Geo-spatial Assessment of Inherent Smart Urban Attributes of Traditional Neighborhood-Level Communities in India

Abstract

City-making is a process in which several endogenous and exogenous variables associated with socio-economic, environmental, historical, and physical parameters play a significant role. The neoliberal and market-led notion of smart cities is highly criticized by many scholars for its polarized and inequitable approach to development. The traditional communities have continued for generations and inherit a unique living and residential culture bestowing them with an inherent smartness quotient. This concept of smartness for city planning is even more critical during the present times to understand the impact of the spatial structure of existing cities to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. Authors identify a strong need to merge the two concepts of traditional communities and urban smartness for a holistic approach to building smart communities. This study aims to assess the smart spatial attributes of the traditional neighborhood-level urban communities such as compactness, walkability, and diversity. Primary household surveys were conducted in the walled city of Alwar, Rajasthan, India. The case study reveals compactly designed residential enclaves known as mohallas with mixed land use. The indigenous spatial elements such as squares (chowks), markets (bazaars), and streets (gali) proved to be crucial community gathering places for these settlements. Such zero-level assessment of existing socio-cultural and spatial attributes may enable the appropriate integration of intelligent technologies into our urban systems. Authors recommend harnessing the untapped potential of traditional communities in culturally rich countries like India to achieve the goals of a smart community.