Planning instruments and urban development management tools for smart cities. Case study: Ludwigsburg, Germany

Abstract

In recent years, the subject of digitalization has become an inseparable part of the urban development agenda, giving a promise of an effective and universal problem-solving tool in nearly every aspect of citizens' life. Based on broadly defined Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) it serves the demand for collaborative involvement of every stakeholder who wishes to participate in processes leading toward sustainable spatial transformation. However, the complexity of the urban environment and pace with which it develops are often not convergent with velocity and agility that this new dimension of city infrastructure is expected to deliver. As most public investments and political changes are highly convoluted from the legal side and relate to shared, long-term risks along with expenses covered from public funds, municipalities are often confronted with a problem of finding demand-corresponding, suitable planning, and management solutions on different administrative levels while assuring a secure and sustain agenda setting. This paper presents a successful, working strategy in developing local, citizen-oriented planning and management instruments, despite the regional dependency and existing bureaucratic administrative system. The approach taken by the German city Ludwigsburg merges the classical idea of an integrated urban development concept with the innovatively restructured governmental body and results in a unique Integrated Sustainability Management System set together with citizens and third parties. The purpose of this case study is to show municipalities what resources and regulations are needed to set sustainable smart city goals, how to frame them into an iterative, participationoriented policy cycle and use them as effective management tools.