Using a smart city framework to advance justice: applying an equity lens to compare air quality in neighbourhoods of different socioeconomic profiles

ABSTRACT

The smart city framework, while initially received with enthusiasm, has been critiqued for reproducing urban inequalities rather than reducing marginalisation. This paper demonstrates how application of an equity lens within a smart city framework can advance justice by addressing air quality inequities in a diverse coastal city. We conducted a pilot study in which integrated air quality sensors are deployed for criteria pollutants in two contrasting neighbourhoods, to demonstrate that the smart city framework can be used with an equity lens for baseline data collection and analysis to support communities of colour in advocating on their own behalf. Communities of colour are disproportionately impacted by poor air quality, pollution exposure, and health burdens. Research shows that marginalised communities often lack air quality sensors installed by traditional regulatory measures. Thus, smart city technology using targeted deployment of air quality sensors can aid neighbourhood-level sampling, and data can be leveraged by marginalised communities for policy development to address inequities in pollution exposure and health impacts. In this study, air quality sensors were deployed and integrated with a web-based interactive platform called Community Resiliency Information Systems (CRIS) to compare a white, affluent neighbourhood with a marginalised, predominantly Black neighbourhood in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Data collected indicates significant differences in concentrations of air pollutants in the study neighbourhoods; exposure levels are higher in the poor, minority-dominated neighbourhood. CRIS facilitates two-way communication between residents and policy makers, demonstrating that careful application of technology can produce data to support community advocacy and address environmental inequalities.

Key policy highlights

• The smart city framework integrated with air quality sensors has the potential to advance justice when applied through an equity lens.

• This pilot project demonstrates air quality inequities at neighbourhood level comparisons (affluent vs marginalised) in a coastal city – exposure levels are higher in the poor, minority-dominated neighbourhood.

• The CRIS platform facilitates two-way communication between residents and policy makers, demonstrating that careful application of technology can produce data to support community advocacy and address environmental inequalities.

KEYWORDS:

• Air quality
• environmental justice
• GIS
• IOT

Acknowledgements

The City of St. Petersburg allowed us to install sensors in their facilities. John Diaz for assistance with server setup. Theresa Burress for her assistance with library research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 We are stating this as part of the methods of data collection and not endorsing the product.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by USF Smart City Trail Project.