Blendi Barolli1, Enkelejda Kucaj2
1 Department of Public Policy, Faculty of Regional Design and Development, University of Nagasaki, Japan,
2 Department of Meteorology – Institute of Geo Sciences, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania
barolli@sun.ac.jp
Abstract
Urbanization has become one of the defining dynamics of the 21st century, generating growing pressures on mobility, housing, environmental quality, and governance. Smart City and Compact City models have emerged as complementary paradigms for addressing these challenges: the former through technological innovation and data-driven governance, and the latter through spatial efficiency, high density, and sustainable mobility. This study investigates how the capital of Albania, Tirana, can integrate these approaches into a comprehensive Smart–Compact–Resilient framework grounded in citizen participation and climate adaptation. Using a mixed-methods design, the research combines quantitative and qualitative analyses based on a structured survey of 350 residents across Tirana’s central, suburban, and newly developed areas. The questionnaire examined four dimensions urban, social, environmental, and health through six sections that assessed mobility, housing, participation, technology, and resilience. The study proposes an integrated model for a Smart, Compact, and Resilient Tirana, combining digital innovation, inclusive governance, and climate resilience.
Keywords
Smart & Compact City, Tirana, Urbanization, Sustainability, Resilience.
Introduction
Urbanization is one of the defining processes of the twenty-first century, with more than half of the global population currently living in urban areas a figure projected to reach nearly 70% by 2050 (United Nations, 2020). This transition has created complex challenges for cities worldwide, including traffic congestion, air pollution, housing shortages, waste management, and pressure on infrastructure and natural resources. Addressing these issues requires new approaches that integrate technological, spatial, and social dimensions of urban development. The Smart City concept has emerged as a strategy for enhancing efficiency and innovation through digital technologies, big data, and ICT-based governance (Caragliu& Nijkamp, 2011; Mathew et al., 2024). In parallel, the Compact City model emphasizes high-density development, mixed land use, and sustainable transport to curb urban sprawl and reduce environmental impacts (OECD, 2012; Kain et al., 2020). Yet, the implementation of these paradigms has often faced structural limitations. In Central and Eastern Europe, the main barriers involve bureaucratic fragmentation, lack of coordination, and insufficient technical expertise (Janurová et al., 2020).
Volume 11, No.1 (2026): February
ISSN 2661-2666 (Online) International Scientific Journal Monte (ISJM)
ISSN 2661-264X (Print)
Full Text: PDF
This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)