What are the best practices for building and maintaining trust and transparency in smart city governance?

The first step will be involving citizens and communities as they are an important part of the smart city, we should meet them, discuss with them their needs, their expectations, what they are looking for, and to engage them with our plan for development of smart cities and how we will do that, to let them feel that they are part of our vision and to build the trust between us , there is quote ''Trust starts with truth and ends with truth'' I like

Further than quality of life, smart city leaders should aim also to make a social impact and to reduce inequalities. A city cannot be smart if part of the population is not profiting from the improvement. For this reason, as the leaders involve citizens and communities, an important aspect to consider is to reach minorities and underserved people. Otherwise, their less visible concerns and needs will not be taken into account and the inequality will increase. Consulting non-profits may be an easier way of listen to underserved communities where digital means are not so widespread.

Citizen participation in decision-making has many positive effects. Participation is effective in two ways in the direction of urban decisions for smart urban governance. One in the form of political supervision and the other in the form of social participation !i!i!i

Engaging citizens and communities in the design, implementation and evaluation of smart cities is crucial for fostering inclusive, sustainable, and effective urban development. Citizen involvement ensures that technology aligns with the diverse needs and preferences of the community. also it promotes as said transparency trust, and accountability in decision-making processes, reducing the risk of biased or exclusive smart solutions. The collaborative approach leads to the creation of smarter and more resilient cities that prioritize the well-being and aspirations of their residents

Building trust in smart city governance starts with genuine citizen engagement. It’s about more than just informing people—it’s about empowering them, involving them directly in decisions that shape their environment. When we co-create solutions with our communities, we not only understand their needs better, but we also foster transparency. People see that their voices matter, that their input influences real change. This collaboration makes our cities smarter and our connections stronger, building a foundation of mutual trust and respect.

Prenons un exemple concret de participation citoyenne dans une Smart City à travers le projet "Barcelona Smart City". La ville de Barcelone a lancé des plateformes numériques telles que "Decidim Barcelona", permettant aux citoyens de proposer, discuter et voter sur des initiatives urbaines. Cette approche a permis la création de projets basés sur les besoins réels des résidents, comme l'amélioration de l'éclairage public et le développement de zones vertes, renforçant ainsi la transparence et la confiance entre la municipalité et ses citoyens.

In my experience, involving citizens and communities is key to building trust in smart cities: Create Inclusive Forums: Host town halls, workshops, and online platforms for residents to voice opinions and participate in decision-making. Use Surveys and Polls: Gather community input on smart city projects to ensure they align with local needs and priorities. Encourage Co-Creation: Involve citizens in designing and implementing initiatives to foster ownership and collaboration. Communicate Transparently: Regularly update residents on how their feedback is used and the progress of projects to maintain trust and engagement.

Implement open data policies to make city data freely available and accessible. Use standardised data formats to ensure interoperability and ease of use. Engage citizens in the decision-making process through digital platforms. Provide clear explanations of how data is used and for what purposes. Establish data governance frameworks to protect privacy and security. Regularly publish reports on smart city initiatives and their outcomes. Foster partnerships with academia and industry to validate and audit smart city projects. Encourage community feedback and incorporate it into future planning and development.

In my experience the data should be open and People have an access for the data and information, as we should be transparent as much as we can, if we are doing a professional and good job, nothing to be hidden. This means we should work about open data topic to let the data resources are available, accessible, to demonstrate and show our commitment to citizens. We should share the information on website of the city, social media and we can send a weekly/monthly report about major points for all people in the city to build the trust and show. transparency.

I totally agree. Open data is crucial for Smart Cities. It promotes transparency, innovation, and efficiency by promoting citizens with access to government information. This accessibility fosters informed decision-making, encourages the public-private partnerships, and empowers entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions. Open data fuels the creation of smart applications that improves urban services.

City data is usually held in siloes by different departments. Before being able to move to open data, city leaders should launch a project for analyzing the data availability, their format and quality, as well as the right processing for making the data widely available in an understandable way and at regular basis.

