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Article

Integrating Technology and Urban Resilience: A Comprehensive Analysis of Smart City Initiatives in Sydney

by
Shabnam Varzeshi
,
John Fien
* and
Leila Irajifar
School of Architecture & Urban Design, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, Australia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2024, 16(24), 10967; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410967
Submission received: 13 November 2024 / Revised: 7 December 2024 / Accepted: 9 December 2024 / Published: 13 December 2024
(This article belongs to the Topic Smart Cities: Infrastructure, Innovation, Technology, Governance and Citizenship)
Browse Figures
Figure 1
<p>Research design overview.</p> "> Figure 2
<p>Integration of themes between Smart City Framework and Resilient Sydney Strategy.</p> "> Figure 3
<p>Distribution of smart city project Types in Sydney.</p> "> Figure 4
<p>Proportional distribution of Sydney’s smart city projects by scale.</p> "> Figure 5
<p>Distribution of Sydney’s smart city projects based on approaches to resilience.</p> ">
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
This study explores the integration of smart city and resilience strategies in Sydney, focusing on the relationship between technological advancements and urban resilience. By analysing strategic documents and key projects—specifically the NSW Spatial Digital Twin, Land iQ, and SIMPaCT—this research identifies important synergies and gaps in Sydney’s urban planning efforts. The findings indicate that these projects improve urban functionality through real-time data integration, predictive planning, and adaptive infrastructure. However, there are inconsistencies between strategic objectives and actual implementation, particularly concerning stakeholder inclusivity and equity considerations. The study concludes that utilising technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), along with equitable stakeholder engagement, has the potential to significantly enhance Sydney’s ability to address environmental, social, and economic challenges. These insights offer practical recommendations for policymakers and urban planners who aim to balance innovation with inclusivity in smart city development.

1. Introduction

The 21st century presents unprecedented urban challenges driven by climate change, rapid urbanisation, and technological disruptions. These factors significantly impact urban infrastructures, economies, and communities, necessitating innovative approaches to urban planning and resilience. Climate change causes extreme weather events and environmental stresses that present significant risks to urban systems and residents’ well-being [1]. Simultaneously, rapid urbanisation intensifies existing strains, leading to congestion, pollution, inadequate housing, and inadequate services. While advanced technologies provide potential solutions, they also complicate managing privacy, security, and inequality [2]. Addressing these multifaceted challenges requires integrated strategies that enhance urban sustainability and resilience.
In response, smart cities have emerged as a critical strategy to enhance urban governance, infrastructure, and quality of life [3]. By integrating technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics, smart cities aim to address environmental, social, and economic challenges holistically. Cities worldwide—from Asia to the Americas—are adopting digital solutions to innovate governance and infrastructure, thereby enhancing residents’ lives [4,5].
This paper explores how smart city initiatives contribute to enhancing urban resilience through a case study of Sydney, Australia’s most populous urban centre. With a metropolitan population of over five million people, Sydney faces significant urban pressures that require innovative and resilient solutions. Recognised as a leading global city, Sydney ranks 18th out of 109 cities in the 2020 Smart City Index, published by the Institute for Management Development (IMD) and Singapore University for Technology and Design (SUTD). This ranking reflects the positive perception of Sydney’s citizens regarding the impact of technology on their quality of life [6]. However, the city faces challenges such as managing population growth, mitigating environmental pressures, and enhancing sustainable transportation, compounded by vulnerabilities to climate change impacts such as rising sea levels [7,8].
To navigate these complexities, Sydney has implemented comprehensive resilience strategies and has participated in the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities Initiative, which is designed to help cities better withstand and recover from adversities [9]. Urban resilience, as defined in this study, refers to a city’s ability to absorb, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stressors while maintaining essential functions and promoting sustainable development [10]. To achieve meaningful and deep sustainability, a city must address underlying problems such as social inequality, economic instability, and climate change, which exacerbate the impacts of disruptions like environmental hazards and social distress [11]. This comprehensive understanding of resilience aligns with both the Resilient Sydney Strategy and the Smart City Strategic Framework, as Sydney seeks to tackle environmental pressures, social inequalities, and economic challenges through integrated smart city initiatives. Guided by these strategies, Sydney utilises IoT, AI, and big data analytics while emphasising strong stakeholder engagement in disaster risk reduction and environmental sustainability [12,13].
By examining key projects such as the NSW Spatial Digital Twin, Land iQ, and SIMPaCT within these frameworks, this study analyses the impact of advanced technologies in fostering resilient urban planning. This provides valuable insights into the practical implementation of smart city strategies, offering lessons applicable to Australia and other urban regions worldwide.

1.1. Research Gap

Despite advancements in global smart city initiatives, significant gaps still exist in understanding how specific technologies and strategies contribute to urban resilience, particularly in Australia. There has been limited examination of the actual impacts of smart city projects, often revealing a disconnect between strategic planning and implementation. Furthermore, the combined effects of technological advancements and resilience initiatives remain underexplored, especially when it comes to social factors that can weaken resilience.

1.2. Research Questions

To address these gaps, this study focuses on the following research questions:
  • How do Sydney’s Smart City Strategic Framework and Resilient Sydney Strategy employ advanced technologies such as IoT, AI, and big data to improve urban resilience?
  • What are the synergies and discrepancies between these strategic frameworks, and how do they affect the implementation of smart city initiatives in Sydney?
  • How do specific smart city projects—namely, the NSW Spatial Digital Twin, Land iQ, and SIMPaCT—enhance urban functionality, promote environmental sustainability, and encourage community inclusion in Sydney?
  • What challenges and limitations are encountered in implementing smart city initiatives in Sydney, and what strategies can be adopted to address these issues to ensure long-term resilience?
By addressing these questions, the study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of how technological advancements can help address the social factors that undermine resilience. The methods used include a two-phased approach combining descriptive, content, comparative, critical, and typological analyses. The following sections evaluate how these projects contribute to developing smarter and more resilient urban environments to draw meaningful conclusions for urban planners and policymakers worldwide.

