Humanizing Smart Cities as an Approach to Enhancing Urban Quality of Life: A Sociological Study of the Humanization of Technology and Urban Space

Abstract

This article examines the rapid transition towards smart cities amid technological development and the increasing digitalization of urban space, together with the social and human challenges accompanying this process. The study asks how technical intelligence and the human dimension can be balanced in smart cities in ways that enhance urban quality of life. It aims to analyse the concept of smart cities and its principal foundations, highlight the importance of humanizing this urban model, and examine its implications for residents’ everyday lives. It also assesses the role of a human-centred approach in reducing social and spatial disparities within smart cities and strengthening urban justice. The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, analysing scientific literature and presenting selected international examples. The findings indicate that integrating the human dimension into smart urban planning contributes to improved quality of life, stronger community participation, greater urban justice, and more inclusive urban sustainability. Technology becomes more effective and sustainable when deployed within a comprehensive human-centred vision that places residents’ needs and lived experiences at the heart of urban transformation.