Construction of Smart City Malta : implications as seen by the population of the surrounding areas

Abstract

In the public eye the development of the Smart City is a blessing since Malta will be established as a centre of excellence in the eyes of the world. My dissertation will focus on the implications of the construction of Smart City Malta as seen by the population of the surrounding areas living in Kalkara, Xghajra and Zabbar. The areas of geography in which the proposed study falls are human geography and physical geography. The main terms that are going to be analyzed are if the local people approve the project itself and if they are enthusiast (willing) that the project is going to take place in the limits of Kalkara and Xghajra in the south of Malta. Certain major costs will include the relocation of the sewage system and the electrical distribution at Ricasoli and how it is going to affect the local residents. Will the Smart City Malta transform this industrial area into a city featuring attractive architecture and landscapes? The key variables which will be investigated are impact on skyline, increased traffic impact, land speculation, the building of new accommodation and so on. Interviews and questionnaires were carried out in three localities so that the results could be compared and differentiate the localities in terms of social and environmental impacts. With the signing of the Smart City agreements on 23 April, 2007, information and communications technology have had a further boost. This means that a lot of people will work in the firms as the project will be attractive while people from abroad will come to take up positions here. This flow can deliver real value to Malta as a whole Furthermore, a set of recommendations is given for better effective management and environmental sustainability of the construction of Smart City Malta.