The performance of the digital city projects in urban studies of the megalopolises (the case studies of Kharkiv and Dnipro cities)

Abstract

Introduction of the research problem. Urbanization drives Digital City Projects (DCPs) to create smarter urban environments using advanced technologies. DCPs aim to make cities more connected and responsive, adapting to changing needs. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the performance of DCPs in megalopolises, focusing on Kharkiv and Dnipro in Ukraine. The previous works done. The various literature sources demonstrate the rise of Digital Cities stemming from Smart Cities. Kharkiv and Dnipro in Ukraine exemplify digitalization's role amid Russian aggression. Exposition of the main research material. The performance of the theoretical urbogeosystemic approach and its UOM in the provision of practical Digital City projects. This subsection delves into the practical application of the urbogeosystemic approach and its Urban Ontological Model (UOM) in DCPs. The UOM guides urban studies by defining components and relationships. Implementing DCPs begins with building simulation models using LiDAR data. Case Study First - Kharkiv: A feasible perspective of a full-format DCP implementation. This subsection discusses implementing a DCP in Kharkiv, emphasizing data integration from OpenStreetMap (OSM) and LiDAR. The authors propose that a DCP should serve as a comprehensive model of a real city, encompassing all its structural elements and key objects, going beyond the capabilities of a typical GIS project. Possible user’s scenarios include energy consumption analysis, population estimation, and visibility gradients assessment. The subsection highlights the comprehensive DCP approach with LiDAR data processing software (iQ City CCM) and urban geosituational analysis. Case Study Second - Kharkiv: a perspective of geomarketing within the “Digital Kharkiv” project as a routine GIS one. This subsection delves into the integration of geomarketing into the "Digital Kharkiv" project. Geomarketing plays a pivotal role in mapping socioeconomic elements tied to market interactions. "Digital Kharkiv," primarily sourced from OSM data, is lauded for its versatility in urban studies during peacetime and war. The text urges exploration of geomarketing within "Digital Kharkiv" in the context of post-Russian aggression rehabilitation, particularly in optimizing humanitarian object placements. Changes in geomarketing potential pre- and post-invasion in various city districts have been analyzed, highlighting areas with stagnation and those witnessing growth due to population resettlement. Case Study Third - Dnipro: implementation of a typical GIS-project for analyzing provision of the city population with public transportation infrastructural networks. This subsection discusses the implementation of the "Digital Dnipro" project as part of the DCP framework. The project focuses on analyzing the provision of public transportation networks in the city of Dnipro. It utilizes data from OSM to create a virtual model of the city, which includes attribute information for urban objects. This subsection also highlights the impact of war on urban planning and the need for sustainable updates to adapt to changing conditions. Conclusion. This section summarizes the key findings and takeaways from the research on DCPs in Ukrainian cities like Kharkiv and Dnipro. It highlights the importance of an urbogeosystemic approach in implementing DCPs effectively. The study emphasizes the flexibility and efficiency of the relevant GIS tools in urban research and transformation.