The key to getting higher engagement is building trust, and the best way to build trust is to create transparency. After starting this work, the progress in the maturity stages of transparency is also very important. Data transparency, transparency in processes and criteria, and further building trust and forming partnerships, are all related and connected to each other. Now, by coordinating and connecting different departments for data exchange, it is possible to create trust between them. What is important in the process of innovation is that there is acceptance of changes in the processes and macrostructures of transformation !i!i!i

Embracing open data and standards is a game-changer for smart city governance. By making data accessible and comprehensible, we ensure that everyone—not just experts—can engage meaningfully. This openness shows a true commitment to transparency and accountability, making it clear that we value the voices of our communities. Moreover, open standards promote innovation, letting different sectors work together seamlessly. It’s not just about technology; it’s about building trust, fostering collaboration, and setting a strong foundation for continuous progress in our cities.

On top of citizens and communities, engaging the private sector cannot be neglected. Both local, small companies and MNC, private sector may and should take their part in the design, implementation and evaluation of most of the solutions. Their cooperation from early stages will be paramount to the success of the initiatives.

When we define and establish clear roles and responsibilities, it means we will avoid miscommunication, confusions, conflict and tension between smart city stakeholders. Our team and smart city governance can prioritize the right work and get their high impact work done and to avoid duplication of works and the team will work together more effectively.

The government and public institutions have an enabling and coordinating role. In this way, they can connect different actors and different businesses, exchange information and facilitate the activities of the private sector, and the role of creating interaction and monitoring them is the Information Technology Executive Council !i!i!i

In my experience, establishing clear roles and responsibilities is crucial for effective smart city governance. Clearly define who is accountable for various aspects of the smart city initiatives, from data management to community engagement. This helps ensure that all stakeholders understand their roles and are aligned with the city’s vision and goals. Additionally, provide transparency by openly communicating these roles and responsibilities to the public. This clarity fosters trust and accountability, as residents know who to approach with concerns, feedback, or suggestions, strengthening overall community engagement and participation.

Clear roles and responsibilities are at the heart of effective smart city governance. Defining the vision, objectives, and expectations helps every stakeholder understand their part in the bigger picture. When everyone knows their role, it creates a culture of trust and collaboration—people feel valued and accountable. It’s a simple but powerful way to avoid confusion and conflict while ensuring that every action contributes meaningfully to the city's progress. This clarity transforms individual efforts into a collective force, driving the success of smart initiatives.

C'est à Amsterdam, où le projet "Smart City Initiative" illustre parfaitement l'établissement de rôles et responsabilités clairs. La municipalité a coordonné avec des entreprises technologiques, des universités et des citoyens pour déployer des solutions intelligentes de gestion de l'énergie. Chaque acteur a un rôle défini : les entreprises développent les technologies, les universités conduisent les recherches et évaluations, tandis que les citoyens participent à des programmes pilotes. Cette clarté a permis une collaboration efficace, réduisant les conflits et accélérant la réalisation des objectifs de durabilité de la ville.

KPI to assess performance and the data needed for the KPIs should be defined during the design phase of each initiative in order to be collected appropriately from day 1.

Access to big data and their analysis that leads us to KPIs. Investigations should be done in different periods of time in order to reach common and reliable results !i!i!i

Establishing clear roles and responsibilities is crucial in smart city governance. When stakeholders understand the vision and their part in it, it nurtures an atmosphere of trust and cooperation. Clarity helps each individual feel empowered and accountable, ensuring that everyone is working in harmony rather than stepping on each other’s toes. It’s about aligning diverse efforts towards a common goal, avoiding confusion, and making sure that every contribution drives meaningful progress for our cities.

La ville de Copenhague, dans le cadre de son initiative "Copenhagen Connecting", utilise un système de capteurs IoT pour surveiller la circulation et la qualité de l'air en temps réel. Les données recueillies permettent d'évaluer l'efficacité des mesures de gestion du trafic et des initiatives écologiques. Grâce à cette surveillance, la ville a pu réduire significativement la congestion et améliorer la qualité de l'air, démontrant l'impact positif de l'initiative. Les résultats sont régulièrement publiés, favorisant la transparence et engageant la communauté dans les efforts de durabilité urbaine.

In my experience, monitoring and evaluating performance and impact are vital for maintaining trust in smart city governance. Regularly assess the effectiveness of smart city initiatives by using clear, measurable indicators that reflect progress toward defined goals. This process ensures accountability and allows for timely adjustments to improve outcomes. Communicate the findings openly with the community to show commitment to transparency and responsiveness. By sharing both successes and areas for improvement, cities can build trust, encourage ongoing engagement, and demonstrate their dedication to continuous growth and innovation.

