DIGITALIZATION OF URBAN SPACE: SMART CITY AS A NEW PARADIGM OF URBAN PLANNING

Abstract

In Ukraine, the digital transformation of public transport is becoming increasingly relevant, especially in the context of the implementation of the National Transport Strategy of Ukraine for the period until 2030. However, its implementation requires a comprehensive approach and coordinated decisions between the state, carriers, and the public. This study analyzes the main economic and infrastructure aspects of the digitalization of passenger transport, identifies key challenges and suggests possible ways to overcome them. The article examines the concept of Smart City as a new paradigm for the development of urban space in the context of the digital transformation of society. The essence and key components of the “smart city” model are analyzed, its impact on modern urbanism is determined, and examples of Smart City implementation in global and Ukrainian practice are given. The main challenges and prospects for the introduction of digital technologies into the urban environment are outlined. It is concluded that digitalization is an important factor in the sustainable development of cities and the formation of a comfortable living space for citizens. Modern urban development is characterized by global processes of urbanization and digital transformation. Traditional approaches to urban space management are becoming insufficient to solve complex socio-economic and environmental problems. In this context, the Smart City concept takes on the significance of a new urban paradigm that combines spatial, social, and technological aspects of urban development. The aim of the article is to study the concept of Smart City as an innovative model of urban space development and determine its role in the formation of a new urban paradigm. Among the main challenges of Smart City, we can highlight: cybersecurity and personal data protection, inequality in access to digital technologies, the high cost of implementing innovative infrastructure, the need to adapt technologies to the historically formed urban environment. The prospects for the digitalization of urban space are related to: the implementation of integrated city management platforms, the use of artificial intelligence to predict urban processes, the development of “green urbanism” in combination with digital solutions, and the active involvement of citizens in decision-making processes. The Smart City concept forms a new paradigm of urban planning, changing approaches to city management and the organization of urban space. Its implementation ensures increased management efficiency, an increase in the quality of life of residents, and creates conditions for sustainable development. Incorporating digital technologies into urban development strategies is becoming a key condition for the competitiveness of modern cities.