Sustainable smart environment strategies in the context of urban geography: The case of Antalya/Muratpaşa

In recent years, the rapid increase in urbanization has triggered the transformation of the natural environment, threatening environmental sustainability; especially in urban areas where climatic risks are concentrated, environmental problems have become complex and multidimensional. Although the 'smart city' concept is proposed as a solution, it remains too fragmented in the literature to be strategically defined. How local 'smart environment' practices should be designed and supported remains unclear. In this context, there is a perceived lack of smart solutions that would reduce environmental inequalities in rapidly urbanizing areas such as the Muratpaşa district in Turkey. This dissertation aims to analyze the environmental situation of the Muratpaşa district within the framework of the "smart environment" concept and to develop locally appropriate and feasible smart environment projects. In this scope, multidimensional environmental data such as climate indicators, land surface temperatures, distribution of green spaces, intensity of environmental complaints, and population data have been evaluated together. The ultimate goal of the study is to propose scientifically valid and locally implementable solutions in light of the findings. The research was designed based on descriptive and relational analysis approaches. Data such as climate indicators, land use, and surface temperature were evaluated using GIS (Geographic Information Systems)-based spatial analysis techniques. As a result of the research, it was found that temperature increases in the Muratpaşa district are systematic and statistically significant, and that the urban heat island effect has become increasingly evident, particularly in the northeastern neighborhoods. It was determined that green spaces are spatially distributed unequally, agricultural lands have suffered significant loss, and construction is the main cause of this loss. It was observed that although Muratpaşa Municipality's environmental strategies are generally in line with smart city principles, there is a need for more holistic and inclusive projects at the implementation level. In line with all findings, multidimensional projects were proposed at the neighborhood level to reduce heat and improve microclimate, address the lack of green spaces, mitigate excessive urbanization, improve water management and infrastructure problems, and resolve waste issues specific to the district. Thus, the study aims to contribute scientifically to processes that enhance environmental sustainability.