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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Age-friendly smart communities in Beijing

with” the older population. Chao (2018) contemplates from efficiency, transportation systems refinement, and an
a Confucian perspective, emphasizing the importance of overall transformation in the daily lives of local residents
prioritizing family over individual interests. Heumann (Gao et al., 2016).
et al. (2001) further point out that understanding the local Regarding community evaluation, The Smart City
spatial distribution of the older population is essential for Building and Residential Area Part 2: Smart Community
assessing age-friendliness, as they are more sensitive to Evaluation, issued by the Chinese Ministry of Housing and
location due to lower mobility. Urban-Rural Development (MHURD), evaluates smart

In China, cities have made great progress in promoting community construction from four aspects, including
age-friendly communities through policy and initiatives. community infrastructure, integrated information service
For example, the Beijing Elderly Work Committee issued platform, community service, and community management
the “Development Plan for the Aging Industry During (Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of
the 14 Five-Year Plan Period in Beijing” in 2021, aiming the People’s Republic of China, 2022-10-12; Yu, 2022).
th
to establish an age-friendly city with distinctive features Among them, the evaluation of community infrastructure
and international excellence by 2025 (Office of Beijing examines the intelligence level of smart transportation,
Working Committee on Aging, 2021). This plan includes smart security, smart energy, smart environment, etc. The
indicators for healthcare, services, education, and social evaluation of an integrated information service platform
participation, as well as the establishment of elderly care focuses on functional perfection, ease of use, and platform
services, facilities, and the elderly industry economy. cyber security. Community service evaluation examines
Similarly, in Shanghai, the local municipal government the coverage, satisfaction, and innovation of the service.
issued the “Shanghai Healthy Aging Action Plan (2022 – The evaluation of community management and innovation
2025)” in 2022, aimed at fostering an age-friendly social characteristics mainly examines the level of community
environment with a well-developed service system and governance and innovation results. In summary, the release
comprehensive elderly health protection by 2025. Key areas of the policy document will help promote the standardized
of improvement include health status, service capacity, and high-quality development of smart community
service management, and social security, addressing major constructions in China.
issues such as mismatched resource supply and demand, 2.3. Age-friendly smart communities
low awareness among the elderly, incomplete industry
chains, and limited family caregiving capabilities (Shanghai Certain scholars have pointed out that the existing WHO’s
Municipal Development and Reform Commission age-friendly evaluation fails to reflect smart cities, despite
et al., 2022). the significant potential of smart technology (Marston et al.,
2020). Considering the rapid development of smart civic
2.2. Smart cities and communities technology, age-friendly communities should incorporate
The interplay of smart technology and urban space smart cities through more cohesive planning (Marston
has brought about evident transformations in the & Van Hoof, 2019). To achieve this aim, it is essential to
configuration, operation, and social interactions within identify key technologies and use cases that enable age-
cities (Long, 2020). Within the context of smart cities, a friendly communities in practice (van Hoof et al., 2019).
smart community is defined by a geographically delineated As illustrated in Figure 1, China has released policies,
boundary, a specific population group, and various guidelines, and regulations since 2010 at both national and
activities, along with related engagement, activities, and provincial levels to establish long-term goals, plans, and
interactions often augmented by smart technology (Wendel strategies. Meanwhile, major municipalities and cities such
et al., 2009). Since the 2010s, numerous nations have as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen have formulated city-
initiated governmental efforts and trial programs centered level policies, technical standards, and planning guidelines
around the concept of smart communities. These endeavors for implementing smart community development at the
prioritize the integration of intelligent technologies on a community scale. This integration involves leveraging big
more localized scale, emphasizing a growing reliance on data, the Internet of Things (IoT), intelligent networks, and
bottom-up planning methodologies. Notably, in 2015, digital service platforms.
Alphabet Inc. established Sidewalk Labs—an innovative The integration of smart technology includes various
entity with a distinct focus on future urban living (Austin IoT devices, digital services, welfare systems, and care
& Lie, 2021). Meanwhile, the Japan Smart Community facilities at home, community, and city scales. At the level of
Alliance envisions a smart community that harmoniously dwelling units, physical improvements entail the addition
merges cutting-edge technologies and social frameworks. of accessible facilities and furniture to enhance home
This convergence is aimed at achieving elevated energy security. Digital augmentation involves the installation of

Volume 6 Issue 3 (2024) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1754