Developing an Agile Smart City Framework and maturity model: Integrating infrastructure,governance,and citizen participation

Abstract

Smart city maturity assessments often remain fragmented, technology-centered, and static, overlooking engineering asset performance, structured citizen feedback, and mechanisms for continuous improvement. This study introduces a novel Agile Smart City Framework (ASCF) grounded in a five-dimensional Smart City model and aligned with ISO standards. The framework consolidates ISO 37120/37122 indicators with ISO 37153 maturity attributes—performance, process, and interoperability, and operationalizes them through a Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS)-based multi-criteria decision model. Addressing gaps in fragmented indices, weak citizen integration, and limited adaptability, the study's primary contribution is the development of an integrated framework and maturity assessment model that transforms citizen participation from a downstream outcome into an operational input by embedding citizen-generated data into the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) “Check” phase. The resulting Smart City Maturity Model (SCMM) produces transparent and actionable outputs, including overall maturity scores. Application to two cities under multiple weighting scenarios demonstrates that integrating engineering performance metrics with participatory governance generates more comprehensive and policy-relevant profiles than a conventional technology-focused indices approach. The significance of this research lies in reframing smart city maturity assessment as a governance instrument that links standards-based indicators, infrastructure performance, and citizen feedback within a continuous improvement process, providing stakeholders with a structured pathway toward responsive and sustainable smart city development.