The role of architects and urban planners in the formation of the concept and functioning of smart city

Abstract

The concept of smart city that has emerged as a response to the growing problems to which the world has been exposed over the last fifty years implies a set of multidisciplinary measures, ideas and policies oriented towards encouraging the development of human and technological resources of urban areas and their interaction aiming at enabling sustainable development and improving the quality of life of its population. All structures of different city systems in a smart city react in a clear and simple way through contemporary technologies and design. High technologies have for a long time influenced a new understanding of the role of architects and urban planners in the formation of the smart city concept. The paper highlights the problems that have led to a widely accepted concept of smart city, such as climate change, increasingly aggressive urbanization, excessive use of all resources, etc. The paper explains the role of architectural and urban planning profession in creating a smart city. Modelling of key systems of urban development requires the architects and urban planners to have new knowledge in different fields, as well as an interactive and creative approach to solving the set tasks. The philosophy of the profession is changing and new fields of activity are opening up, this being a challenge, but also an obligation to master the fields and skills on which the profession has not had influence so far. The architects and urban planners in teams formed in cities throughout the world for the purpose of conceiving this concept are losing the leading position in the processes of design and design management and are becoming equal amongst equals (in infrastructure system designs, amongst construction and traffic engineers, economists, sociologists, ecologists, programmers, city managers, management structures, equipment manufacturers, but also amongst city dwellers who are also becoming actively involved in this process, etc.). On the other hand, the development of new technologies has a positive influence on architecture and urbanism, particularly concerning the rational energy consumption and the use of renewable energy sources. Energy efficient buildings contribute to reducing the CO2 emissions, thus having significant positive effect on climate change. How to reconcile different interests and make the development of new technologies became a part of sustainable development is today one of the most important challenges in the profession, but also in the society as a whole.