Develop digital platforms for continuous community engagement. Smart cities can leverage technology to create online spaces where citizens can voice concerns, suggest ideas & engage in constructive discussions. These platforms provide a direct channel for residents to influence policies & projects Implement ethical procurement practices when acquiring technology solutions. Consider the environmental & social impacts of the products & services you procure. In my career, I've found that selecting vendors with strong sustainability & ethical practices contributes to the overall ethical image of the smart city Conduct regular audits & assessments of smart city projects. Independent evaluations can identify areas where improvements are needed.

In my experience, promoting ethical and inclusive practices is essential for fostering trust in smart city governance. Ensure that all initiatives are guided by ethical standards, respecting privacy, data security, and human rights. Make inclusivity a priority by considering the diverse needs of all community members, especially underrepresented groups. Actively engage these communities in planning and decision-making to reflect a broad range of perspectives. Transparently communicate policies and actions to build confidence and demonstrate the city's commitment to fairness, equity, and ethical governance.

Interaction is one of the most important reasons for establishing smart governance. Therefore, by strengthening and promoting interactions, while creating empathy and trust between citizens and the government, open and intelligent communications should be supported and supported in order to create more space for participation and accountability, which results in the establishment of smart governance !i!i!i

Promoting ethical and inclusive practices in smart cities is essential for creating a sustainable and equitable urban landscape. Ethical consideration ensures technology prioritize citizen well-being and privacy, fostering trust. while Inclusivity guarantees that smart solutions address diverse community needs, bridging digital divides and promoting social equality.

Pour illustrer ce sujet, la ville de São Paulo, au Brésil, a mis en œuvre un programme de Smart City axé sur l'amélioration de l'accès aux services publics pour les communautés défavorisées. En installant des points d'accès gratuits à Internet dans des quartiers à faible revenu et en développant des applications mobiles pour faciliter l'accès aux services de santé et d'éducation, São Paulo a travaillé à réduire la fracture numérique. Ce programme a non seulement favorisé l'inclusion sociale mais a également assuré que les bénéfices des technologies intelligentes profitent à tous les citoyens, démontrant l'engagement de la ville envers des pratiques éthiques et inclusives.

Promoting ethical and inclusive practices is fundamental in the governance of smart cities. It’s about respecting the rights, dignity, and diversity of every citizen, ensuring that technology uplifts rather than marginalizes. By embedding ethics and inclusion into smart solutions, we create cities that truly serve everyone, enhancing both legitimacy and acceptance. This approach nurtures a sense of belonging and empowerment, making each person feel they are an essential part of the city’s growth and success. It’s not just smart—it’s fair, just, and human-centered.

I think we always need to remember that Technology is the tool to achieve better cities. Smart City technology is a means to prioritize human well-being and enhance quality of life by placing humans at the center of design, emphasizing their needs and experiences.

Trust and transparency can only be achieved with teaching that is reliable and a network operations centre and customer service team who are customer centric any service fees should be fair and reasonable and above all is brilliant customer communication and service support

Many actions and principles to enhance trust for the citizens, open Data cannot be enough, as we should empower residents through the democratic process. We should be a good listener to citizens to understand and answer them in respect and smart way. Smart is not just a word; it's an attitude.

Trust and transparency can only be achieved with teaching that is reliable and a network operations centre and customer service team who are customer centric any service fees should be fair and reasonable and above all is brilliant customer communication and service support

In smart city governance, flexibility is key. Beyond clear standards and inclusive practices, we must stay open to evolving ideas and real-life stories from our communities. These narratives often hold insights that can’t be captured in formal plans. Listening to diverse voices—whether they come from local innovators, everyday citizens, or marginalized groups—can reveal unexpected opportunities for growth and improvement. It’s this ongoing dialogue that keeps a smart city truly responsive, adapting not just to technology but to the changing needs and hopes of its people.

L'importance de la résilience urbaine dans la gouvernance des Smart Cities est illustrée par l'initiative de Tokyo en préparation aux séismes. La ville a intégré des technologies avancées de détection sismique et de communication en temps réel pour alerter les citoyens en cas de tremblement de terre imminent, permettant des évacuations efficaces et la réduction des risques. Cette approche proactive montre comment l'innovation technologique peut être mise au service de la préparation aux catastrophes, soulignant l'importance de concevoir des Smart Cities capables de résister et de se remettre rapidement des chocs et des stress.