Virtual Space in Smart Cities as a Public Space

Virtual Space in Smart Cities as a Public Space - Does virtual space impact urban planning?

Authors: Luca LEZZERINI, Dhurata SHEHU
Affiliations: POLIS University

Abstract
Due to the intensive use of ICT technology, Smart Cities are based on a huge volume of data that
are exchanged between machines, between humans and between humans and machines. This enormous set of data, interactions and people generate a virtual world, often referred to today as cyberspace, that seems to be far away from physical reality. In this paper, this virtual world is explored to answer two questions: is this world a public space? Do urban planners have to consider it in their plans? The paper examines the virtual world from the point of view of qualities that identify the public space, checking for each of them if the minimal conditions are met to consider the virtual world a space and then, a public space, in the sense given by architecture and urban planning. Resulted in it is a public space, further analysis is done to evidence the need for new urban planning techniques to consider it as a part of a new kind of urban space, made by both the physical and virtual spaces.