Urban Big Data and the Development of City Intelligence

TLDR

The study defines urban big data and examines its features and applications in China’s city intelligence, while highlighting challenges in shaping and developing it. It compares China’s city intelligence model to the international smart‑city concept and outlines key elements of urban big data—such as infrastructure support, governance, public services, and economic development. The authors find that urban big data is the cornerstone and driving force behind city intelligence, serving as a vital resource for its diffusion and sustained growth, and argue that China must leverage its unique advantages to advance urban development through city intelligence.

Abstract

This study provides a definition for urban big data while exploring its features and applications of China's city intelligence. The differences between city intelligence in China and the "smart city" concept in other countries are compared to highlight and contrast the unique definition and model for China's city intelligence in this paper. Furthermore, this paper examines the role of urban big data in city intelligence by showing that it not only serves as the cornerstone of this trend as it also plays a core role in the diffusion of city intelligence technology and serves as an inexhaustible resource for the sustained development of city intelligence. This study also points out the challenges of shaping and developing of China's urban big data. Considering the supporting and core role that urban big data plays in city intelligence, the study then expounds on the key points of urban big data, including infrastructure support, urban governance, public services, and economic and industrial development. Finally, this study points out that the utility of city intelligence as an ideal policy tool for advancing the goals of China's urban development. In conclusion, it is imperative that China make full use of its unique advantages—including using the nation's current state of development and resources, geographical advantages, and good human relations—in subjective and objective conditions to promote the development of city intelligence through the proper application of urban big data.