare presupune efectuarea unei analize asupra anumitor website-uri municipale în funcție de specificul orașelor, concentrându-se pe gradul lor de dezvoltare și pe examinarea modului în care administrațiile publice locale utilizează într-o manieră integrată instrumentele guvernării electronice. Scopul cercetării este de a descoperi dacă primăriile pun accentul pe dezvoltarea continuă a paginii web și un alt scop ar fi acela ca aceste instituții să acorde o atenție mai mare website-urilor, deoarece acestea reprezintă viitorul și după cum se intitulează lucrarea „Realizing the Promise of Digital Government: It’s More than Building a Web Site”, scrisă de T. A. Pardo, nu este de ajuns doar ca website-ul să fie prezent. Lucrarea face o paralelă la studiul intitulat „E-guvernarea în municipiile României” a profesorului Cătălin Vrabie din 2014, cu ajutorul căreia se elaborează o analiză comparativă pentru a observa dacă a avut loc o evoluție sau un regres cu referirea la prezența anumitor elemente ale guvernării electronice pe website-urile primăriilor selectate pentru analiză. În cadrul lucrării vor fi folosite ambele tipuri de abordări, cantitativă și calitativă, iar metodele principale folosite vor fi observarea și chestionarul, prin intermediul acestora se vor analiza paginile web și se va nota fiecare element din chestionar în funcție de prezența sau lipsa acestuia de pe website. Rezultatele studiilor empirice sunt că website-urile au suferit modificări de-a lungul anilor, crescând astfel și nivelul de dezvoltarea a e-guvernării. Implicațiile studiului sunt sociale datorită faptului că se evidențiază importanța website-urilor municipale în consolidarea imaginii primăriilor, iar prin intermediul acestuia se facilitează munca cetățenilor și a propriilor angajați. Prin această lucrare se va oferi o perspectivă asupra modului și nivelului în care primăriile implică website-urile în procesul de guvernare