The Use of ICT-Based Applications to Support the Implementation of Smart Cities during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in compulsion and encouragement of actions that have enabled changes to occur globally that have then been adapted to current conditions. For their highly dense populations, it is difficult to control the spread of the virus in cities. As a result, activities that draw large crowds together so that people can access public services are inevitable. Several cities that have been declared as smart cities in Indonesia have made a breakthrough by making use of information and communication technology (ICT)-based applications. This can be of great help for societies during pandemics. ICT has been able to help citizens perform various activities from home with the help of applications. This study aims to identify various applications that support the implementation of the concept of a smart city. This applies particularly to those applications that are based on ICT that can tackle the unique conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and make recommendations regarding future developments. The data collected for this study were analyzed using secondary sources obtained from various clusters of literature, the internet, and social media. In addition, primary data was gathered from discussion forums. This paper employs a qualitative approach with qualitative descriptive data analysis techniques and hierarchical cluster analysis. Qualitative descriptive analysis was utilized to explore the conditions of smart cities, the regional conditions of the pandemic, and smart city applications more generally. The results show that during the COVID-19 pandemic, cities and regions, including the 100 smart cities in Indonesia, have developed many innovative solutions through ICT-based applications that can help people maintain an active social life and access public services. In the future, when everything is allegedly back to normal, cities need to implement the use of various ICT-based applications to increase efficiency in their planning and management. Therefore, it has become increasingly necessary to improve people’s digital literacy and to develop a type of ICT infrastructure that enables more people to access the internet.

Innovation in Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Best Practices from Five Smart Cities in Indonesia

“…Several cities declaring themselves as a smart city have made a breakthrough by making use of ICT-based applications during COVID-19 pandemic [2]. The implementation of smart city in Indonesia is based on the 2017 Guidelines of Making Smart City Masterplan-Movement toward 100 Smart Cities issued by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics of the Republic of Indonesia.…”

“…From the result of the previous study, the implementation of smart cities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia shows an increase, particularly in the dimension of smart governance [2]. This can be seen from ICT-based public services, a higher intensity of public information, and the use of different applications to support the availability of public services [2]. Meanwhile, the aspects of the smart economy and smart branding, the strengthening of Usaha Mikro, Kecil, dan Menengah (UMKM) (micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)); and innovations in products and marketing by utilizing ICT are greatly increasing.…”

“…From the result of the previous study, the implementation of smart cities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia shows an increase, particularly in the dimension of smart governance [2]. This can be seen from ICT-based public services, a higher intensity of public information, and the use of different applications to support the availability of public services [2].…”

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic, three fields have experienced a very rapid change in using ICT-based virtual space: education, economy, and health [2]. In addition, ICTbased virtual spaces in the governance field, particularly related to public services, are also increasing.…”

“…In addition, ICTbased virtual spaces in the governance field, particularly related to public services, are also increasing. The government has so far provided ICT-based public services through various applications [2]. People are able to access public services online so that mobility can be minimized because of the use of virtual space and has an impact on city management [9].…”