BSI,
the business standards company, has published a new international standard for
city leaders to meet the challenges of urbanization and grow sustainably.
BS
ISO 37106:2018 Sustainable cities and
communities – Guidance on establishing smart city operating models for
sustainable communities was created following a five-year process of
research and engagement with city leaders. It defines a smart operating model
for cities, which enables them to operationalize their vision, strategy and
policies at a faster pace.
At
the heart of this standard is the idea that cities are looking to transform the
way they operate. This means moving from an inefficient, disjointed,
producer-focused model to a ‘smart’ model: citizen-centric, digital, agile,
open and collaborative. BS ISO 37106 provides detailed, proven guidance on how
to deliver these changes in practice, focussing on four main areas:
- Delivery principles: for city
leaders to use to steer decision-making
- Key cross-city delivery
processes: practical guidance to help different divisions within a city
work together better
- Benefit realization: clearly
linking smart city investments with the social, economic and environmental
outcomes the city aims to achieve
- Risk
management: a checklist of issues which a city should regularly monitor
The
standard does not prescribe a one-size-fits-all model; rather, local government
is encouraged to apply this framework for collaboration in a way that is
flexible to meet local needs, e.g. tackling air pollution or improving social
care provision. Through innovative use of technology and data – coupled with
organizational change – each city can help deliver its own tailored version of
smart and sustainable growth.
David
Fatscher, Head of Sustainability at BSI, said: “BS ISO 37106 provides a common
framework for how city leaders across the globe – whether in London, Leicester,
Lahore, Lagos, or Los Angeles – can develop, agree and deliver smart city
strategies that can transform the lives of the people who live and work there.
“Sustainable
growth is about more than saving the planet for future generations. Through
collaboration across different areas and by embracing new technology, city
leaders can deal with the challenges of the future in a cost-effective and
environmentally responsible way. The UK has led thinking on smart city
standards, with this international standard evolving from the widely adopted
guidance document, PAS 181.”
As
well as the public sector, the standard will also be of interest to
decision-makers in the private and voluntary sectors who may work closely with
local government.