2. Literature Review

Smart city technologies and processes have evolved significantly in developing and managing cities in many parts of the world. The primary objective of smart city initiatives was to increase urban efficiency by integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT). With increasingly complex challenges facing cities worldwide, smart city technologies have expanded in scope to include IoT, AI, big data analytics, and more advanced frameworks like Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) [14]. These innovations are vital for improving urban management and decision-making. They enable real-time monitoring and analysis of urban dynamics, allowing cities to enhance the responsiveness and efficiency of services. The application of these technologies has also expanded to include support for disaster risk reduction and management, thereby helping to build urban resilience [8,15]. For example, deploying IoT sensors in urban infrastructure enables real-time data collection on traffic, air quality, and energy consumption, which can be analysed using AI algorithms to optimise city operations [16].
Smart city technologies are increasingly recognised as essential tools for tackling complex urban challenges, including environmental sustainability, social equity, and urban resilience [17,18]. Advanced tools like AI and big data analytics enhance urban governance by enabling data-driven decision-making processes [19]. Integrating ICT with environmental and social considerations is crucial for creating sustainable urban environments, ensuring that technological advancements align with broader societal goals [20]. These technologies offer a framework for cities to manage resources efficiently, address inequalities, and foster resilience in the face of various challenges.

2.1. Urban Resilience in Smart City Frameworks

Urban resilience refers to a city’s capacity to withstand, recover from, and adapt to various challenges, such as climate change, economic fluctuations, and social inequalities [10]. As cities encounter more frequent and severe disruptions, integrating resilience into smart city frameworks has become increasingly important [21]. Advanced technologies, including predictive analytics and comprehensive sensor networks, play a crucial role in this process. For instance, cities like Amsterdam and Singapore have implemented smart infrastructure systems that facilitate proactive urban management, effectively mitigating stressors to prevent escalation into significant issues [10,22].
Research shows that incorporating resilience into smart city planning improves both the physical durability of urban infrastructure and the adaptive capabilities of social and economic systems [23]. Resilient smart cities utilise technology to anticipate potential threats, strategise effectively, and recover quickly from adverse events. This approach helps ensure the continuity of services and protects the well-being of citizens [24].
The integration of resilience into smart city frameworks directly contributes to achieving global sustainability objectives. Specifically, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as a guide for tackling critical urban challenges, as outlined below.

2.2. Smart Cities and the SDGs

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer a global framework for tackling pressing issues like poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation [25]. Smart city initiatives are strongly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those concerning sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), and climate action (SDG 13) [26]. By utilising advanced technologies, smart cities can help achieve these goals by managing resources efficiently, minimising environmental impacts, and improving residents’ quality of life [27].
The use of renewable energy solutions and smart grids in cities such as Copenhagen and Vancouver has significantly lowered greenhouse gas emissions, thereby supporting SDG 13 [28]. Smart mobility solutions, such as intelligent transportation systems and shared mobility services, enhance sustainable urban transport, aligning with SDG 11 [29].

2.3. Promoting Social Equity in Smart Cities Through Technology

However, questions have been asked about whether smart technologies are capable of addressing the social roots of vulnerability, such as social exclusion and economic disparity. This is because inequalities may worsen in a smart city if access to technology is unequal [20]. Therefore, technological advancements must be integrated with social equity frameworks to ensure inclusive resilience. Strengthening urban resilience for all demands, fostering economic vitality, improving communication, and facilitating citizen participation—and smart technologies can contribute to these three goals [30,31,32]. For example, Copenhagen’s renewable energy initiatives promote environmental sustainability and social equity by ensuring all citizens can access clean energy. Similarly, the smart city strategies of Barcelona emphasise public participation in urban planning, aligning technological advancements with the needs and priorities of the public [33]. These approaches support SDG 10 by fostering inclusivity and empowering marginalised communities. Many smart city projects, however, struggle to align technological progress with social goals, raising concerns about digital divides and the potential to leave certain populations behind [34].

2.4. Gaps in Existing Research

Despite an increasing amount of literature on smart cities, significant gaps still exist, especially regarding the effects of smart city initiatives on urban resilience and sustainability. Much of the existing research emphasises technological innovations or strategic frameworks, but it often fails to thoroughly assess their practical implementation and outcomes [10,22]. In Australia, there is limited research on how smart city initiatives enhance resilience and sustainability.
Additionally, a more comprehensive analysis is needed to examine the combined effects of technological advancements, social equity, and environmental sustainability [35]. This involves exploring how smart technologies can tackle social issues that compromise resilience, such as poverty and social exclusion [36]. Moreover, aligning smart city initiatives with the SDGs offers an opportunity to enhance global sustainability efforts; however, this connection is often insufficiently explored in current studies [37].
This study aims to address existing gaps by examining key smart city projects in Sydney, including the NSW Spatial Digital Twin, Land iQ, and SIMPaCT. It analyses the impact of these initiatives on urban resilience and sustainability. By exploring how these projects integrate advanced technologies with social and environmental objectives, the study enhances our understanding of smart city development in Australia and its alignment with the SDGs.

3. Research Design

This study uses a two-phased approach to analyse Sydney’s smart city and resilience strategies. Figure 1 illustrates the research design, highlighting how each analytical method contributes to specific outcomes. In Phase 1, we analyse strategic documents using descriptive, content, comparative, and critical analyses. Phase 2 involves a typological analysis and a detailed examination of three key projects to understand their contributions to urban resilience. These methods were selected to capture the strategic intent behind Sydney’s smart city initiatives and the practical implementation of specific projects, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of policy impact, stakeholder engagement, and project effectiveness.

3.1. Case Study Context

Sydney is an insightful case study that highlights the integration of global smart city trends with local socio-economic and environmental priorities. The city effectively utilises technologies such as AI, IoT, and big data analytics to tackle significant urban challenges related to infrastructure, sustainability, and inclusivity. Key initiatives, like the NSW Spatial Digital Twin and Land iQ, showcase Sydney’s ability to monitor conditions in real time and engage in scenario planning, thereby enhancing urban resilience. Additionally, the SIMPaCT initiative aims to optimise water usage and strengthen climate resilience by improving the management of public spaces during extreme weather events. These combined efforts make Sydney an ideal subject for examining the interaction between technology, governance, and resilience.

