Santo Domingo facing the challenge of urban intelligence: Beyond technology?
The recent IMD Smart City Index 2026 has left a fundamental lesson for modern cities: the success of a smart city does not lie in the amount of technology it possesses, but in its ability to facilitate the lives of its inhabitants. While cities like Zurich, Oslo, Geneva, London, and Copenhagen lead the global ranking, our region faces a major challenge, as no Latin American city managed to position itself in the top 100 places of this study, which evaluates 148 locations based on criteria of infrastructure, governance, and quality of life.
Although Santo Domingo does not appear in this evaluation, the existing gap presents itself as a strategic opportunity to rethink urban development. The key is not to turn the Dominican capital into a futuristic science fiction city, but into one that functions flawlessly in its present.
Prioritize structure over digitalization
The IMD report is conclusive: technology alone does not guarantee progress if urban structures are failing. Digitizing a poorly organized city only results in an inefficient city with digital tools. A true “Smart City” is one that uses data, strategic planning, and innovation to solve tangible problems, such as traffic congestion, waste management, and the recurring floods that affect the National District.
Towards an interconnected urban system
For Santo Domingo to evolve, it is necessary to abandon the management of isolated problems. Mobility, drainage, lighting, and public space must be integrated into a single ecosystem. Some of the key proposals to achieve this transformation include:
- Urban data platform: Implement Geographic Information Systems (GIS) that centralize information on storm drains, streetlights, parks, and traffic for proactive management.
- Digital twins: Create virtual representations of the city to simulate the impact of new construction or traffic changes before executing them.
- People-centered mobility: Prioritize public transport efficiency and pedestrian safety over simple vehicular flow, using adaptive traffic lights and real-time data analysis.
- Climate resilience: Use risk maps and weather sensors to anticipate flooding and prioritize the maintenance of green infrastructure.
A city cannot be called smart if it is technological for those who drive, but hostile to those who walk.
Citizen participation and trust
Technology must serve as a bridge between the city council and the citizen. The creation of digital tools that allow residents to report incidents —from a pothole to trash collection— not only speeds up the solution, but also generates valuable data patterns for artificial intelligence. This allows for anticipating needs and optimizing the use of public resources.
Finally, transparency is the pillar that supports every Smart City. The implementation of open data platforms, where citizens can audit the cost and progress of projects, is vital to strengthening trust. Santo Domingo has the human talent, technological infrastructure, and connectivity necessary to take this leap; the question is not what technology to buy, but what problems to solve to truly improve the quality of life for our people.
