Best-Worst Method based Smart Cities Sustainable Development Paths

Smart cities utilize advanced information technology to optimize urban operations, aiming to improve efficiency, sustainability, and resident well-being. While big data and algorithms have significant potential to inform decision-making, traditional evaluation methods often fail to accurately assess smart city performance indicators, limiting sustainable development. To address this limitation, our study applies the Best-Worst Method (BWM) to enhance the assessment of smart city indicators. Through a literature review and expert consultation, we identified five major obstacles to smart city development. Using BWM, we established the weights of these obstacles, identifying inadequate traffic management systems, limited public transportation coverage, poor satisfaction with online government services, and insufficient attraction of skilled talent as the most critical factors. By employing BWM, urban planners and policymakers can better identify essential evaluation indicators, facilitating more efficient resource allocation and informed decision-making. This approach offers a foundation for intelligent forecasting and development, ensuring that smart cities meet the evolving and complex needs of urban residents.