Smart Cities and Urban Mobility for Innovation and Sustainability

Abstract

This study is grounded in theories of degrowth and the circular economy. The general objective of this research leads to a thematic discussion of urban mobility in big cities that will suggest solutions for implementation in sustainable forms of technology which could transform metropolises into smart cities. As specific objectives, it seeks (1) to demonstrate the problem of urban mobility in large cities; (2) to address the global trend of changing unsustainable consumption habits into habits of minimal consumption, linked to Latouche's theory of degrowth and the circular economy; and (3) to interpret new trends in large urban centers with a focus on the smart city. As it happens, young millennials choose to enjoy goods, instead of owning them; with the availability of the Internet, people have started to interact with cities, exchanging information about traffic (congestion and public transport routes); they also access alternative modes of transport, such as the use of shared vehicles, bicycles, electric scooters and other modes that can be rented through apps. However, many companies which claim to offer sharing services in fact practice pseudo-sharing for the sake of profit. The methodology in this study was inductive in nature, using secondary sources, from qualitative bibliographic research starting from electronic searches of articles available in public domain pages, which allowed various publications on the chosen topic to be accessed for review. The result is an academic contribution to the public understanding of current conditions that may lead the elaboration of public policies for updated scenarios of smart cities to the benefit of residents.