The rapid urbanization and population growth have been transforming the way we live, work and play, and putting immense pressure on cities to grow further.

The emerging city has been creating income inequality, inadequate hous- ing supply and corresponding problems in affordability, and inequitable en- vironmental risks, among others. Increased urban activity and distorted con- sumption patterns demanded sustainability metrics to gain importance much more than ever.

Given the recent advancements in smart cities and green technologies, the study acknowledges that shortcomings regarding sustainable development do not mainly stem from the lack of technical capabilities but rather from the challenges of “dark matter” of organizational relationships.

When it comes to the smart and sustainable city, the study advocates for an open-minded approach that focuses on the qualities of a hybrid space that prioritizes web of services, how people organize, mobilize, communicate via new tools rather than construction, and asks how can we achieve a system in which we, as citizens, have greater control over the environment in which we live, and how can we use the abundance of digital tools at our disposal to promote design and policy innovations that will result in better and more equitable urban living?