Enhancing Urban Spaces in Baghdad: The Role of Digital Technologies in Al-Ummah Park

Abstract

Baghdad's urban areas have a lot of problems, such as too many people, pollution, weak infrastructure, and not enough use of digital technologies. Al-Ummah Park, a culturally important place with historical monuments, shows these problems and also shows how digital technology could change things. The research aims to analyze the impact of digital technologies and smart interactive interfaces on the effectiveness of urban space, as well as to study the extent of their acceptance by society and the possibility of their implementation. A structured questionnaire was given to 110 randomly chosen people, mostly engineers and urban planning experts (91.8% had engineering backgrounds, 39.9% had PhDs, and 56.4% were 46 or older). The survey measured five key indicators: knowledge of digital technologies, present park conditions, technology acceptance, deployment concerns, and prospects for future expansion. Statistical tests were performed that included Cronbach's alpha reliability (a = 0.85) and Likert scale tests. As indicated in the survey, residents of the community highly supported the idea of digital modernization to streamline the urban areas. They also had a high level of knowledge of digital technologies and how they influence the performance of cities, and they were also concerned about the challenges that might arise with managing technology and the preservation of heritage. The urban environment of Baghdad can be made much more productive with the help of digital technologies and a brilliant interactive interface. Both hypotheses of the research are proved in the study: that the implementation of digital technologies is effective in the urban space and that their application can be successfully carried out in the environment of Baghdad. In order to make it work, the community must be involved, there should be cooperation among institutions, and a delicate balance between the conservation of cultural heritage and technology.