Measuring Liveability in Iranian Cities Using the Global Liveable City Index (GLCI)

Background: Urban liveability and its relationship with health indices is now an emerging topic in health research. In order to conduct liveability research, initially, the liveability index should be calculated according to a comprehensive, transparent, and standardized methodology. Objectives: The purpose of this paper was to apply the global liveable cities index (GLCI), to assess and rank liveability in 31 Iranian cities. Methods: The GLCI is based on 114 indicators in five domains, which include economic, environmental, security and stability, socio-cultural, and political factors. This study was based on two scenarios. The first scenario was to assign equal weights to each indicator. The second scenario was the Shapley weighing method and allocated different weights to indices. City rankings were calculated and compared in both scenarios. Results: The cities of Tehran, Sari, and Tabriz generally performed well in the overall liveability ranking. Tehran ranked first based on the economic vibrancy and competitiveness domain, while Sari, Karaj, and Tabriz held the second to fourth ranks in both methods, respectively. Tabriz ranked first in the environmental friendliness and sustainability and domestic security and stability domains, and Sari ranked first in the socio-cultural conditions domain. Tehran and Semnan had the first rank in the political governance domain. Conclusions: The findings of this research show that different cities of Iran are very different in regard to liveability. These rankings can help policymakers find out what domains need more attention to improving the liveability of cities.

The functioning of smart city in the context of global city rankings

Purpose: This paper raises theoretical issues related to the functioning of cities that are determined as smart in order to find a better operational definition for further research. Design/methodology/approach: In search of the essence of the term, the paper refers to variety of definitions of smart city, and also to the theoretical models in operation enabling the measurement and comparison of indicators among urban areas in the different world locations. The analysis was performed on three rankings: Cities in Motion Index, Mercer Quality of Living, Arcadis The Sustainable Index. Findings: The conclusions indicate that the Smart City concept is connected with sustainable development more than to the quality of life. The city rankings concerning the highest life quality is completely different from the hierarchy of smart cities. Originality/value: The paper extends the definition of smart city and it may be valuable for researchers who develop the concept of smart city in their research.

Měření chytrosti měst dle indexů smart city: komparativní regionální analýza Visegrádské skupiny

The aim of this contribution is to analyze and evaluate the success and position of cities of Visegrad Group in the Smart City indices. The concept of Smart Cities has been anchored in regional sciences in order to improve the management of cities. The so-called Smart City rankings determine the degree of smartness or the degree of fulfilment of individual attributes of the Smart City concept. These Smart City attributes are presented and correlated with Smart City concept definitions. In order to be able to interpret the Smart City indices, it is necessary to pay attention in this paper to the criteria that make up the indices. A partial goal of this contribution is to analyze the development of Czech cities within the relevant indices. To achieve the presented objectives of this paper, a literature review on Smart Cities and Smart City index is used. Furthermore, a comparative regional analysis of the Smart City concept of Visegrad Group was carried out. The data about the position of the cities of the Visegrad Group are obtained from five international rankings of city’s smartness. The findings of this paper indicate that the most successful city within the Visegrad Group in the Smart City rankings is the capital of the Czech Republic Prague.