Smart cities as a new practice for urban services and infrastructure management: the experience of Porto Alegre

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss the experience of Porto Alegre regarding to the smart city concept implementation. Therefore, we used a study-based qualitative and exploratory methodological approach with data collection performed in primary and secondary sources in 2013. The results show that the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICT) innovations to deliver public services provided greater efficiency in activities involving the city management, with significant results to the actors who work and live there. This work sought to contribute to the research agenda and discussions on urban space management, bringing the concept of smart city as a pragmatic enabler for sustainable development for Brazilian cities.

Keywords: Smart cities; Digital cities; Technological urban innovation management