Evaluation of urban fabrics in the context of ecological smart city: The case of Antalya-Konyaalti

With the effect of the globalization process, rapid and irregular urbanization has brought along many environmental problems. In the search for solutions to these problems, it is predicted that smart cities can be applied to cities through technological systems. However, it is stated that the existing urban fabric cannot generally adapt to these technological systems, so smart cities have caused many gaps in the planning and design literature in terms of their definitions and application to existing cities. In this study, an answer was sought to the question of which criteria existing cities should focus on in order to carry smart technological systems. In this context, a detailed literature review has been made on the characteristics of smart cities and examples of smart cities in an integrated manner. Although smart city solutions and applications in the existing urban fabric and reconstructed cities differ according to the visions and potentials of the cities, it has been observed that the main aims of the cities intersect. In this context, when discourses and examples are compiled, while applying smart city solutions; three important ecological smart city precursors came to the fore as emission reduction, energy efficiency and green infrastructure. Unlike other studies, it has been concluded that green infrastructure has an important place both in existing cities and in new smart cities. Considering these premises and the solutions it contains, a study was carried out specifically for the city of Konyaaltı, which is the main material of the study, aiming to maintain smart city solutions effectively in the city. Analyzes and evaluations at various scales have been brought in line with smart solutions in order to offer a future-oriented, ecological smart city premise for Konyaaltı. Although the priority is focused on infrastructure development, technological investments, security, energy and transportation in order to gain smart city status, it has been determined that there are some deficiencies or inadequacies in the existing urban fabric, yet it has advantages that can contribute to the sustainability of the city. In the scope of the determinations made, it was concluded that while integrating smart cities into the existing urban fabric, ecological smart city solutions should be taken into consideration, the deficiencies should be corrected with these solutions and the potentials should be maintained, also technological solutions should be implemented by integrating them with these systems. Although technological solutions form the basis of smart cities, an urban sustainability supported by ecological solutions will strengthen.