3.2. Phase 1: Analysis of Strategic Documents

The first phase examines the two key strategic documents: Sydney’s Smart City Strategic Framework [38] and the Resilient Sydney Strategy [39], which guides the city’s smart city and resilience efforts. These documents were sourced directly from the official websites of the City of Sydney and Resilient Sydney to ensure their authenticity and accuracy. They were selected because they provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date insights into Sydney’s strategic approaches to smart city development and urban resilience, encompassing initiatives from their publication dates through to 2023.
The first step was to conduct a Descriptive Analysis to identify each document’s structure, content and key themes. The process involved reading the documents thoroughly to determine the main objectives, strategic goals, and proposed initiatives to lay the groundwork for further analysis [40,41].
Second, Content Analysis techniques developed by Krippendorff [40] were applied to ensure reliability, validity, and replicability in identifying patterns and themes. The data from the strategic documents was systematically coded and analysed using NVivo 12 software, which enabled the identification of critical themes such as digital integration, sustainability, community engagement, and resilience. The coding framework was developed based on research questions and existing literature, allowing for a detailed exploration of how these themes were emphasised and interconnected across the documents.
Third, to assess the relationship between the two strategies, a comparative analysis was conducted using NVivo’s matrix coding query to identify thematic alignments and divergences between the two strategies. This method identified key areas of thematic alignment, such as shared commitments to environmental sustainability and collaboration with stakeholders. It also highlighted differences in approaches to community engagement and technological priorities. Visual tools, such as Venn diagrams, were employed to illustrate the overlaps and gaps, providing a clearer understanding of strategic synergies and divergences. Additionally, narrative analysis was used to examine the language and framing of each document, uncovering implicit priorities and underlying strategic orientations [7,42].
The final step of Phase 1, Critical Analysis involved evaluating the strengths, weaknesses, and underlying assumptions of the strategic frameworks. This evaluation highlighted their strengths, such as a strong emphasis on resilience and inclusivity, as well as gaps and areas for improvement. For instance, while both documents prioritise stakeholder engagement, they offer limited consideration of marginalised communities and how technological advancements could address systemic inequalities. This detailed approach to analysing Sydney’s strategic frameworks provided valuable insights into the city’s urban policy and planning [43].
Together, these four forms of analysis provided a layered understanding of Sydney’s strategic frameworks and uncovered both the explicit and the more nuanced aspects of urban policy and planning in Sydney.

3.3. Phase 2: Analysis of Smart City Projects

The second phase analyses a diverse range of smart city projects initiated or active between 2015 and 2023 in Sydney to understand how they contribute to the city’s resilience and smart development goals. These projects were sourced from official city websites, government reports, academic publications, and specific project documentation, ensuring thorough coverage of Sydney’s smart city initiatives.
This analysis utilised Typological Analysis to categorise and evaluate 36 smart city projects based on project type, scale, geographical focus, and ownership criteria. This systematic approach allowed for an assessment of how various project characteristics contribute to urban resilience. This approach was based on a framework developed by Bailey [44] to assess how well these projects align with the strategic goals revealed in Phase 1 and to reveal potential gaps that could hinder their effectiveness in fostering a resilient and sustainable urban environment.
Following this broad analysis, three key projects were examined in detail: the NSW Spatial Digital Twin, Land iQ, and SIMPaCT. These projects were selected for their significant impact on digital innovation, stakeholder collaboration, and urban resilience. Each project was evaluated using four different perspectives:
Technological Implementation: Evaluating the impact of AI, IoT, and big data and examining both the advantages and challenges.
Stakeholder Engagement: Analysing the interactions among public, private, and community stakeholders and their impact on project success.
Resilience and Sustainability Outcomes: Assessing each project’s impact on Sydney’s resilience and sustainability, focusing on real benefits and strategic progress.
Comparative Insights: Identifying each project’s distinct and collective contributions to Sydney’s overall smart city strategy, highlighting synergies and unique project advantages.
The textual data from both policy documents and project reports was processed methodically to ensure both consistency and reliability. NVivo 12 was utilised to assist with thematic clustering, keyword frequency analysis, and sentiment analysis. Additionally, visual representations such as matrices and diagrams were employed to synthesise the findings. These methods established a solid foundation for identifying patterns and drawing conclusions.
This study provides a comprehensive understanding of Sydney’s smart city and resilience strategies through a combination of strategic and project-specific analyses. The findings reveal both successful integrations and areas needing improvement, enhancing our understanding of how urban systems can effectively align technology, governance, and resilience. This multidimensional approach not only advances academic discussions on urban resilience but also offers actionable insights for policymakers and urban planners across various contexts.

4. Results

This section aims to provide a detailed analysis of the strategic documents that guide Sydney’s smart city and resilience initiatives. It explores how technology and policy are integrated into these frameworks to foster resilient and innovative urban environments utilising various analytical methods. The results described below do not follow the five steps in the research approach (see above). Rather, it integrates the findings under three themes due to overlapping approaches. These themes are (i) core concepts in the strategic frameworks, (ii) typological patterns, and (iii) specific case studies.

4.1. Overview of Strategic Frameworks

This section synthesises the Descriptive and Content Analyses of Sydney’s Smart City Strategic Framework and the Resilient Sydney Strategy. It highlights how these strategies integrate technology with policy and planning to promote a resilient, sustainable, and innovative urban environment.

4.1.1. Smart City Framework

The analysis of Sydney’s Smart City Strategic Framework identified four crucial themes driving urban innovation and development in the city. These are:
Digital Integration and Infrastructure Development: The framework emphasises digital technologies such as IoT, AI, and big data analytics, improving service delivery and urban infrastructure and enabling efficient traffic management and predictive maintenance.
Sustainability and Resilience: Initiatives focus on environmental and social sustainability, creating green spaces, integrating sustainable practices into urban development, and bolstering a city’s resilience against natural disasters and cyberattacks.
Inclusive Governance and Community Engagement: The framework promotes participatory governance and fosters public–private partnerships through digital platforms to promote community involvement and cross-sectoral innovation.
Equity, policy, and capacity building: To ensure fair access to technology, the strategy highlights comprehensive policy frameworks, data-driven decision-making, and skill development to maximise the benefits of smart technologies across all community sectors.

4.1.2. Resilience Strategy

The analysis of the Resilient Sydney Strategy identified key themes to strengthen the city’s ability to withstand and adapt to urban risks and challenges.
Community and Infrastructure Resilience: Strengthening community networks and building resilient infrastructure are crucial to managing the risks and impacts of climate change and disasters. They ensure that social systems are strong and adaptable and that urban services and infrastructure (e.g., water and energy utilities and transport and communication networks) are hardened.
Economic and Environmental Sustainability: Resilience to disaster risk can be enhanced by promoting social and economic diversity and inclusion, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and promoting environmental sustainability (e.g., with renewable energy projects). These activities support resilience by reducing vulnerability to sector-specific shocks, facilitating quicker recovery from disruptions, sustaining local economic development by enabling SMEs to innovate and reducing fossil fuel dependency. Moreover, they mitigate climate change impacts and improve the city’s ability to absorb and recover from environmental shocks.
Comprehensive Emergency Preparedness and Health Initiatives: Developing early warning systems, disaster risk preparedness and prevention plans, comprehensive emergency responses and health services accessible to all and supported by digital literacy and continuous education to prepare residents with the skills to meet future challenges.
Data-Driven Leadership: Utilising advanced data analytics for effective governance and decision-making and aligning technology use with strategic urban management to foster a proactive, responsive urban system.

