Towards a smart city: A framework for smart flood management in Sarajevo

Rapid urban development and increasing hydro-meteorological variability are creating new challenges for flood risk management in urban areas. In this context, the concept of a smart city offers opportunities to improve the understanding, prediction, prevention, and management of flood events through the integration of environmental monitoring, digital technologies, data, modelling, and decision-support systems. However, becoming a "smart city" in terms of flood management requires more than the introduction of individual technological solutions. This paper explores what Sarajevo would need to develop an effective smart flood management system. The analysis considers the key components required for such a system, including reliable and spatially distributed meteorological and hydrological monitoring, real-time data acquisition and transmission, integration of heterogeneous data sources, high-resolution geospatial databases, hydraulic and hydrological modelling, flood forecasting and early warning, and decision-support tools for emergency response. Particular attention is given to the integration of existing monitoring and information systems and to the interoperability of data generated by different institutions and infrastructure systems. The paper further considers the importance of defining clear institutional responsibilities, data-sharing mechanisms, communication channels, and procedures for translating technical information into timely decisions. Rather than proposing a single technological solution, the paper identifies the essential components and their interconnections that should form the basis for Sarajevo's transition towards smart flood risk management. The proposed framework can serve as a basis for assessing the current level of preparedness and identifying priorities for future investments in monitoring, modelling, digital infrastructure, institutional capacity, data exchange, and warning communication.