An Analysis of Colombian Caribbean Cities from the Standpoint of Smart Cities

Abstract

The Caribbean Region is the perfect setting for the implementation of alternative urban models where physical and virtual spaces are considered key spots to promote community development. Starting from a mixed methodology, the study discusses the current state of Colombian Caribbean cities based on social indicators and the territorial development typology proposed by Colombia’s National Planning Department. For that purpose, criteria about their current characteristics and conditions were established in order to determine whether the cities meet the minimum requirements required by a smart city model. The outcomes show that these cities have important drawbacks in terms of public utilities, in addition to social issues that require rethinking the current model if the idea is to move forward towards building a smart city model.