Visualizing Poli-technics: Correlations of smart city governments by Mennatullah Hendawy

This visualization represents the correlations between the 10 key factors in the smart city rankings published by Eden Strategy Institute in their Top 50 Smart City Government Ranking 2020/2021 (ESI, 2021). This ranking aims to guide city leaders in assessing the readiness of their governments to develop, facilitate, or track their smart city initiatives. The 10 factors based on which cities were ranked include ‘Vision’, ‘Leadership’, ‘Budget’, ‘Financial Incentives’, ‘Support Programs’, ‘Talent Readiness’, ‘People Centricity’, ‘Innovation Ecosystems’, ‘Smart Policies’ and ‘Track Record’.

In the ESI (2021), 235 cities were compared, and each city received a score out of four for each key factor, with one being the lowest and four being the highest. Based on this, it was possible to determine which factor in a city is strongest and which needs more development. After that, the combined score for each city is calculated, and the top 50 are identified. The aim of the ESI (2021) ranking is to be able to propel cities toward improving different aspects, particularly in terms of the smartness of city governments.

In this visualization, we show the relationship between the key factors, which has been calculated using a powerful BI visualization tool based on a correlation formula. This relationship can be either positive (blue) or negative (red). A positive correlation means that the factors in relation work hand in hand to be achieved, while a negative correlation means that the agendas of the factors in comparison halt the progress of each other.

Based on ESI (2021), the 10 Key Factors are defined as:
Vision: A clear, well-defined, and updated strategy.
Leadership: A Dedicated City ''Leadership'' that steers without major discontinuities.
Budget: A funding that is sufficient and sustainable.
Financial Incentives: An encouragement for private sector participation (e.g., grants, rebates, subsidies, competitions).
Support Programs: An encouragement for private actors participation (e.g., incubators, events, networks, awards).
Talent Readiness: A program to equip the city’s talent with smart skills.
People Centricity: A sincere design of the future city, respectful of basic human rights.
Innovation Ecosystems: A comprehensive range of engaged stakeholders to sustain innovation and partnerships where the city government was instrumental in sustaining and catalyzing them.
Smart Policies: A conducive and regulatory environment for development (e.g., data governance, IP protection, urban design).
Track Record: A record of the government’s experience in catalyzing successful smart city initiatives.