Application of the Global Concept of “Smart City” at the Local Level of the Karviná District

Abstract

The article deals with the implementation of the global concept of Smart City or Smart Municipality at the local level, specifically in selected municipalities and towns of the Karviná District located in the Czech Republic. Specifically, these municipalities form a union of municipalities under the name Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Karviná District (SMOOK). The paper summarizes the results of research aimed at finding out how the representatives (mayors and city mayors) of a selected sample of municipalities and towns of various sizes approach the implementation of the global concept of Smart City at the local level, i.e., within the municipalities they manage. Within the questionnaire, representatives (mayors and city mayors) of towns and municipalities were offered several typified projects in several areas of activities that the municipality or town performs. Respondents could also mention other projects that they were implementing in the given area. The areas where the surveyed towns and municipalities use the most widespread range of smart solutions are city administration and the related use of information and communication technologies. Municipalities pay attention to these areas and plan to introduce other innovative solutions. Due to environmental problems and air pollution in the Karviná Region, they do not neglect the areas of environment, transport and power engineering. On the contrary, marginal areas in the implementation of smart projects for them are business support and social services. A significant motivation in the implementation of smart projects is the possibility of obtaining grant funds.