City of Things (CoT): Taking the SMART Approach to a Collaborative Future

December 3, 2025

City of Things (CoT): Taking the SMART Approach to a Collaborative Future

Creston Burse

Abstract

Municipal governments and communities around the world face growing challenges that directly impact their ability to reinvent their communities to compete and meet the rapidly changing demands of the 21^st century. As cities once thrived and reaped the benefits in many urbanized areas across the country, today many of those same cities are drastically struggling to create significant new opportunities for social and economic development for all stakeholders and citizens. A smart city is a developed urban area that creates sustainable economic development and high quality of life.[i] In this manuscript, Mississippi, due to its conservative nature, rich history, grim statistics, and breeding ground for opportunity and progress, is used as a case study to provide a comprehensive analysis of the feasibility of implementing a SMART approach in an urban community. This paper explores several Smart Cities and their approaches to education, healthcare, policy and stakeholder engagement. This manuscript also explores the educational, healthcare, and political climates as well as stakeholder engagement in Jackson, MS. Results of the comprehensive analysis showed that through stakeholder engagement, new radical futuristic administration, and innovative approaches to technology, Jackson, MS is poised to become a Smart city that can serve as the model for other Mississippi communities. Results showed that there are several strategies and approaches that have been implemented such as the ONELINE modern transportation project and a TechJxn conference sponsored by the city of Jackson. This manuscript offers recommendations for the city of Jackson to sustainability move towards a SMART city approach.

Abstract keywords: Smart city; Strategy; Mississippi; Stakeholders; Collaboration

^[i] Business Dictionary. (2019). Smart City. Business Dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/smart-city.html

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