4.1.3. Integration and Synergies

Together, the themes in the two strategic documents provide a comprehensive approach to combining innovative smart city solutions with resilient strategies to create a sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking urban environment. A comparison of the themes in each document reveals significant synergies, including Social, Economic and Environmental Sustainability, Community Engagement, Infrastructure Resilience, Digital Infrastructure, and Data-driven Decision-making.
Social, Economic and Environmental Sustainability: Initiatives such as the Sydney Green Grid and Greening Sydney Plan aim to enhance urban biodiversity, create recreational spaces, and improve public health. The Tech Startups Action Plan supports innovation and economic resilience, particularly among SMEs. Urban canopy mapping and greenhouse gas monitoring also leverage technology to manage environmental impacts, aligning with Sydney’s sustainability goals and resilient urban environment.
Digital Infrastructure: Sydney is bolstering its resilience by strengthening its digital infrastructure. Initiatives, such as open data platforms and free Wi-Fi programs, enhance service delivery and ensure robust, flexible digital connectivity. This, in turn, facilitates innovation and enables community service continuity even during disruptions.
Community Engagement and Collaboration: Community participation in governance processes, such as participatory budgeting and disaster preparedness workshops, strengthens the city’s resilience and fosters a collaborative, transparent, and engaged urban community.
Data-driven Decision-making: Real-time data analytics supports the management of Sydney’s infrastructure and emergency responses, optimising city operations and enhancing proactive governance through predictive modelling and traffic flow optimisation.
Infrastructure Resilience: Investing in durable infrastructure, such as flood-resistant urban designs and upgraded bridges, aligns with ecological considerations and ensures readiness for future challenges. This provides a strong foundation for smart city technologies and resilience strategies.
The thematic connections between Sydney’s Smart City Framework and Resilient Sydney Strategy are visually summarised in Figure 2. This diagram highlights the interrelations between the two strategic documents, emphasising their joint contribution to sustainable and resilient urban development.

4.1.4. Strategic Improvements and Recommendations

The above five interconnected themes promote the strategic integration of technology, community engagement, and resilient infrastructure planning to advance Sydney’s smart and resilient city capabilities. However, Sydney’s smart city and resilience strategies can be enhanced in six key areas to foster more adaptive and inclusive urban development. These areas are crucial for addressing observed gaps so Sydney can evolve into a smarter, more resilient city.
First, despite robust collaboration frameworks in the documents, stakeholder engagement has significant room for improvement, particularly for marginalised and underrepresented groups. Traditional methods, such as formal meetings and surveys, often fail to be accessible, potentially excluding certain groups due to language barriers, limited digital access, or a lack of awareness about engagement opportunities. To address this, creating inclusive and user-friendly feedback platforms and regular workshops focused on inclusivity and resilience can empower these groups to have a stronger voice in shaping urban strategies, ultimately promoting more equitable outcomes [45].
Second, the equity considerations in the two strategies could be improved. For example, the inclusion of systematic equity assessments early in the project lifecycle can ensure that technological advancements and infrastructure developments are accessible to all socio-economic groups, thus avoiding any increase in urban disparities and, indeed, actively seeking to mitigate existing ones [46].
Third, the strategic documents could contain more specific implementation steps. Creating detailed plans with timelines, responsibilities, and measurable metrics can enhance strategic clarity and accountability, ensuring the initiatives’ impact is both significant and transparent [47].
Fourth, the documents lack reference to the need to formalise replicating and scaling successful projects. Developing a team to capture best practices and assess scalability ensures that successful innovations are adapted to diverse urban settings and maximised for their benefit [48].
Related to this, a fifth improvement may be to strengthen frameworks and processes for monitoring and evaluation frameworks, especially to support agile responses to emerging challenges. For example, creating a digital platform for real-time reporting and analysis could significantly improve urban decision-making processes by allowing rapid adaptations to meet evolving needs [49].
Finally, Sydney’s transformation into a resilient, forward-thinking urban environment will depend on adopting emerging technologies. Innovative solutions like AI and blockchain can enhance the efficiency and trust of public services, especially in election systems and property registration.
As a result of these strategic enhancements, Sydney can address its current urban challenges and create a solid foundation for anticipating and mitigating future challenges, thereby romoting sustainable and resilient urban development.

4.2. Typological Analysis of Sydney’s Smart City Initiatives

This section reports on Phase 2 of the study, which sought to analyse the defining characteristics of Sydney’s diverse smart city projects and their contribution to urban development and resilience. This Typological Analysis examines 36 projects using five key dimensions: project type, geographic focus, scale, ownership type, and resilience focus. The 36 projects were selected to represent Sydney’s multifaceted approach to urban development and technology. This analysis is summarised in Appendix A.

4.2.1. Project Type

Sydney’s smart city initiatives are divided into four distinct project types, each contributing to a dimension of the city’s resilience and liveability. Figure 1 shows the proportion of each of the four project types.
  • Mobility projects constitute 41.6% of the initiatives and use solutions such as pedestrian sensors and 10 min neighbourhoods to enhance urban mobility. With the integration of IoT and AI for real-time traffic management, these strategies are key to reducing traffic congestion, promoting sustainable transportation, and improving city-wide accessibility (see Figure 3).
  • Environmental sustainability was the focus of 36% of the projects. These included urban canopy mapping and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions as key components of Sydney’s climate resilience strategy. The initiatives leverage advanced sensor technology and data analytics to provide critical data for policy formulation and sustainable urban planning.
  • Governance projects constitute 16.6% of the portfolio and include projects aimed at improving civic engagement and operational efficiency by democratising data access, improving transparency, and facilitating participatory governance through Open Data Platforms.
  • Economic development makes up 5.5% of the initiatives but is crucial in stimulating economic growth and innovation. Efforts like the Tech Startups action plan and innovation districts foster entrepreneurship and capitalise on Sydney’s technological and creative strengths.

