Functions of smart city as ecosystem

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to substantiate the fact that a “smart city” can be considered as an ecosystem, but in practice it turns out to be its integral part, albeit a very signifcant one, as well as to analyze the main functions of the development of a modern urban economy built on the “smart city” project. The research methodology is represented by the theory of the urban and ecosystem development, biological analogies used in economics, comparative and taxonomic analysis.

As a result of the study, it is shown that a “smart city” can permeate the entire urban economy, but the latter is much wider, which allows using the concept of ecosystems in describing its development. There are the smart city main characteristics in terms of the following parameters: purpose, scope, functions, efciency, rules, development model, ways to improve. Models for the development of a smart city are identifed depending on the expansion, narrowing or invariance of the boundaries of urban space.

The article carries out a taxonomy of the basic functions of an ecosystem and a smart city with a demonstration that the concept of an ecosystem known in biology can be applied in economic analysis with signifcant limiting conditions, and the difference in the functions of typical ecosystems and, for example, a “smart city” increases the signifcance of those restrictions. with such an application. “Smart City” with its functions ensures the development of the information and communication technologies, ecology, quality of life, social functions and urban logistics. In order to maintain the level of “smartness” of the city, it is required to reduce the level of dysfunctions. It is those basic elements that form the directions for the development of the “smart city” project, that are determined by the amount of resources, and the initial technological, intellectual potential of each city.