Investigating the status of smart village indicators (Case study: Hamedan city)

Over the past decade, the rapid advancement of information and smart technologies has profoundly influenced the development of infrastructure and the overall quality of life in rural communities. As urbanization continues to accelerate, with increasing migration from rural areas to cities, rural regions face numerous challenges, including environmental crises, resource scarcity, and socio-economic issues. These challenges have underscored the importance of implementing sustainable and empowering policies aimed at improving rural life.

The concept of smartization, which leverages cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), digital platforms, and other digital solutions, aims to enhance productivity, improve comfort, and elevate residents' quality of life. However, applying these innovative solutions requires careful consideration of localized differences, resource management, and community-specific needs. The success of smart villages depends on integrating technological progress with local contexts, fostering sustainable development, and ensuring inclusive growth.

Despite the promising potential of smart village initiatives, several obstacles exist—such as infrastructural deficiencies, economic constraints, and limited educational resources. To overcome these barriers, the roles of government agencies, active community participation, and capacity development are vital. Supportive policies, strategic planning, and collaborative efforts among various stakeholders can facilitate the realization of smart village development goals.

This study aims to evaluate the current status of villages in Hamadan County with respect to smart village criteria. By examining international experiences and developing relevant indicators, the research assesses how well these villages align with the principles of a smart village. Using a quantitative approach, data from 384 questionnaires were analyzed through SPSS software. The findings offer insights into the existing conditions and provide strategic recommendations to promote sustainable and smart rural development.

Methodology

This research adopts a quantitative methodology grounded on objective data collection and analysis. The process began with an extensive review of academic literature, governmental reports, and relevant documentary sources to identify key indicators that reflect the concept of a smart village. These indicators took into account regional characteristics and the unique socio-economic and environmental conditions of the studied villages.

To validate the proposed indicators, the study consulted experts specializing in rural development, community planning, and digital technology implementation. Their feedback helped refine and finalize the set of indicators, ensuring they accurately captured the critical dimensions of a smart village.

The primary data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire developed based on these validated indicators. The questionnaire's content and face validity were confirmed by specialists to ensure clarity and relevance. Reliability testing, using Cronbach's alpha, yielded a coefficient above 0.7, indicating high internal consistency.

Before data analysis, the normality of the data distribution was verified using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, which resulted in a coefficient of 0.878, confirming the normality assumption. The collected data were then subjected to statistical analysis using one-sample t-tests to compare the current status of villages against the ideal or benchmark conditions across four dimensions: environmental, social, economic, and institutional.

Results

The analysis revealed that the indicators of the studied villages in Hamadan County were generally in a relatively unfavorable state concerning the criteria of a smart village. Notably, the social component fared slightly better than the other dimensions, particularly in education. The development and utilization of virtual training platforms and digital technologies have contributed to a more favorable situation in this area. Nonetheless, indicators related to health and safety remain unsatisfactory, reflecting deficiencies in technological infrastructure and community training in health-related services.

The institutional and planning indicators also showed considerable weaknesses. These areas require comprehensive policy reforms, structural adjustments, and increased inter-organizational cooperation to enhance governance and strategic planning processes.

Regionally, the environmental dimension scored an average of 2.92 out of a possible higher score, with confidence intervals indicating a poor condition overall. Within this dimension, environment-related indicators—such as environmental management, energy use, and infrastructure—highlighted critical deficiencies. The energy indicator, with a mean score of 2.75, and infrastructure, with a mean of 2.82, exemplify the areas needing urgent intervention.

In the social dimension, aspects related to education, security, and capabilities showed comparatively better scores—3.13, 3.23, and 3.11 respectively—indicating a moderate level of development. However, the health and safety indicator, with a mean of 2.87, was still deemed inadequate. Although certain facets, like social media usage for skill enhancement, showed positive signs, the overall health infrastructure and access to medical digital services remain underdeveloped.

In the economic sector, both agricultural and service indicators had unfavorable scores. The agricultural index, averaging 2.82, suggests limited adoption of modern farming technologies. The services index, with an average of 2.43, reflects insufficient digital infrastructure and electronic service provisions, such as e-governance, online trading, and digital banking—key components for a thriving smart rural economy.

Finally, the institutional indicators, including governance and strategic planning, recorded an average of only 2.54. This low score indicates significant gaps in policy implementation, use of electronic governance platforms, and community participation. The data confirm a statistically significant difference at the 95% confidence level between current conditions and the ideal benchmarks for smart rural development, emphasizing the need for urgent reforms.

Conclusion

In sum, the assessment indicates that the villages within Hamadan County are currently not meeting the criteria of a smart village in most dimensions. Environmental conditions, energy consumption, infrastructure, health services, and governance all require substantial improvement to align with global standards. The average scores across these dimensions underscore the urgent need for targeted policy interventions, infrastructure investments, and capacity-building initiatives.

Focusing on sustainable development, digital empowerment, and participatory governance can catalyze progress toward transforming these rural communities into smart villages. Such efforts could lead to better resource management, improved living standards, and enhanced resilience against socio-economic and environmental challenges.

This study's findings serve as a baseline for policymakers, local authorities, and development practitioners to formulate strategic plans that promote integrated and sustainable rural development, leveraging technological advancements effectively. Future initiatives should prioritize region-specific solutions, foster community involvement, and incorporate lessons learned from successful international experiences to accelerate the transition toward smart, sustainable, and resilient rural areas.