Blockchain's Motivation for IoT-Enabled Smart City

Introduction

Smart cities embody a paradigm shift in urban planning and governance, leveraging technology and data to augment the well-being of their inhabitants and foster sustainable economic and social progress (Dieye et al., 2023). The escalating process of urbanization in our society, wherein more than half of the global population now resides in urban areas, has created a pressing demand for inventive approaches to tackle the intricate issues associated with urban living (Politou et al., 2021). Smart cities offer a proactive solution to these difficulties, promoting a novel phase of urban progress marked by effectiveness, connection, and sustainability.

The fundamental principle underlying the smart city concept is incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the Internet of Things (IoT) into the very foundation of urban infrastructure using the big data era. This integration facilitates real-time data collection from a plethora of sources, such as sensors, cameras, and other IoT devices (Su et al., 2023). As a result, it institutes an all-encompassing digital neural network, augmenting decision-making, optimizing resource allocation, and elevating the holistic urban encounter (Alnssyan et al., 2023). Leveraging this vast reservoir of information, municipalities hold the potential to ameliorate the caliber and efficacy of public services, spanning various domains like transportation, healthcare, energy governance, and ecological resilience (Kushwaha et al., 2022).

The assimilation of these cutting-edge technologies seamlessly paves the way for constructing an all-encompassing digital framework that captures instantaneous data from diverse origins, such as sensors, cameras, and a myriad of IoT devices (Majeed et al., 2021). Incorporating Blockchain technology furnishes a resilient mechanism, safeguarding the sanctity and confidentiality of data, thereby adeptly shielding it against any illicit alterations or breaches (Shafik, 2023a). As a result, this procedural synergy furnishes invaluable insights for informed, data-driven decision-making, judicious resource allocation, and enhancing the holistic urban environment (Bansod & Ragha, 2022).

A diverse spectrum of technologies, from environmental sensors to intelligent traffic lights, constitutes IoT devices, collectively amassing considerable data. This data, in turn, yields invaluable insights into multifaceted aspects of urban existence (Bandara et al., 2022). Ensuring this data's integrity, visibility, and confidentiality is its secure storage on a Blockchain platform. Fundamental to Blockchain technology, smart contracts seamlessly facilitate automated, secure, and transparent transactions and agreements (Singh et al., 2021; Shafik, 2023b). Their applicability spans various domains, including energy consumption, waste management, and public transit services.

The smart city concept is grounded in inclusion and sustainability, prioritizing fair and equal access to technology and services for all community members. The capacity of Blockchain technology to grant individuals authority over their data and transactions is in accordance with the principles of inclusion and privacy (Majeed et al., 2021). IoT-enabled devices have the potential to actively include citizens in decision-making processes, enabling them to willingly contribute their data in return for enhanced services, all while safeguarding their privacy (Makani et al., 2022).

The need for secure data management is crucial in the context of smart cities, where large amounts of data are generated and utilized for urban growth and governance. Primarily, it guarantees the preservation of sensitive personal and civic data, hence upholding the privacy and security of individuals (Makhdoom et al., 2023). Data is gathered from several sources in a smart city, encompassing IoT devices, security cameras, and platforms that facilitate citizen interaction (Alqarni et al., 2023; Shafik, 2023c). The implementation of robust data security protocols, including encryption, access controls, and safe storage, is necessary to mitigate unauthorized access risks, cyberattacks, and data breaches that may potentially jeopardize the privacy of individuals and the overall integrity of the smart city ecosystem as depicted in Figure 1.