4.2.2. Geographic Focus and Project Scale

In Sydney, smart city initiatives span different scales, addressing local and regional issues, as shown in Figure 4. About 60% of the smart city initiatives, such as the Open Data Platform and city-wide Free Wi-Fi, operate at the city level, providing the essential digital infrastructure for real-time data collection and improved public service accessibility. Through these foundational services, seamless connectivity can be enabled, and various other initiatives can be supported.
Neighbourhood-scale projects account for 20% of the projects and focus on improving urban life quality, such as the 10 min neighbourhood initiative, which focuses on walkability and improving local access to services.
Projects at the district level, representing 15% of the initiatives, include Tech Central and Westmead Health & Innovation District, designed to promote technological innovation in health and economic growth within urban sub-regions.
Regional initiatives are being implemented in the remaining 5% of projects, with the NSW Spatial Digital Twin being one example. Using 4D visualisation, this project extends its impact beyond Sydney to enhance regional planning and management.

4.2.3. Project Ownership

Various ownership models support Sydney’s smart city initiatives. The public sector is responsible for 45% of the initiatives, including the Open Data Platform and the NSW Spatial Digital Twin. Government-led projects contribute to improved urban management and governance.
Hybrid public–private projects represent 40% of the initiatives, combining public oversight with private-sector finance. Examples include the Tech Startups action plan and the Western Sydney 4D Digital Twin.
15% of the portfolio is devoted to private sector initiatives that offer specialised, innovative solutions tailored to specific urban challenges, such as intelligent parking systems and smart lighting solutions. A key feature of these projects is that they often incorporate cutting-edge technology and agile methodologies, such as AI-driven analytics and IoT-enabled sensors, to improve efficiency and adaptability in response to real-time data.

4.2.4. Resilience Abilities

Sydney’s smart city initiatives focus on four key resilience abilities, often with several of these included in a project. The four are planning, adaptation, absorption, and recovery. These categories are based on well-established frameworks for urban resilience [10] and operationalised through thematic analysis of project objectives and outcomes.
Approximately 97% of the initiatives involve land use planning, which involves anticipating and preparing for future challenges and demands. A prime example is the NSW Spatial Digital Twin, which uses advanced modelling techniques.
The city’s ability to adapt, evident in 72% of the initiatives, demonstrates its ability to adapt to environmental, economic, and technological changes. Smart Green Apartments, for example, enhance building efficiency to mitigate climate impact.
Around 47% of projects contain absorption capabilities, which enhance Sydney’s resilience by minimising shock impacts immediately. An example of this resilience is Urban Heat Island Effect Mitigation.
Approximately 39% of projects incorporate recovery strategies to help them rebound quickly after a disruption. A data hub, Resilient Sydney, plays a crucial role in emergency response coordination, thus minimising long-term disruptions and restoring normalcy quickly (see Figure 5).
The typological analysis reveals the diversity and strategic integration of Sydney’s smart city initiatives across various domains and scales. This analysis categorises projects into types, geographic focus, scales, ownership models, and resilience abilities, highlighting Sydney’s commitment to using new technologies for urban enhancements and highlighting synergies among them.
The following section examines the direct contributions and operational dynamics of the NSW Spatial Digital Twin, Land iQ, and SIMPaCT within Sydney’s urban context. Detailed examination of these technologies and strategies will reveal their effectiveness and impact on Sydney’s vision for a smarter, more resilient city.

4.3. Project-Specific Analyses

This section evaluates Sydney’s strategic progress in the smart city realm by analysing three pivotal projects: the NSW Spatial Digital Twin, Land iQ, and SIMPaCT. These projects were selected for their innovative integration of digital innovation, stakeholder collaboration, urban resilience, and the enhancement of sustainability and liveability. These demonstrate how Sydney uses advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and big data analytics to address urban risks and challenges by improving its resilience, efficiency, and adaptability. Using technologies to such ends can improve the governance and sustainability of urban areas and ensure that the city is liveable and resilient under various stresses and hazards.

4.3.1. NSW Spatial Digital Twin: Urban Management and Resilience

The NSW Spatial Digital Twin was developed through a collaboration between government bodies and technology firms and utilises 3D and 4D modelling, IoT, AI, and machine learning to revolutionise how Sydney manages its urban infrastructure. This platform offers real-time, precise visualisations of the city, which allow planners to predict the effects of developments and simulate scenarios, such as traffic flows and environmental changes, before implementing them [50]. This aids in optimising strategic planning and enhancing emergency preparedness, which are crucial components of Sydney’s Smart City and Resilient Sydney strategies.
The Spatial Digital Twin aligns with Sydney’s smart city goals by enhancing data-driven decision-making and enabling digital integration. It aims to improve service delivery and foster more adaptive, efficient urban systems. Additionally, it can simulate the drivers and impacts of disruptions, thereby strengthening infrastructure resilience. This allows Sydney to proactively plan for and respond to disasters and infrastructure challenges, both of which are a central focus of the Resilient Sydney Strategy.
The platform prioritises sustainability by integrating environmentally conscious planning, including managing urban green spaces and reducing emissions. Furthermore, the public availability of geospatial data promotes transparency in civic engagement and a collaborative approach to urban development, both of which are essential for community resilience.
The Spatial Digital Twin project is a public–private partnership that supports Sydney’s smart city innovation and resilience-building efforts. This project demonstrates how smart technologies can advance resilience, sustainability, and community engagement, directly contributing to Sydney’s broader smart and resilient city objectives.

4.3.2. Land iQ: Innovating Urban Planning

Land iQ is an interactive database that integrates over 180 datasets and 40 land use typologies to support data-driven urban planning in New South Wales. Land iQ can model the environmental, social and economic impacts of development proposals, such as changes in water flow, biodiversity, ground cover, traffic patterns, access to public services, etc. The platform thus enables dynamic scenario analysis and strategic decision-making in support of sustainable urban development as well as provides planners with valuable insights that can strengthen urban resilience and contribute to the Resilient Sydney Strategy [51].
The platform also prioritises community engagement by making planning data publicly accessible. This encourages civic participation in shaping the city’s future and promotes community resilience. Inclusive governance is a key objective of Sydney’s smart city and resilience strategies.
Developed by Property and Development NSW and two private sector firms, WSP Australia and Giraffe, which are project management and software firms, respectively, Land iQ serves as a model of public–private partnerships in driving sustainable development and resilience through data integration and community collaboration. This makes it a key contributor to Sydney’s Smart City and Resilient Sydney frameworks.

