Abstract:

The rapid population growth and consequently the increasing urban population obliged cities to be “smart”. Although there is a limited number of studies and implementations on smart cities in both literature and practice, some criteria have been stipulated to make a city smart. These are mainly; organization, policy, legal framework, technology, governance, people and society, economy, infrastructure and natural environment. While each provides a basis for smart cities, this study focuses on organizational, policy and legal frameworks specifically for local governments. The aim of this study is to reveal what extend local governments are ready fors smart city concept in Turkey by examination through three-dimensional which is organization; managerial structures of smart governance, policy; policies on smart cities in strategic plans; and legal framework; legal and policy documents regulating local governments. The scope of the study will be composed of 30 metropolitan municipalities due to geographical scale, administrative structure, human resources and budget. Analyzes will be made with the word trees created through NVivo program using the qualitative research method on the most up-to-date strategic plans of these metropolitan cities. Analysis results at national and local levels, for which the concept of smart cities of the future of local government in Turkey will be studied to determine to what extent it is ready.

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