This book reframes smart city development by moving beyond efficiency-driven models to prioritize equity, inclusion, and democratic participation. It examines how digital technologies—AI, IoT, and participatory platforms—can serve as catalysts for social justice and entrepreneurial innovation when designed with communities at their core. The volume challenges prevailing paradigms that emphasize data-driven control and infrastructural speed over access, representation, and human well-being. By positioning technological advancement, entrepreneurial practice, and social inclusion as mutually reinforcing imperatives, the book offers actionable pathways toward cities that are not only smart but also socially just and human-centered.
Vikas Chand Sharma, an Associate Professor at Chandigarh University and a researcher at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, brings 13 years of experience in architectural design, urban planning, and research. He specializes in sustainable urban design strategies for historic cities, combining phenomenological approaches with digital mapping. His foundational research on religious spatial patterns and new urbanism was published in 2016. He serves on the Scientific Committee for Contesti. Cittą, Territori, Progetti and is a member of the Editorial Board for several international journals. His work appears in the International Journal of Construction Education and Research, Journal of Architecture & Urbanism, and Landscape Research.
Dr. Pankaj Kumar Tyagi is an academician, researcher, and consultant. He is presently working as a professor at Chandigarh University, Mohali, India. Dr. Tyagi is an alumnus of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (Central University) and Kurukshetra University, India. He has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, teaching, training, consultancy, and expertise in destination management, travel process and disruptive technologies. He has published over 30 research papers in international journals indexed in the quality database and authored/edited 6 books. He is a reviewer for many international journals in tourism, management, and technology.
Dr. George Redhead is a lecturer in Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Norwich Business School, University of East Anglia. He holds a Ph.D. in Management and has a strong background in qualitative research. His research focuses on the interplay between entrepreneurship, regional development, and social inequalities. Prior to joining Norwich Business School, he secured a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of East Anglia, where he actively engaged with local stakeholders and SMEs.
Dr. Iasef Md Rian is an architect and design researcher specializing in computational design, geometry-based structural design, and fractal geometry. Currently serving as an associate professor at XJTLU, China, he holds a Ph.D. from Politecnico di Torino, Italy. His research has been published in leading journals such as Automation in Construction, Computer Aided Design, and Frontiers of Architectural Research. He is a member of several professional organizations and has actively participated in design competitions, winning awards like the ASCENSION: Zagreb Observation Tower competition.
Dr. Anurag Varma, an academician, architect, and consultant, brings over 25 years of diverse professional experience. Currently, as the Executive Director of the Liberal Arts and Humanities cluster at Chandigarh University, he concurrently leads his self-owned design and planning consulting firm. His expertise spans spatial planning, urbanism, heritage conservation, and architectural design, showcased in leadership roles at a top-100 ENR rated International Design Firm and a leading workshare firm. His academic journey includes Doctoral research from TERI School of Advanced Studies, focusing on sacred cultural heritage and its intersection with urban planning in pilgrimage towns, alongside interests in sustainable built environments, architecture pedagogy, and advancements in education.
