Smart Cities, Transportation, and Regional Development

Abstract

This paper examines the integration of smart cities, transportation policies, and regional development strategies in the TR32 Region (the provinces of Aydın, Denizli and Muğla) of Turkey, focusing on the 2024-2028 Draft Regional Plan prepared by the Southern Aegean Development Agency (GEKA). The research highlights the importance of incorporating smart transportation measures into the regional development framework to enhance the region's competitiveness, sustainability, and quality of life. The draft plan demonstrates a comprehensive approach to integrating smart city principles and technologies into its development strategy, with a focus on digital transformation, innovation, and green growth. The plan effectively addresses the integration of smart technologies in various sectors, such as transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. However, the evaluation of the plan's effectiveness in implementing smart transportation strategies is limited by the lack of formal feedback or evaluation of the previous GEKA plan period and the fragmented nature of data sources.