Smart cities are revolutionizing urban living by integrating technology to enhance efficiency, accessibility, and engagement. This shift includes smart advertising, which plays a crucial role in improving the city experience and benefiting both businesses and residents.
In a recent conversation, Murat Ozkiyikci, the smart advertising department manager at Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, shed light on how Gaziantep is leveraging technology to create a more inclusive, interactive, and dynamic urban environment.
Key components of a citizen-centric smart city
A citizen-centric smart city is built on digitalization, personalization, data-driven decision-making, IoT applications, and community engagement, according to Ozkiyikci. He stressed the significance of transparency and inclusivity in establishing trust and encouraging participation. “Trust is essential for the success of a smart city. Citizens should feel like active participants in the decision-making process,” he noted.
Governments must create an ecosystem where citizens actively shape urban solutions. Strategies like targeted messaging, incentives, gamification, and accessible communication channels enhance engagement. “We need to move beyond traditional engagement methods. Smart cities should incentivize citizens to participate, such as offering rewards for engaging in sustainability initiatives or public consultations,” Ozkiyikci suggested. Collaboration among citizens, businesses, and government entities ensures that smart city initiatives address genuine community needs. Governments should also bridge the digital divide by providing free internet access and digital education to underserved communities to prevent anyone from being left behind in the digital transformation process.
Promoting collaboration among citizens, businesses, and governments
Building agile, user-focused smart cities requires collaboration. Ozkiyikci emphasized the need for cities to establish digital platforms for governments, companies, and citizens to engage in dialogue, share ideas, and monitor urban development progress. “A smart city is not just about technology—it’s about people. The government, private sector, and citizens must collaborate to drive meaningful change,” he emphasized.
Public-private partnerships play a crucial role in addressing urban challenges. Community engagement events like hackathons and town hall meetings provide spaces for citizens to brainstorm ideas and co-create solutions. Cities should prioritize data sharing and transparency, making non-sensitive public data accessible for businesses and citizens to propose enhancements. For instance, developers can utilize real-time traffic data to develop better navigation apps.
“By opening data to businesses and citizens, we foster an environment where innovation thrives,” Ozkiyikci explained. Personalized communication is equally essential—municipalities can customize information for different demographics to ensure messages are relevant and impactful. A culture of openness, collaboration, and inclusivity enhances these efforts by ensuring that every stakeholder contributes to shaping the smart city experience.
The significance of smart advertising in urban living
Smart advertising serves as a bridge connecting citizens, local businesses, and city governments. Ozkiyikci characterizes it as a “dynamic bridge that enriches the urban experience through targeted, real-time communication.”
Its benefits include enhancing the citizen experience by delivering real-time, location-based notifications about local events and offers. It also assists small businesses in reaching their target audience, enabling them to compete with larger retailers. “Small businesses often struggle with effective advertising, but with smart advertising, we provide them with a platform to engage with their ideal customers at the right time and place,” Ozkiyikci described.
Smart advertising also supports urban planning by utilizing IoT-driven insights to enhance city layouts and optimize public spaces. It promotes civic participation by integrating gamification features such as interactive polls and surveys, ensuring that citizens have a voice in the city’s evolution. Most importantly, smart advertising offers cost-effective promotional solutions, making it accessible to small businesses with limited budgets. “Smart advertising goes beyond digital billboards—it leverages data and technology to establish a seamless connection between the city, its businesses, and its residents,” he added.
Utilizing technology for inclusive smart cities
In creating an inclusive smart city, technology must be leveraged to address diverse needs while ensuring accessibility for all. Ozkiyikci highlighted that bridging the digital divide is a fundamental step. “Failure to address the digital gap risks excluding entire communities from the benefits of smart city advancements,” he cautioned. Underserved populations, such as the elderly and low-income groups, encounter challenges accessing digital tools. Cities should invest in subsidized internet access, digital literacy programs, and free Wi-Fi in public spaces to ensure equal participation.
Another critical aspect is accessibility; smart navigation systems, voice-activated services, and wheelchair-friendly urban designs contribute to making cities more inclusive for individuals with disabilities. AI-powered services personalize engagement by delivering relevant real-time information in various languages, ensuring diverse communities have access to essential services. Digital platforms also play a vital role in citizen engagement by enabling underrepresented groups to participate in decision-making through surveys, virtual town halls, and interactive applications. “Inclusivity should be the cornerstone of every smart city initiative. If technology isn’t accessible to everyone, then we haven’t truly built a smart city,” Ozkiyikci emphasized.
Gaziantep’s citizen-centric smart city approach
Gaziantep has garnered recognition for its forward-thinking smart city initiatives, prioritizing technology, community engagement, and strategic partnerships. The municipality actively seeks citizen feedback through mobile apps, surveys, and public meetings to ensure urban development aligns with local needs. “We don’t assume what citizens want—we ask them,” Ozkiyikci stated.
Regular public consultations, with the mayor frequently visiting neighborhoods to understand residents’ priorities, whether it’s the need for new schools, parks, or recreational centers, are commonplace. Digital communication plays a significant role in keeping citizens informed, with social media and online platforms serving as key engagement tools. The city leverages AI and IoT technologies to enhance urban mobility, utilizing real-time traffic data to optimize transportation services. Inclusivity remains a top priority, with dedicated programs ensuring that vulnerable groups, including the elderly and disabled, have access to smart city services.
Smart advertising in Gaziantep’s smart city strategy
Gaziantep has successfully integrated smart advertising into its urban strategy, establishing a symbiotic relationship among businesses, the municipality, and residents. “Smart advertising is a crucial tool for economic growth. It empowers businesses while providing valuable information to citizens,” Ozkiyikci affirmed.
Digital billboards strategically placed in high-traffic areas display real-time, localized advertisements alongside essential public service announcements. Smart kiosks, functioning as multipurpose hubs, offer navigation assistance, business promotions, and municipal service updates. The municipality also invests in targeted content delivery, utilizing IoT sensors and mobile applications to customize advertisements based on location and user demographics. Large community events, such as Gaziantep’s renowned Gastronomy Festival, receive extensive promotion through smart advertising platforms, ensuring maximum outreach. “By making advertising smarter, we’re forging a more connected, innovative, and accessible city,” Ozkiyikci concluded.
Conclusion
Gaziantep’s smart city development strategy, with a specific focus on smart advertising and citizen engagement, showcases how technology can enhance urban life. The city has established a model for sustainable, citizen-centric urban planning by integrating data-driven solutions, fostering collaboration, and prioritizing inclusivity. As cities worldwide evolve, smart advertising will play an increasingly vital role in improving engagement, supporting economic growth, and creating vibrant, interconnected urban centers.
(Photo by Unsplash)
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