4.3.3. SIMPaCT: Enhancing Urban Environments

SIMPaCT (Smart Irrigation Management for Parks and Cool Towns) utilises AI, IoT, and environmental monitoring to optimise water usage in Sydney’s parks by conserving resources and improving urban microclimates [52]. This system uses real-time data to facilitate decisions about reducing water waste and keeping parks cooler during hot months, directly supporting the sustainability and data-driven decision-making goals of Sydney’s Smart City Strategic Framework. By mitigating the urban heat island effect and conserving water, SIMPaCT enhances Sydney’s environmental resilience, thus also aligning with the Resilient Sydney Strategy. These efforts help the city adapt to climate-related challenges, which is a key focus of both strategies.
By keeping parks cooler, SIMPaCT aims to increase public use of these areas and encourage social engagement. This enhances community resilience by promoting social interaction and well-being in public spaces, aligning with the focus on strengthening community cohesion in the Resilient Sydney Strategy.
Supported by a public–private partnership between the NSW Government, Western Sydney University, and technology firms, SIMPaCT exemplifies smart environmental management and continuous innovation, which are central to both Sydney’s Smart City and Resilience frameworks. It demonstrates how smart technologies can enhance urban resilience, sustainability, and community well-being, furthering the objectives of Sydney’s Smart City and Resilient Sydney strategies.

4.3.4. Comparative Insights

Table 1 is a comparison of the characteristics and goals of NSW Spatial Digital Twin, Land iQ, and SIMPaCT projects. The table highlights each project’s key features in terms of technological implementation, stakeholder engagement, resilience outcomes, and community impacts, highlighting its contribution to Sydney’s smart city initiatives.
The findings of this study provide direct answers to the research questions by showing how Sydney’s Smart City Strategic Framework and Resilient Sydney Strategy utilise advanced technologies like IoT, AI, and big data. In the thematic and typological analyses, significant synergies are revealed between these frameworks, particularly in promoting sustainability, improving infrastructure resilience, and enabling data-driven governance. There are, however, discrepancies in stakeholder engagement and implementation strategies, which pose challenges to realising these objectives. This detailed examination of three key projects—NSW Spatial Digital Twin, Land iQ, and SIMPaCT—demonstrates their transformative potential for fostering adaptive urban systems, but it also highlights gaps in inclusivity and scalability. It is clear that more robust mechanisms are needed for aligning strategic objectives with practical outcomes, especially when it comes to ensuring social equity and long-term sustainability. The following discussion critically evaluates these findings, situating them within the global smart city and resilience trends to explore their broader implications and actionable recommendations.

5. Discussion

This study has critically examined Sydney’s Smart City Strategic Framework and the Resilient Sydney Strategy. It focuses on key projects such as the NSW Spatial Digital Twin, Land iQ, and SIMPaCT to understand how IoT, AI, and big data contribute to urban resilience. These technologies have been effective in fostering inclusive development, improving governance in the face of rapid technological changes, and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations, thereby aligning Sydney with global smart city trends [20,53].

5.1. Integration of Technology and Innovation

Sydney’s strategic frameworks effectively leverage technology to tackle urban challenges, including environmental sustainability, mobility and community engagement. Projects such as the NSW Spatial Digital Twin offer predictive capabilities for urban planning, while SIMPaCT shows how real-time environmental data can improve water conservation and reduce urban heat island effects. These initiatives highlight the transformative potential of AI, IoT, and big data in developing adaptive urban systems that respond to evolving urban needs.
Recent advancements in smart city technologies highlight the importance of integrating geospatial intelligence and AI to enhance the efficiency and scalability of city management [8,14]. For instance, digital twin platforms are increasingly used to model urban dynamics, improve decision-making, and optimise resource use [54]. To stay at the forefront of innovation, Sydney must embrace emerging technologies such as blockchain for transparent governance and machine learning for climate risk modelling [30]. Expanding these capabilities can help Sydney transition to a proactive urban environment that anticipates and mitigates risks before they escalate.

5.2. Community Engagement and Stakeholder Collaboration

A key component of Sydney’s strategies is community engagement; however, there are still gaps in the effective inclusion of marginalised and underrepresented groups. While platforms like Sydney Your Say promote public participation, recent research indicates a need to move from simple consultation to more collaborative co-creation models. Such approaches ensure that public input meaningfully shapes technological initiatives and urban policies [55,56]. For example, strategies such as gamified citizen engagement platforms or localised workshops could empower communities, particularly those facing barriers to digital access or socio-economic inclusion [14].
Global trends in digital equity emphasise the necessity of universal access to smart technologies. A targeted digital literacy strategy designed for Sydney’s diverse population could assist in bridging this gap, promoting inclusivity and resilience throughout the community [45].

5.3. Managing Policy and Governance Challenges

The relationship between technology, policy, and governance is crucial to Sydney’s smart city strategies. However, the rapid advancement of technology presents challenges in aligning policy goals with governance structures. For example, the NSW Spatial Digital Twin highlights the need for regulatory models that can adapt as technology evolves. To address these challenges, Sydney should focus on developing agile governance frameworks that allow for ongoing evaluation and improvement. Additionally, these frameworks should include dynamic data protection protocols to ensure user privacy is maintained in accordance with international standards such as the General Data Protection Regulation GDPR [8,55,57].
Global trends highlight the importance of collaborative governance, where the public, private, and non-profit sectors work together to develop policies that address common challenges. By embracing these principles, Sydney can improve its ability to balance innovation with accountability, ensuring the responsible and inclusive implementation of smart city technologies [12].

5.4. Committing to Environmental Sustainability and Urban Resilience

Sydney’s dedication to environmental sustainability is clear through initiatives such as urban canopy mapping and real-time greenhouse gas monitoring. These efforts integrate nature-based solutions within smart city frameworks to address environmental challenges and enhance ecological resilience [34,58]. Implementing sustainable practices such as renewable energy systems, green infrastructure, and sustainable transportation solutions can reduce environmental footprints while enhancing urban resilience to climate risks.
A comprehensive sustainability model that addresses environmental, social, and economic aspects is critical for maximising impact. Integrating renewable energy systems like decentralised solar grids with urban planning initiatives can help reduce vulnerability to climate shocks while promoting economic inclusivity [32,59]. Moreover, additional research is necessary to assess how Sydney’s smart city initiatives contribute to climate adaptation and social equity, ensuring that technological innovations mitigate systemic inequalities and provide shared benefits [31].

