How to design, deliver and manage smart places

Find guidance on how to design, deliver and manage smart places in the Smart Places Playbook.

A man installing sensors on a street sign

Welcome to the Smart Places Playbook

The Smart Places Playbook is for all professionals involved in creating smart places, such as government employees, developers, consultants, planners, urban designers and technology vendors.
The playbook helps you to use data and technology to make public places safer, livelier and more welcoming. It provides guidance to help you:

  • understand the step-by-step process of delivering smart places
  • engage your community, enhance trust and transparency
  • find and use the right policies for data and technology
  • choose the best technology solutions for your place
  • explore case studies and connect with practitioners delivering smart solutions.

Getting started

You can explore the playbook end-to-end or jump straight to one of the stages described below.

Planning and research

In this foundational stage, you'll establish the groundwork for your smart place. This involves setting up appropriate policies, skills, and governance structures, as well as defining the unique characteristics and desired outcomes for your area.

1. Foundations

Understand the essential policies, skills, and governance structures required to develop smart places.

2. Involving your community

Engage your community in the process to build trust and ensure technologies meet local needs.

3. Discover

Define the characteristics of your place and establish the desired outcomes for its future.

Design and implementation

This stage involves designing your smart place, tailoring technology and infrastructure to your community's needs. It includes obtaining funding, launching solutions, followed by ongoing management and maintenance, emphasising continual improvement for long-term success and community trust.

4. Design

Plan your smart place to meet the specific needs of your community and prepare for technology investments.


5. Funding and approval

Learn how to obtain funding, secure approvals, engage the community, and implement smart place projects for actionable insights.

6. Manage and review

Maintain the infrastructure, manage risks, and encourage ongoing improvements to ensure long-term success.

Smart Places Maturity Assessment Framework

A decision-making tool for place-makers to help evaluate the maturity of a smart place. It aids in decision-making, helps build consensus on goals, and tracks progress over time.

Read more
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