ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF INTELLIGENCE OF NEW CITIES AS A TOOL TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY "CASE STUDY – NEW MINYA CITY"

Abstract

In the era of the digital revolution, cities worldwide have heavily invested in smart city projects to improve sustainability and quality of life. This paper explores the concept and global standards of smart cities and their intelligence assessment tools by focusing on new cities and their potential to be transformed into smart cities. A field study was conducted on New Minya City in Egypt using one of the approved evaluation criteria. United FOR Smart, Sustainable Cities (U4SSC) was selected to develop and determine the relative weight of each of its categories. The study assessed the city's intelligence through questionnaires distributed to academics, city officials, and a representative sample of residents, covering 1% of the population. Key findings include the critical role of smart technologies in infrastructure, particularly in water, sewage, and electricity networks, which achieved the highest relative weights. Strengths identified in New Minya City include low unemployment rates and abundant public spaces, while weaknesses such as the lack of smart systems for monitoring water and electricity consumption were noted. This paper provides adjusted relative weights for the indicators, tailored for application in new Egyptian cities, offering a practical framework for advancing these cities toward sustainability and smartness. The conclusions and recommendations aim to assist policymakers and urban planners in enhancing the performance of new cities and fostering smart urban development in Egypt.