5.5. Limitations and Future Research

This study offers valuable insights, but it also has limitations. The reliance on case studies specific to certain projects restricts our ability to generalise the findings to other urban settings. Future research should involve comparative analyses across various global cities to extract broader lessons. Additionally, while qualitative data provides in-depth insights, it is essential to incorporate quantitative metrics as well. These could include measuring the reduction in response times attributed to Digital Twins or assessing the social impact of community engagement platforms for more thorough evaluations [22].
Future research should focus on the long-term impacts of smart technologies on urban resilience, examining how these technologies influence adaptive capacities over time. Additionally, studying how to scale successful innovations, like SIMPaCT, across other districts in Sydney would provide valuable insights into their replicability and broader applicability. It is also essential to address the digital divide to ensure that marginalised communities equally benefit from advancements in smart city technologies, thereby promoting inclusivity and equity in urban development.
By addressing these gaps, Sydney can enhance its status as a global model of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban development, establishing a benchmark for cities around the world to follow.

6. Conclusions

This study analyses Sydney’s smart city and resilience strategies, focusing on the NSW Spatial Digital Twin, Land iQ, and SIMPaCT initiatives. These initiatives integrate technological, social, and environmental dimensions. The study examines how they leverage advanced technologies such as IoT, AI, and big data to enhance urban sustainability, promote community inclusion, and develop adaptive urban systems.
It is evident that Sydney’s strategies have significant synergies. Using real-time data and AI-driven tools can enhance urban planning, promote sustainability, and encourage community engagement. With the Spatial Digital Twin, for example, real-time data integration can support predictive urban management, while SIMPaCT shows how AI and IoT can improve public well-being and improve climate resilience. In these examples, we can see how technology can play a transformative role in enabling adaptive and inclusive urban environments.
Despite the advancements in smart city initiatives, the study highlights several significant challenges. Current strategies often fail to effectively engage marginalised groups and ensure equitable access to the benefits of smart cities. Additionally, the lack of scalable frameworks to replicate successful initiatives, such as SIMPaCT, limits their broader application across different districts. Furthermore, mechanisms for evaluating long-term impacts and social outcomes are still underdeveloped, making it difficult to achieve Sydney’s ambitious goals for inclusivity and resilience. Addressing these gaps presents opportunities for improvement and growth, positioning Sydney to become a global leader in smart city development.
To build on its successes, Sydney must improve stakeholder inclusivity by developing frameworks that actively engage underrepresented communities in the planning and implementation of smart city initiatives. Local workshops, gamified engagement platforms, and targeted digital literacy programs can effectively bridge participation gaps and promote social equity. Additionally, establishing formal processes to scale successful initiatives, such as SIMPaCT, across different urban areas will ensure that the benefits of innovation are accessible to larger populations while addressing local needs.
Agile governance models are crucial as technology advances more quickly than traditional regulatory structures can adapt. Sydney can address this challenge by implementing governance frameworks that promote continuous evaluation, iterative improvement, and the integration of emerging technologies such as blockchain and machine learning. Furthermore, it is essential to establish strong mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation to assess the performance and social impacts of smart city initiatives. This will help ensure alignment with strategic objectives and prepare for any unforeseen challenges.
Lastly, comprehensive sustainability must be emphasised. Incorporating nature-based solutions, renewable energy systems, and green infrastructure into Sydney’s smart city framework will enhance ecological resilience, promote economic inclusivity, and reduce climate vulnerabilities. These initiatives should prioritise the intersection of environmental, social, and technological dimensions to maximise their impact.
Future research should expand the scope of this study by exploring the scalability and replicability of Sydney’s smart city strategies in diverse urban contexts around the world. Longitudinal studies evaluating the long-term effects of these technologies on resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability will be essential. Additionally, it is important to address the digital divide and promote universal access to the benefits of smart cities in future initiatives.
By prioritising inclusivity, scalability, and adaptive governance, Sydney can strengthen its position as a global leader in smart city innovation and resilience. This study provides valuable insights into how the integration of resilience frameworks with advanced technologies can lead to more inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable urban solutions. It serves as a roadmap that cities worldwide can follow for guidance.

Author Contributions

Conceptualisation, S.V., J.F. and L.I.; research design, S.V. and L.I.; data collection, S.V.; analysis, S.V., J.F. and L.I.; writing the first draft, S.V.; review and editing, J.F. and L.I.; supervision, J.F. and L.I. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

No new data were created or analysed in this study. Summarised typology analyses are provided in Appendix A.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Appendix A

