Collaborative planning for Surabaya Smart City 2020 Program during the pandemic

There have been many criticisms against the concept of smart city development, which only emphasizes technology. Implementing a smart city requires the involvement of a complex social sphere. Therefore, it cannot be separated from its smart citizens. Meanwhile, technology is the only tool in a smart city. Smart city development then shifts the planning paradigm to become more participative, creative, innovative, and collaborative. Smart citizens freely open up network space, establish communication, and collaborate with stakeholders to find the best solution for the problems in their settlements, including in the urban kampong. The researchers found the collaborative planning process of urban kampong development in the Surabaya Smart City (SSC) program. This kampong improvement program was initiated by the Surabaya City Government in 2019 and continues in 2020 despite the pandemic. After going through the selection and judging stages, Sambi Arum Kampong received the best kampong title in the program. This study aimed to determine how the collaborative planning process took place in the Sambi Arum Kampong during the pandemic. The researchers collected the data through in-depth interviews and literature reviews, which was then analyzed qualitatively using the deductive content-analysis method. This study explains that we can achieve collaborative smart city planning during a pandemic through flexible local institutional design and communication technology.