Table 4 Steps and guiding questions of backcasting methodology and planning approach

Step 1: defining normative assumptions and setting criteria and goals in relation to urban sustainability

What are the objectives with a description of the aim of the analysis in terms of its urban, environmental, socio-economic, and technological scope?

What specific sustainability and smartness goals are the objectives translated to for scenario analysis?

How should sustainability and smartness goals be integrated and complement each other in city development?

Step 2: describing the current situation, prevailing trends, and expected developments

What are the important global trends and developments related to city development?

What are the major urban sustainability problems and what are the causes and challenges?

Are the current situation, prevailing trends, and expected developments evaluated against the goals?

Which urban systems or domains are to be targeted?

Step 3: constructing an image of the future for smart sustainable city

What are the demands (terms of reference) for the future vision?

How does the future smart sustainable city look like?

Which sustainability problems and challenges have been solved by achieving the goals?

Which technologies and their applications have been used in the future vision?

Step 4: backcasting analysis

What technological and urban changes are necessary for achieving the future vision?

What institutional, organizational, and regulatory changes are necessary?

How have necessary changes been realized and what stakeholders are necessary?

Step 5: elaboration and implementation

What are the results of environmental and socio-economic analyses in relation to urban sustainability?

How consistent are they with the specified goals and vision outcomes?

What political actions and institutional responses (city government, regulatory body, industry, research community, etc.) are required for the implementation of the vision and the policy measures implied in those actions and responses?

What should be on the action agenda?