Table A1. Comprehensive Typology of Smart City Projects in Sydney.
Table A1. Comprehensive Typology of Smart City Projects in Sydney.
ProjectProject FocusGeographic FocusProject ScaleOwnership TypeResilience Abilities
Open Data
Platform 		GovernanceCity of
Sydney		CityPublicPlanning
Absorption
Recovery
Adaptation
4 Innovation
Districts
  • Tech Central
  • Westmead Health and Innovation District
  • Macquarie Park
  • Central Coast
Economy1 and 3 have a local focus within specific districts or neighbourhoods of Sydney.
2 and 4 have a broader geographic scope extending beyond the city to encompass specific regions or precincts.		1. District
2. District
3. Neighbour-hood
4. Regional		Combination of private and public ownership.Planning
Absorption
Adaptation
Tech Startups Action PlanEconomyCity of SydneyCityHybridPlanning
Adaptation
Urban Canopy
Mapping Technologies		EnvironmentCity of SydneyCityPublicPlanning
Absorption
Adaptation
Air Quality Index (AQI) Monitoring
System		EnvironmentThe entire state of New South WalesVarious scalesNSW Department of Planning, PublicPlanning
Adaptation
Citizen ScienceEnvironmentSydneyDifferent levelsPublicPlanning
Adaptation
10-min
Neighbourhoods		MobilityCity of SydneyNeighbourhoodPublicPlanning
30-min CitiesMobilityGreater SydneyNeighbourhoodPublicPlanning
Smart Pedestrian Sensing Network MobilityCity of SydneyStreet PublicPlanning
NSW Spatial Digital Twin GovernanceThe entire state of New South WalesRegional and state-levelPublicPlanning
Absorption
Recovery
Adaptation
Free Wi-FiMobilitySydneyCityPublicPlanning
Recovery
Adaptation
Communications and Connectivity
Networks (e.g., 3G/4G/5G, broadband, Wi-Fi and low-power wide-area networks [LPWAN])		MobilitySydneyCityPrivate
Wi-Fi: Public		Planning
Absorption
Recovery
Adaptation
Sensor Technologies for Monitoring (e.g., GHG emissions, real-time traffic congestion, monitoring temperature, noise)EnvironmentSydneyCityHybridPlanning
Absorption
Data Integration and Analytics PlatformsGovernanceSydneyCityHybridPlanning
Recovery
Adaptation
User Interfaces and Delivery ChannelsGovernanceSydneyCityHybridPlanning
Recovery
Adaptation
Western Sydney’s 4D Digital TwinEnvironmentWestern SydneyThe Entire Region of Western Sydney,HybridPlanning
Recovery
Adoption
NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN)EnvironmentNSWNSWHybridPlanning
Absorption
Adaptation
Smart lightingEnvironmentDistrict Within CityVaried From Building, Street, District PublicPlanning
Absorption
Smart ParkingMobilitySydneyCityHybridPlanning
Absorption
Community Engagement Platforms (e.g., Sydney Your Say)GovernanceSydneyCityPublicPlanning
Adaptation Recovery
The Opal Pay
Payment System		MobilitySydneyCityPublicPlanning
Adaptation
Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS)MobilitySydneyCityPublicPlanning
Absorption
Adaptation
Intelligent Congestion Management Program (ICMP)MobilitySydneyCityPublicPlanning
Recovery
Adaptation
Public Transport Information and Priority System (PTIPS)MobilitySydneyCityPublicPlanning
Adaptation
Real-time Public
Information Display (PIDs)		MobilitySydneyCityPublicPlanning
Adaptation
Open Data Hub and Developer PortalGovernanceSydneyCityPublicPlanning
Absorption
Recovery
Adaptation
Contactless Transport Payments (CTP)MobilitySydneyCityHybridPlanning
Absorption
Recovery
Smart Grid and
Energy Management 1 (smart metering)		EnvironmentSydneyVaried from building to CityHybridPlanning
Absorption
Adaptation
Smart Grid and
Energy Management 2 (demand response programs)		EnvironmentSydneyVaried from building to CityHybridPlanning
Absorption
Recovery
Adaptation
Smart Grid and
Energy Management 3 (integration of distributed energy resources)		EnvironmentSydneyVaried from building to CityHybridPlanning
Absorption
Recovery
Adaptation
Smart Water Management (monitor water quality)EnvironmentHybridVaried from building to CityHybridPlanning
Absorption
Smart Water Management 1 (detect leaks and water wastage)EnvironmentSydneyVaried from building to CityHybridPlanning
Smart Water Management 2 (automated irrigation systems)EnvironmentSydneyVaried from building to CityHybridPlanning
Absorption
Adaptation
Digital signage and wayfindingMobilitySydneyCityHybridAdaptation
Autonomous Vehicles (e.g., Driverless shuttle bus trial)MobilitySydneyDistricts within the City.HybridPlanning
Adaptation
Recovery
Automated driverless metro trainsMobilitySydneyCityPublicPlanning
Recovery
Adaptation

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Figure 1. Research design overview.
Figure 1. Research design overview.
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Figure 2. Integration of themes between Smart City Framework and Resilient Sydney Strategy.
Figure 2. Integration of themes between Smart City Framework and Resilient Sydney Strategy.
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Figure 3. Distribution of smart city project Types in Sydney.
Figure 3. Distribution of smart city project Types in Sydney.
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Figure 4. Proportional distribution of Sydney’s smart city projects by scale.
Figure 4. Proportional distribution of Sydney’s smart city projects by scale.
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Figure 5. Distribution of Sydney’s smart city projects based on approaches to resilience.
Figure 5. Distribution of Sydney’s smart city projects based on approaches to resilience.
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Table 1. Comparative Table of Project Outcomes.
Table 1. Comparative Table of Project Outcomes.
Project NameTechnological ImplementationStakeholder
Engagement		Resilience
Outcomes		Community
Impacts
NSW Spatial Digital Twin3D/4D visualisation of urban environments in real-time, IoT and AI integration for urban planning.Collaboration between the public, private, and academic sectors improves data integration and decision-making.Emergency management capacity enhanced, predictive maintenance supported, and infrastructure resilience enhanced.Increasing civic engagement through geospatial data accessibility.
Land iQComprehensive planning with over 180 datasets integrated Support for scenario planning in real-time.Collaboration between the public and private sectors enhances strategic planning and implementation, integrating diverse datasets for comprehensive planning.Achieved adaptive land use planning and contributed to sustainability and mitigation during environmental challenges data.Increasing transparency and stakeholder involvement in urban development decisions.
SIMPaCTA real-time environmental data-driven AI algorithm for irrigation optimisation.Collaboration between communities and government promotes local ownership and tailor-made implementation.Improved microclimates in urban parks due to optimised water usage.Improved community well-being during heatwaves through enhanced public spaces.
SummaryNSW Spatial Digital Twin has the largest impact and is widely applied to urban management. SIMPaCT benefits environmental management through technology innovation, and Land iQ delivers strategic benefits in land use planning.Extensive cross-sector engagement strategies exist for Spatial Digital Twins and Land iQs, resulting in scalability and urban impact. By contrast, SIMPaCT’s localised approach effectively mobilises community resources and enhances public space management.The projects highlight the importance of advanced digital tools for enhancing urban resilience. NSW Spatial Digital Twin excels in emergency management applications, Land iQ in strategic urban planning adaptability, and SIMPaCT in green space sustainability management, all of which boost urban efficiency and sustainability.NSW Spatial Digital Twin increases public participation through data accessibility. Land iQ promotes transparency and public involvement in planning. SIMPaCT improves community well-being by enhancing urban parks, making them cooler and more inviting during heatwaves.
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Varzeshi, S.; Fien, J.; Irajifar, L. Integrating Technology and Urban Resilience: A Comprehensive Analysis of Smart City Initiatives in Sydney. Sustainability 2024, 16, 10967. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410967

AMA Style

Varzeshi S, Fien J, Irajifar L. Integrating Technology and Urban Resilience: A Comprehensive Analysis of Smart City Initiatives in Sydney. Sustainability. 2024; 16(24):10967. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410967

Chicago/Turabian Style

Varzeshi, Shabnam, John Fien, and Leila Irajifar. 2024. "Integrating Technology and Urban Resilience: A Comprehensive Analysis of Smart City Initiatives in Sydney" Sustainability 16, no. 24: 10967. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410967

APA Style

Varzeshi, S., Fien, J., & Irajifar, L. (2024). Integrating Technology and Urban Resilience: A Comprehensive Analysis of Smart City Initiatives in Sydney. Sustainability, 16(24), 10967. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410967

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