Smart Cities Research Initiative (SIRI)


ISO 37106:
A New Smart City Certification Initiative

Hari Srinivas
One-Pager Series C-019

Abstract:
ISO 37106 is a pioneering standard introduced by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to guide cities and communities in implementing smart city models that align with sustainable development goals. Published in 2018, the standard provides a structured framework built on 88 indicators covering governance, economy, environment, mobility, and social infrastructure.

It emphasizes integrated urban management through citizen-centric services, interoperable systems, sustainable infrastructure, and data governance. By offering a benchmark for cities to assess and improve their smart city initiatives, ISO 37106 fosters digital transformation, collaborative governance, and measurable progress towards sustainability. Early adopters like Barcelona and Buenos Aires illustrate its growing relevance in global urban policy.

Keywords:
ISO 37106, smart cities, sustainable urban development, smart city indicators, urban governance, digital transformation, SDGs, city certification.

Overview: The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has introduced ISO 37106: Sustainable Cities and Communities, a new certification aimed at guiding cities in developing smart city operating models for sustainable urban management. This initiative builds upon the BSI Kitemark Certification, ensuring a structured approach to urban innovation, resilience, and sustainability.

  • Goal: Sustainable cities and communities.
  • Approach: Smart city governance, data, technology, and digitally-enabled operating models.
  • Focus: How cities can use technology, data, collaboration, and citizen-centric governance to deliver sustainability outcomes more effectively.

What is the ISO 37106 standard?

ISO 37106 is a standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that provides guidelines for the development of smart city indicators. The standard was published in 2018 and is titled "Sustainable cities and communities - Indicators for smart cities."

Elements of Smart Indicators ISO 37106 calls for smart indicators to be outlined for the following elements:

  1. Economy - to promote sustainable economic growth through innovation and resilience.
  2. Education - to ensure accessible, inclusive, and lifelong learning opportunities.
  3. Energy - to support efficient, clean, and renewable energy solutions for cities.
  4. Environment - to encourage sustainable resource management and environmental protection.
  5. Finance - to establishe transparent and efficient financial systems for urban development.
  6. Governance - to strengthen participatory, accountable, and data-driven decision-making.
  7. Health - to enhance healthcare accessibility, quality, and public well-being.
  8. Housing - Advocates for affordable, safe, and sustainable housing solutions.
  9. Recreation - to develop inclusive public spaces for social and cultural well-being.
  10. Safety - to ensure secure urban environments through risk management and resilience.
  11. Sewerage and Sanitation - to provide efficient wastewater management for public health.
  12. Solid Waste - to promotes circular economy practices and waste minimization.
  13. Telecommunication and Innovation - to advance smart technologies for urban efficiency.
  14. Transportation - to enable sustainable, accessible, and multimodal urban mobility.
  15. Urban Planning - to integrate smart, inclusive, and resilient city development.
  16. Water Supply - to ensure sustainable and equitable water access for all.

ISO 37106 provides a framework for cities and communities to define, develop, and measure their smart city initiatives using a set of indicators that are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The standard includes a comprehensive list of 88 indicators that cover a range of areas including governance, economy, environment, mobility, urban planning, and social and cultural aspects.

The indicators in ISO 37106 are designed to help cities and communities measure their progress towards becoming smarter and more sustainable. By providing a standardized set of indicators, ISO 37106 allows for easier benchmarking and comparison of smart city initiatives across different cities and regions.

ISO 37106 provides a valuable tool for cities and communities looking to develop and implement smart city initiatives in a structured and measurable way.

Key Objectives

  • Provide a framework for integrated smart city governance and operations.
  • Support cities in enhancing digital transformation and data-driven decision-making.
  • Align with global sustainability goals, including the UN SDGs and climate commitments.
  • Foster collaboration across public and private sectors to improve urban services.

Core Components

ISO 37106 offers a practical roadmap for cities to implement smart city strategies effectively. It emphasizes:

  • Citizen-centric services - Ensuring urban solutions meet community needs.
  • Interoperable systems - Promoting seamless integration of city services.
  • Sustainable infrastructure - Encouraging resource-efficient development.
  • Data and technology governance - Enhancing security and transparency.

How have cities adopted the standard?

ISO 37106 is a relatively new standard, having been published in 2018, so its adoption by cities and communities is still in its early stages. However, some cities and organizations have already started to incorporate the standard into their smart city initiatives.

For example, the city of Barcelona, Spain has incorporated the ISO 37106 indicators into its smart city strategy, and uses them to measure the impact of its initiatives on the environment, mobility, and citizen participation. The city of Buenos Aires, Argentina has also adopted the standard, and is using the indicators to evaluate its progress towards becoming a more sustainable and connected city.

In addition, some organizations and industry groups have developed tools and frameworks based on ISO 37106 to help cities and communities implement the standard. For example, the Smart Sustainable Cities Framework developed by the Global Smart City and Community Coalition (GSC3) is based on the ISO 37106 indicators, and provides guidance on how to implement smart city initiatives in a way that is aligned with the standard.

While ISO 37106 has not yet achieved widespread formal adoption comparable to some other ISO standards, its influence has been significant in shaping smart city governance frameworks. Many cities have incorporated its principles of citizen-centric services, data governance, interoperability, and collaborative decision-making into broader smart city programmes.

The standard has been particularly influential when used alongside ISO 37101, ISO 37120, ISO 37122, and ISO 37123, helping cities move from measuring performance to organizing the governance and operational systems needed to achieve sustainability goals.

  • ISO 37101 - Provides a management system framework that helps cities and communities integrate sustainability principles into planning, decision-making, and long-term development strategies.
  • ISO 37120 - Establishes a set of standardized indicators that allow cities to measure and compare performance across areas such as governance, health, education, transportation, energy, and the environment.
  • ISO 37122 - Builds on ISO 37120 by introducing indicators that assess how digital technologies, innovation, and data-driven solutions contribute to smarter urban services and improved quality of life.
  • ISO 37123 - Provides indicators for evaluating a city's capacity to anticipate, withstand, adapt to, and recover from environmental, economic, social, and technological disruptions.

Standard Main Question
ISO 37101 Are we managing urban sustainability effectively?
ISO 37120 How well is the city performing?
ISO 37122 How smart is the city becoming?
ISO 37123 How resilient is the city to shocks and stresses?
ISO 37106 How should the city organize itself to achieve these goals?

Key Takeaway: The ISO 37106 certification sets a global benchmark for sustainable smart city development, providing cities with a strategic framework to achieve efficient, technology-driven, and sustainable urban growth.

Find more info on the ISO website: [ www.iso.org ]



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