Sustainability and smart city strategies: Evaluating Gümüşhane province from the perspective of public administrators

Cities have long served as epicenters for societal changes and transformations throughout history. These transformations have had far-reaching implications on various aspects such as the environment, society, architecture, economy, demographics, politics, and culture. In the modern era, with the rapid advancement of information and communication technologies, it is undeniable that smart applications have become pivotal actors driving change and transformation in cities. It has become virtually impossible for any city to isolate itself from these practices. Therefore, governing bodies responsible for providing services must proactively engage in this inevitable transformation process. Administrations ought to assess their current utilization of such applications and formulate policies to effectively harness their potential. The objective of this research is to assess the present circumstances, potential benefits, and drawbacks of smart city applications in Gümüşhane, as well as to propose necessary actions from the perspective of public administrators. Qualitative research methods were employed for this study. The scope of the study was restricted to public administrators operating in Gümüşhane. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather insights from public administrators regarding smart city applications in Gümüşhane. The interview questions were developed based on pertinent literature and the content analysis method was employed to analyze the interview data. Data analysis for this study was conducted using MAXQDA software. The findings of the study revealed that the existing smart city applications in Gümüşhane are inadequate. To effectively implement these applications, there is a need to enhance the level of digital literacy among local governments, stakeholders, and citizens. The study recommends several measures such as fostering public-private sector collaboration in realizing smart city applications, prioritizing training programs to enhance awareness, and addressing legislative shortcomings. The first part of the study focuses on the concepts of sustainability and the city, delving into their historical development and examining approaches to creating sustainable cities. The second part emphasizes the concept of smart cities, highlighting their components and showcasing successful smart city examples. Furthermore, this section evaluates successful smart city initiatives in Turkey and relevant studies found in the literature. The third chapter presents detailed information about the research area, which is the city center of Gümüşhane, and elucidates the research's objectives and methodology. The research process is thoroughly explained, including details about data collection and analysis methods.