ISO 37106:2021

Overview

ISO 37106:2021 provides essential guidance for city and community leaders aiming to build sustainable, smart cities through collaborative, open, and digitally-enabled operating models. Developed by ISO, this international standard equips public, private, and voluntary sector leaders with practical tools and processes to transform traditional, siloed urban management into integrated, citizen-centric, and agile city operations. Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all approach, ISO 37106 focuses on enabling processes and proven methods that empower communities to deliver on their unique visions for sustainable futures.

The standard supports cities in operationalizing their strategic goals, whether or not they have adopted ISO 37101 (Management system for sustainable development of communities). The document emphasizes innovative use of technology, open data, and organizational change to foster sustainability and resilience.

Key Topics

ISO 37106:2021 addresses a comprehensive range of critical areas for developing a smart city operating model:

• Smart City Operating Model Transformation

  • Drives the shift from traditional siloed functions to collaborative, integrated management using digital technologies and real-time data.
  • Centers on stakeholder alignment, improved transparency, increased citizen engagement, and cross-silo collaboration.

• Delivery Principles

  • Sets out values and guidelines for city leaders to operationalize urban strategies sustainably.
  • Encourages openness, inclusivity, and collaboration across all sectors.

• Cross-City Delivery Processes

  • Provides actionable recommendations on managing city-wide challenges.
  • Covers strategy management, leadership and governance, collaborative engagement with stakeholders, procurement, interoperability, and standardized terminology.

• Benefit Realization Framework

  • Guides cities on mapping, tracking, and delivering intended social, economic, and environmental benefits from smart city initiatives.
  • Emphasizes the importance of clear metrics, regular assessment, and continuous improvement.

• Risk Management

  • Offers a structured checklist to help cities monitor and mitigate major risks to achieving their intelligent city goals.

Applications

The practical applications of ISO 37106:2021 extend across multiple facets of city and community governance:

• Urban Development and Planning

  • Enables city authorities to integrate digital and physical infrastructure in their planning processes.
  • Supports sustainable investment and resource optimization based on real-time data and citizen needs.

• Service Transformation

  • Shifts toward citizen-centric service delivery, ensuring all city services are accessible, user-friendly, and responsive.
  • Facilitates seamless collaboration between governmental departments, private sector partners, and civil society.

• Digital Innovation

  • Promotes open data initiatives and the strategic management of city data as a key asset.
  • Encourages both city-led and community-led innovation to improve urban resilience and quality of life.

• Performance Improvement

  • Assists cities in deploying integrated IT architectures and benefit realization models to ensure continuous progress toward sustainability objectives.
  • Helps identify best practices for leadership, governance, and stakeholder engagement in a smart city context.

Related Standards

For a holistic approach to sustainable smart city development, ISO 37106:2021 should be considered alongside these key standards:

• ISO 37100 – Sustainable cities and communities - Vocabulary
• ISO 37101 – Management system for sustainable development of communities
• ISO/TS 37151 – Smart community infrastructures - Principles and requirements for performance metrics
• Additional guidance from ISO Guide 82 (Addressing sustainability in standards)

By integrating ISO 37106 with related standards, cities and communities gain a robust framework for advancing sustainable urban transformation and smart city innovation.

Keywords: ISO 37106:2021, smart cities, sustainable communities, city operating models, digital governance, urban sustainability, smart city transformation, citizen-centric services, city data, risk management, benefit tracking, ISO 37101, urban innovation, open data, collaborative governance.