A comprehensive and scalable smart readiness assessment framework for urban environments

The growing complexity of cities demands assessment tools that are both comprehensive and adaptable, capable of capturing technological, institutional, and social dimensions of urban transformation. Existing frameworks often address single domains, limiting scalability and comparability across contexts. This study introduces the Urban Smart Readiness Assessment Framework (USRAF), a dual-tier methodology designed to evaluate urban smart readiness across six interdependent pillars: Smart Ready Grids, Smart Ready Infrastructure, Smart Ready Mobility, Smart Ready Services, Smart Ready Governance, and Smart Resilience & Preparedness. USRAF employs a layered taxonomy of technical domains, functionalities, and services combined with a hierarchical mathematical model that integrates weighting, normalization, and explicit treatment of obligatory domains. The framework was applied to the city of Ptolemaida, Greece, a medium-sized urban center undergoing transition due to the national lignite phase-out. Results show close alignment between the Quick Assessment (23.79%) and the Full Assessment (23.00%), validating internal consistency. Pillar-level analysis revealed strengths in renewable integration, governance and building automation, but persistent weaknesses in storage, sustainable mobility, advanced Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and predictive resilience. USRAF provides a scalable and policy-aligned tool for municipalities and policymakers, supporting benchmarking, investment prioritization, and alignment with European objectives.