PROPOSING AN ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK OF SUSTAINABLE SMART FREE-ZONES: CASE STUDY: ARVAND FREE-ZONE
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Authors: Asrin Mahmoudpour
Keywords: Samira Hamidi Tehrani, Zahra Goudarzi, sustainable smart cities, analytical framework, free-zones
Abstract: In the last two decades, the concept of ‘sustainable smart city’ has become more and more popular in urban development literature. A Smart Sustainable City (SSC) is an innovative city that uses information and communication technologies (ICTs) and other means to improve quality of life, efficiency of urban operation and services, and competitiveness, while ensuring that it considers the needs of present and future generations with respect to sustainable aspects. Free-zones play an important role in national economic development whereas have some different situations from urban areas in administrative and commercial activities. Therefore, dimension, sub-dimension and an analytical framework of sustainable smart free-zones differ from smart cities frameworks. In this context, this paper aims to clarify the meaning of ‘sustainable smart city approach’ in the context of free-zone and propose an Analytical framework of sustainable smart free-zones in general and specifically, sustainable smart Arvand free-zone through an approach based on an in-depth literature review and documentary research of relevant studies as well as official documents of international institutions. To achieve the aim of this paper, two-step process has been applied. The first step has been accomplished by reviewing literature, reviewing successful free-zones’ principals and also investigating successful smart free-zones. Afterwards, in the second step, the first framework has been monitored and completed by adapting to Arvand free-zone policy documents and results of social survey of Arvand free-zone stockholders.