Smart City as Urban Innovation: A Case of Riyadh North-West District

Smart City as Urban Innovation: A Case of Riyadh North-West District

 Abdulaziz N. Aldusari

King Saud University (KSU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Correspondence: Abdulaziz N. Aldusari, King Saud University (KSU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Tel:966-50-548-9985. E-mail: Adawsari@mohe.gov.sa

Journal of Sustainable Development; Vol. 8, No. 8; 2015 ISSN 1913-9063 E-ISSN 1913-9071 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education -p p 270 - 284

Abstract

  Saudi Arabia has recently adopted and implemented an enduring strategy of development that shifts its focal point towards the formulation of knowledge based society. In the same context, KSU (King Saud University), in Riyadh has initiated the project of the Riyadh Techno Valley (RTV), within its campus. The projects aims to strengthen its efforts, in order to develop knowledge based society in Saudi Arabia. KSU as a core of the North-West district of Riyadh had an initiative by adopting a comprehensive idea of Riyadh Knowledge Corridor(RKC) in Prince Turki Alawal Road area. KSU has started to take an active role in setting up new Riyadh’s Smart City node (Smart Riyadh – NWD). The focal point of it is the Riyadh Techno Valley (RTV) project, which is expected to play a central anchored role with other developments in this district such as King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology, information technology and communication complex, Saudi Standards, King-Abdulaziz - and - his-Companions - foundation-for Giftedness-and-Creativity, and king Abdullah financial center.

 This research study will assesses Riyadh Techno Valley, which will help in reflecting several issues and principals towards the evolution of the North-West district in Riyadh as Smart city.

Keywords: urban planning, Sustainable development, Riyadh Techno Valley

1. Introduction

1.1 Evolving of a Smart Riyadh North-West District The King Saud University (KSU) is one of the most prominent center of the North-West district of Riyadh. KSU has taken a commendable step by adopting the concept of RKC (Riyadh Knowledge Corridor), in the area ofPrince Turki Alawal road (Al-Filali & Gallarotti, 2012, p. 19). It has been assessed that KSU aims to set-up and develop new Riyadh’s Smart City and the focal point of the project is to develop the project of Riyadh Techno Valley (RTV). It is expected that the project will play an inevitable role in fostering other developments, like King Abdul Aziz city for science and technology. It is significant to bring into the notice that this new urban center (Smart Riyadh – NWD) will be added to the four urban centers that was already been suggested by the strategic plan of Al-Riyadh Development Authority (ADA). The strategic plan is illustrated in figure 1. In addition to this, the strategic plan of Riyadh can also be analyzed from figure 2. It is quite evident from the diagram that the plan possesses two new residential satellites on the north (sultana) and the other one is on the east (Alwasee). It is also observed that the newly proposed urban center, i.e., the Smart Riyadh North – West district (Smart Riyadh – NWD), will also have a residential community. It is due to the fact that the main concept of this center is to ensure a new urban ism development with a mix land use.

4. Conclusion

 It has been analyzed from the acquired findings that Riyadh North-West district is swiftly drifting towards urban planning and design. It is due to the fact that various projects have been recently completed in the state and number of projects is in developing phase. After analyzing the current trends of urban planning in Riyadh North-West district, it has been established that smart services are likely to present a number of valuable benefits to RTV. It has been assessed that RTV and other developers can expect higher asset value and occupancy rate by Smart Community Service. In addition to this, it is also observed that RTV and other property managers can not only save operational cost, but also pursue additional revenue opportunities by Smart Community Service. Other benefit may include saving of operational cost through integration (energy saving cost of system operation and human resources). Moreover, faster and more efficient management with standardized facility management process can also be considered as one of the most prominent benefits of smart services to RTV.

   Smart services are also found to provide extensive benefits to the end-users, including businesses, home residences, retailers, and visitors. Some of the most prominent benefits include comfort and safe working environment, office automation and enterprise solutions, convenient and safe living environment, community social networking, advertisement throughout the whole RTV community, customer loyalty with smart card membership and mileage service, and convenient access to real-time community information customized for various purposes (business, social, shopping, and leisure)

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