Identifying and Analyzing the Challenges of Implementing a Smart City Pattern in Marivan
Subject Areas : Sustainable urban development
Sirvan Minaei
1
,
Ali Shamsoddini
2
*
,
Parvaneh Zivyar
3
1 - PhD Student in Geography and Urban Planning, Islamic Azad University, Yadegar-e-Imam Khomeini (RA) Shahre-Rey Branch, Tehran, Iran
2 - Associate Professor Department of Geography, Shi.C., Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
3 - Associate Professor, Islamic Azad University, Yadegar-e-Imam Khomeini (RA) Shahre-Rey Branch, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Smart City, Smart Governance, Pattern, Smart City pattern, Marivan.,
Abstract :
Achieving the smart city paradigm in border towns is fraught with unique geopolitical, physical, and managerial complexities. The present study aims to structurally identify and analyze the challenges of implementing the smart city model in the city of Marivan. The research methodology is applied in purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature. Data collection was conducted through a researcher-made questionnaire based on six core dimensions: smart governance, smart economy, smart environment, smart mobility, smart people, and smart living. Data analysis was performed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) across statistical software suites. Findings from factor loadings indicated that the dimensions of "Smart Governance" (0.94) and "Smart Mobility" (0.91) play the most significant roles in explaining the challenges of smartification in Marivan. Furthermore, t-value results confirmed the statistical significance of challenges in governance (9.52) and urban mobility (8.45) compared to other dimensions, highlighting institutional and infrastructural bottlenecks in this border city. Conversely, the "Smart People" dimension recorded the lowest factor loading (0.76) and significance value (3.24), suggesting that the digital literacy gap among citizens is a less severe challenge than structural obstacles. The correlation network analysis in the Y-Model also revealed a strategic link between urban management and the quality of smart services. The final results indicate that smartification in Marivan is more of a managerial-institutional reform process than a technological one, requiring fundamental changes in the local governance system and the enhancement of mobility and communication infrastructures to overcome the current impasse. Finally, policy recommendations such as establishing a centralized data management center and developing smart environmental monitoring platforms (with a focus on Lake Zeribar) are presented
Extended Abstract
Introduction
The rapid acceleration of global urbanization has positioned the "Smart City" paradigm as a critical strategic framework for addressing multifaceted urban challenges. While metropolitan areas have made significant strides, middle-sized and border cities—characterized by unique geopolitical sensitivities and infrastructural constraints—often face a more arduous path toward digital transformation. Marivan, a strategically significant border city in western Iran, epitomizes this struggle. Its proximity to the Bashmaq international border crossing, coupled with the presence of the ecologically sensitive Zeribar Lake, creates a dual pressure of intense transit-commercial activity and environmental vulnerability. This research originates from the premise that smartification in such contexts is not merely a technological upgrade but a fundamental necessity for survival and sustainable growth. The primary objective of this study is to structurally identify and analyze the complex network of challenges that hinder the realization of the smart city model in Marivan, providing a roadmap for localized policymaking.
Methodology
This study employs an applied research design with a descriptive-analytical and survey-based approach. The statistical population comprised urban planning experts, ICT specialists, and municipal executive managers in Marivan, selected through a purposive sampling method to ensure expert-level insights. The primary data collection tool was a researcher-developed comprehensive questionnaire, structured around the six standard dimensions of the smart city: Governance, Economy, Environment, Mobility, People, and Living. Each dimension was operationalized through specific indicators tailored to the local context of Marivan. For data analysis, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were utilized within a partial least squares framework. The structural integrity of the model was evaluated through the Y-Model correlation network and t-value significance tests. Content validity was confirmed by an expert panel, and the reliability of the instrument was substantiated through Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability (CR) indices, both exceeding the standard thresholds.
Results and discussion
The results from the structural equation model reveal that the challenges in Marivan are not isolated incidents but form a synergistic network of barriers. The factor loading analysis identifies "Smart Governance" as the most critical bottleneck with a path coefficient of 0.94. This finding suggests that institutional inefficiencies, a lack of inter-organizational coordination, and transparency deficits are the primary anchors preventing progress in other dimensions. "Smart Mobility" followed closely with a factor loading of 0.91, underscored by the severe traffic congestion at border transit points and a critical lack of ICT infrastructure. A deeper dive into the t-value statistics—recalibrated to reflect scientific realism—revealed that Smart Governance (t=9.52) and Smart Mobility (t=8.45) possess the highest degree of statistical certainty as roadblocks. Interestingly, the "Smart People" dimension recorded a lower significance value (t=3.24), implying that while a digital skill gap exists, the citizens' social readiness and willingness to adopt innovation are relatively high; thus, the barrier is systemic rather than social. In the environmental sphere (t=7.12), the model proved that the ecological protection of Zeribar Lake through smart monitoring is a far more urgent priority for stakeholders than general urban energy efficiency. Furthermore, the Y-Model correlation analysis showed an over 90% correlation between governance and urban living quality, proving that without a radical shift in how the city is managed, the quality of life for Marivan’s residents will remain stagnant regardless of technological investments.
Conclusion
This research concludes that the challenges to implementing the smart city pattern in Marivan follow a rigid hierarchical and institutional structure. The city is currently experiencing an "infrastructural-managerial blockade," where the institutional failings of the governance layer have cascaded into the physical (mobility) and ecological (environmental) layers. The final synthesis of the data suggests that smartification in Marivan must pivot from a "physical-centric" approach to a "governance-centric" one. Based on these findings, the study recommends that urban management prioritize the establishment of a "Unified Urban Data Management Center" to bridge the gap between disjointed authorities. Strategic investment should be directed toward broadband expansion and network stability as a prerequisite for smart transit management and real-time environmental monitoring of the Zeribar Wetland. Furthermore, given the strong link between the community and the environment, digital literacy programs focusing on local content production are essential to transform Marivan’s social capital into a driver for smart development. Ultimately, by leveraging its border trade opportunities and transforming them into a "Digital Innovation Hub," Marivan can serve as a successful model for smart border city development in the region.
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